Joshua Bennett
The rosary is a devotion in honour of the Virgin Mary, observed by Catholics and, in recent years, some Protestants. It consists of a set of prayers and a physical string of beads used to count them. The prayers are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called decades, and are preceded by the Lord's Prayer and followed by Glory Be. The rosary is a biblical form of prayer, with the prayers coming mainly from the Bible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Rosary |
| Other Names | Psalter of Jesus and Mary, Dominican Rosary, Franciscan Crown, Bridgettine Rosary, Rosary of the Holy Wounds |
| Definition | A set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and the physical string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers |
| Origin | The word rosary comes from the Latin "rosarium", meaning a "crown of roses" or "garland of roses" |
| Purpose | To review the Gospel in one prayer, to meditate on the life of Christ, and to venerate Mary |
| Composition | Introductory prayers: one Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys, one Glory Be; five decades of ten Hail Marys each, preceded by one Lord's Prayer and followed by one Glory Be; concluding prayers: Hail, Holy Queen, dialogue, and the Sign of the Cross |
| Mysteries | Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous (added by Pope John Paul II in 2002) |
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What You'll Learn
The rosary is a devotion to the Virgin Mary
The Rosary, also known as the Psalter of Jesus and Mary, is a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church. It is a devotion in honour of the Virgin Mary, consisting of a set number of specific prayers. The word rosary comes from the Latin "rosarium", meaning a "crown of roses" or a "garland of roses", with the rose being a flower used to symbolize the Virgin Mary.
The Rosary is prayed using rosary beads, which are used to count the component prayers. The prayers are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer and traditionally followed by one Glory Be. The Hail Mary is the prayer at the centre of the devotion. It is a prayer to Mary and is biblical in nature, with the first part taken from the greeting the angel Gabriel gave Mary in Luke 1:28.
The Mysteries of the Rosary centre on the events of Christ's life and that of his mother, Mary. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous, the last of which was added by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Each decade provides an opportunity to meditate on one of these Mysteries. The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery.
The Rosary is a biblical form of prayer, with the prayers that comprise it coming mainly from the Bible. It is a way to review the Gospel in a single prayer. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.
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The rosary is a set of prayers and prayer beads
The rosary consists of a set number of specific prayers. It begins with the introductory prayers: one Apostles' Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord's Prayer), three Hail Marys (Aves), and one Glory Be (Gloria Patri). The Apostles' Creed is so called because it expresses the teachings of the apostles, rather than being composed by them. The original form of the creed came into use around AD 125, and the present form dates from the 400s. The Lord's Prayer is said at the first large bead, for the needs of the Catholic Church and the intentions of the reigning pope. The Hail Mary is said on each of the next three beads, for the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. The Glory Be is said in the space before the next large bead.
Following this, the praying of the decades begins, repeating a cycle for each mystery: announcing the mystery, the Lord's Prayer at the second large bead, the Hail Mary on each of the next ten beads (a "decade"), and the Glory Be in the space before the next large bead. Each decade is an opportunity to meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary are typically grouped into four sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, and the Luminous Mysteries.
The rosary is a way to review the Gospel in a single prayer. The gentle repetition of the words helps to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The rosary can be said privately or with a group.
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The rosary is a biblical form of prayer
The rosary is a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and also refers to the physical string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers. The prayers are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer and traditionally followed by one Glory Be. The praying of the decades then follows, repeating this cycle for each mystery.
The rosary is a way to review the Gospel in one prayer. Through the rosary, one can essentially contemplate the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ. The rosary also represents the Catholic emphasis on "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ", and the Mariological theme "to Christ through Mary".
The first part of the Hail Mary prayer is biblical in origin. The prayer begins with "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee", which is the greeting the angel Gabriel gave Mary in Luke 1:28. The next part, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus", was said by Mary's cousin Elizabeth to her in Luke 1:42. The only additions to these verses are the names "Jesus" and "Mary".
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The rosary is made up of mysteries
The Rosary is a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church. It is also the name given to the physical string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers. The prayers are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer ("Our Father") and traditionally followed by one Glory Be.
The Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, on Wednesdays and Sundays. They include the Annunciation, with the Fruit of the Mystery being Humility, and the Visitation, with the Fruit of the Mystery being Love of Neighbor.
The Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays. They include the Agony in the Garden and the Carrying of the Cross.
The Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesdays and, outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, on Sundays. They include the Resurrection of Jesus and the Ascension of Jesus.
In 2002, Pope John Paul II recommended an additional set of mysteries called the Luminous Mysteries or the "Mysteries of Light". This brought the total number of mysteries to 20.
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The rosary is a Catholic tradition
The Rosary is formally known as the "Psalter of Jesus and Mary" or the “Dominican Rosary” to distinguish it from other forms such as the Franciscan Crown and the Bridgettine Rosary. It is primarily used in the Catholic Church, although in recent years it has also been adopted by some Protestants.
The prayers that make up the Rosary are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer ("Our Father") and traditionally followed by one Glory Be. Some Catholics also recite the “O my Jesus” prayer after the Glory Be. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.
The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life and there are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous (added by Pope John Paul II in 2002). The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery.
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Frequently asked questions
The rosary is a devotion in honour of the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers.
The rosary begins with the Apostles' Creed, followed by the Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord's Prayer), three Hail Mary's (Ave's), and the Glory Be (Gloria Patri).
While the rosary is most commonly associated with Catholicism, it has also been adopted by some Protestants, who recognise it as a biblical form of prayer.
The rosary allows one to review the Gospel in a single prayer. The gentle repetition of the words helps one to enter into a state of restful and contemplative prayer.
The word rosary comes from the Latin "rosarium", meaning a "crown of roses" or a garland of roses. The rose is a flower used to symbolize the Virgin Mary.
