About the rosary at New Advent. And at the Vatican.
How to pray the rosary at New Advent [pdf] and at YouTube.
So how is this rosary for my Evangelical friends? This is a scriptural rosary. If you're not comfortable praying the Hail Mary, skip it! Just recite the Bible verse and pause to think about it. Indeed, even if one does pray the Hail Mary's, one should concentrate on the Scripture passage while one prays.
This post will have only the introductory prayers of the rosary. I'll add the rest in following posts.
First, some instruction not covered above. The point of the rosary is not to recite the prayers. The rosary is to help one meditate on certain events in the lives of Jesus and His Mother Mary. As one meditates on these events, one should determine how they apply to one's own life and become a better disciple of Jesus. If the rosary does not help you do so, stop doing it. The Church does not require anyone to pray the rosary. She encourages it only if it helps you "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
The rosary is made up of a crucifix, a string of beads, and usually a medal. See this picture. It is divided into "sections". The first section consists of the crucifix and the first four beads. The remaining five sections consist of one large bead, on which one prays the Our Father (i.e. the Lord's Prayer), and ten small beads, on each of which is prayed a Hail Mary.
Until recently, the rosary consisted of a few opening prayers, 15 sets of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's and 1 Glory Be, and then a few closing prayers. There are now 20 sets of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's and 1 Glory Be. Also, to pray the rosary usually meant to pray all 15 sets. It is customary now, however, to pray 5 sets daily. Whether one prays all 15 or 20 or just the sets of 5, the opening and closing prayers are always included.
Some people pray the entire rosary for a specific prayer intention. Others have a prayer intention for each decade. Still others mention a specific prayer request on each bead of the rosary. You can do whatever you want because there is no official way to do this. You don't even have to have rosary beads to pray it because you can keep track of the prayers some other way.
The rosary begins with the sign of the cross. Here's how our Eastern rite and Orthodox brethren make that sign: How to make the sign of the cross (note how the hand is held. Most Western rite Catholics don't hold their hands that way when making the sign of the cross, although I do). In the video, the guy is speaking the following in Arabic (I couldn't find an English video):
"In the Name of the Father" (fingers to forehead)
How to pray the rosary at New Advent [pdf] and at YouTube.
So how is this rosary for my Evangelical friends? This is a scriptural rosary. If you're not comfortable praying the Hail Mary, skip it! Just recite the Bible verse and pause to think about it. Indeed, even if one does pray the Hail Mary's, one should concentrate on the Scripture passage while one prays.
This post will have only the introductory prayers of the rosary. I'll add the rest in following posts.
First, some instruction not covered above. The point of the rosary is not to recite the prayers. The rosary is to help one meditate on certain events in the lives of Jesus and His Mother Mary. As one meditates on these events, one should determine how they apply to one's own life and become a better disciple of Jesus. If the rosary does not help you do so, stop doing it. The Church does not require anyone to pray the rosary. She encourages it only if it helps you "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
The rosary is made up of a crucifix, a string of beads, and usually a medal. See this picture. It is divided into "sections". The first section consists of the crucifix and the first four beads. The remaining five sections consist of one large bead, on which one prays the Our Father (i.e. the Lord's Prayer), and ten small beads, on each of which is prayed a Hail Mary.
Until recently, the rosary consisted of a few opening prayers, 15 sets of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's and 1 Glory Be, and then a few closing prayers. There are now 20 sets of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's and 1 Glory Be. Also, to pray the rosary usually meant to pray all 15 sets. It is customary now, however, to pray 5 sets daily. Whether one prays all 15 or 20 or just the sets of 5, the opening and closing prayers are always included.
Some people pray the entire rosary for a specific prayer intention. Others have a prayer intention for each decade. Still others mention a specific prayer request on each bead of the rosary. You can do whatever you want because there is no official way to do this. You don't even have to have rosary beads to pray it because you can keep track of the prayers some other way.
The rosary begins with the sign of the cross. Here's how our Eastern rite and Orthodox brethren make that sign: How to make the sign of the cross (note how the hand is held. Most Western rite Catholics don't hold their hands that way when making the sign of the cross, although I do). In the video, the guy is speaking the following in Arabic (I couldn't find an English video):
"In the Name of the Father" (fingers to forehead)
"and of the Son" (fingers to abdomen)
"and of the Holy" (fingers to one shoulder) "Spirit" (fingers to opposite shoulder).
"Amen."
(I've got to learn how to say this in Arabic!)
While saying the above, some people cross themselves with the crucifix, touching it to each of the following points on the body (forehead, abdomen, shoulder, shoulder). Others hold it in one hand while signing themselves with the other.
One then recites and meditates on the Apostle's Creed (numbers 1 and 2 in the picture):
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
(I've got to learn how to say this in Arabic!)
While saying the above, some people cross themselves with the crucifix, touching it to each of the following points on the body (forehead, abdomen, shoulder, shoulder). Others hold it in one hand while signing themselves with the other.
One then recites and meditates on the Apostle's Creed (numbers 1 and 2 in the picture):
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Then one places one's fingers onto the first large bead* and prays the Our Father... (#3):
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Then one places one's fingers onto the first large bead* and prays the Our Father... (#3):
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
for Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory for ever.
Amen.
A Hail Mary is said on each of the next three small beads. In the traditional rosary, one prays one Hail Mary on each of these beads. Some people offer prayers for the bishops of the Church on the first of these beads, for priests on the next bead, and for deacons on the third. Some ask for an increase of faith, hope, and charity. This last is what we'll do, with a Bible verse and a phrase added to each Hail Mary (I'll put an additional phrase in bold text).
Holding the first small bead (#4), ask God to increase your faith in Him. You can do so by simply saying "For an increase of faith", or you can make an Act of Faith, or make up your own prayer (like, "God, please help me to trust You more").
Then recite "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 TMB)**, and pray the following (by the way, we are asking Mary to pray to God with us):
A Hail Mary is said on each of the next three small beads. In the traditional rosary, one prays one Hail Mary on each of these beads. Some people offer prayers for the bishops of the Church on the first of these beads, for priests on the next bead, and for deacons on the third. Some ask for an increase of faith, hope, and charity. This last is what we'll do, with a Bible verse and a phrase added to each Hail Mary (I'll put an additional phrase in bold text).
Holding the first small bead (#4), ask God to increase your faith in Him. You can do so by simply saying "For an increase of faith", or you can make an Act of Faith, or make up your own prayer (like, "God, please help me to trust You more").
Then recite "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 TMB)**, and pray the following (by the way, we are asking Mary to pray to God with us):
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
On the next small bead (#5), ask for an increase of hope (e.g. Act of Hope or etc.).
Recite "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (I Peter 1:3 TMB).
And pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
On the next small bead (#5), ask for an increase of hope (e.g. Act of Hope or etc.).
Recite "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (I Peter 1:3 TMB).
And pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
who has destroyed death and given hope to us by His resurrection.
who has destroyed death and given hope to us by His resurrection.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
On the third small bead (#6), ask for an increase of charity (e.g. Act of Charity or etc.).
Recite "And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (I Peter 4:8 TMB).
And pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
On the third small bead (#6), ask for an increase of charity (e.g. Act of Charity or etc.).
Recite "And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (I Peter 4:8 TMB).
And pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Keep your hand on that bead, or move it to the space between it and the next large bead (#'s 7-9) and pray the following:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
Keep your hand on that bead, or move it to the space between it and the next large bead (#'s 7-9) and pray the following:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
This ends the Introductory prayers of the Rosary. I'll post more later.
*Many rosaries use a combination of large and small beads. The one in the picture doesn't.
**Use whatever Bible version you prefer.
This ends the Introductory prayers of the Rosary. I'll post more later.
*Many rosaries use a combination of large and small beads. The one in the picture doesn't.
**Use whatever Bible version you prefer.
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