The Holy Rosary

St.Paul VI, recalling the traditional teaching of his predecessors, spokes of the Rosary as the “Compendium of the entire Gospel”. A prayer centered on the redemptive incarnation, in which the litany – like succession of the Hail Mary becomes the unceasing praise of Christ (Marialis Cultus 46). It is a contemplative prayer, a form of meditation on the life and works of Jesus seen through the eyes of her beloved Mother. St. Louis Marie de Monfort tells us that the Rosary is compost of mental and vocal prayers, in the method of mental prayer we contemplate of the chief mysteries of the life of Christ and his mother. Meanwhile the vocal prayer consists of the saying the fifteen decades of the rosary, each is headed by the Our Father, while at the same time meditating and contemplating on the fifteen principal virtues which Mary and Jesus practised in the mysteries of the rosary.

In 1883, Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical, Supremi Apostolatus officio he emphasizes the maternal role of Mary. “It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary, and to seek for peace in her maternal goodness; showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God. And truly the Immaculate Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of God and thereby associated with Him in the work of man’s salvation, has a favour and power with her Son greater than any human or angelic creature has ever obtained, or ever can gain. And, as it is her greatest pleasure to grant her help and comfort to those who seek her, it cannot be doubted that she would deign, and even be anxious, to receive the aspirations of the universal Church.” Recalling the First Good Friday when Jesus entrusted her mother to his beloved disciple, it is like Jesus entrust us to her beloved mother, by means of reciting her rosary we place ourselves to her maternal protection. Even up to this very day, twentieth century saints like San Padre Pio de Pietrelcina said that the rosary is the weapon for these times, where Satan and his cohorts are very much alive. Let us strive hard to attain eternal life and always seek the intercession of Mary. To pray the Rosary is to contemplate with Mary most holy, the Lord made flesh, crucified and raised to life for the salvation of all. It is also a prayer of the Church; the holy mother church invites us to journey with Mary in reciting of the rosary. (Dictionary of Mary, 1985)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

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. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray. O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.