After the Eucharist, the Rosary is the most powerful weapon we have against the devil, so much so that the Virgin in Fatima names it as a remedy for humanity.
St John Bosco has a dream where the Church is tied to two columns that have the Eucharist in one and the Mary Help of Christians in the other.
On October 7, 1571, in Lepanto, an imposing Ottoman army faced a small Christian army in the decisive battle to prevent the fall of Europe at the hands of Islam as it had happened decades ago with the Byzantine Empire.
Before the battle, the Christian army prayed the Rosary and a mist rose and made the Turks unable to maneuver properly, thereby losing the battle.
For this reason the Pope added to the litanies of the Virgin: “Help of Christians. Pray for us”
If you want to pray a Rosary for the Souls in Purgatory, you can go here.
Download the application Loving the hearts of Jesus and Mary that will help you to pray the rosary along with other prayers and practices to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Prayer of the Holy Rosary
From what I have seen, there are two ways of praying the Rosary and basically one is to start with the mysteries and end with the prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, that is, with the Our Father, the three Hail Mary, the Glory and the Creed, and the other is to start with these prayers and then move on to the mysteries, for that reason I leave you both options so that you can choose the one you use.
In both cases you have to cross yourself:
By the sign of the Holy Cross, from our enemies, deliver us, Lord our God.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
and pray an act of contrition asking for forgiveness of our faults.
Now pronounce the intentions for which you are going to pray the Rosary.
If you pray the Creed at the beginning, ask for the intentions of the Holy Father if you want to win the Plenary Indulgence (remember that you must also confess and receive Communion, you must also pray it in community or only in front of the Blessed Sacrament)
Pray the Creed on the cross of the Rosary, then on the first large bead pray a Our Pather, on the three small beads pray a Hail Mary for each and finally on the next large bead pray the Glory.
If you pray the Creed at the end start here
In the heart begin by enunciating the first mystery, and your meditation and then the Lord’s Prayer, then for each of the 10 small beads a Hail Mary and at the end a Glory, ending with the jaculatory:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Your mercy. Amen.
Then in each large Account we are meditating each of the mysteries in order, the mysteries are grouped from 5 to 5 and the prayer of the rosary is considered the meditation of these 5 mysteries, they are four groups called joyful, luminous, painful and glorious that contemplate aspects of the life of Jesus and Mary related in the Gospels except the last two glorious ones that are consequences of the analysis and interpretation of the same
Traditionally they pray depending on the day of the week, but it is not an obligation you can pray the one you consider appropriate for the moment, you can also pray more than one group at a time or pray several times a day.
Joyful Mysteries
First Joyful Mystery. The Annunciation.
“Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you….Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.”… Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.”.
(Lk 1, 26-28.31-38)
Second Joyful Mystery. The Visitation of Our Lady.
“And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah. And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth. And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”.
(Lk 1, 39-41)
Third Joyful Mystery. Jesus’ birth.
“Then it happened that, while they were there, the days were completed, so that she would give birth. And she brought forth her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.”.
(Lk 2, 6-7)
Fourth Joyful Mystery. The purification of the Virgin.
“And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,””.
(Lk 2, 22-23)
Fifth Joyful Mystery. The Child lost and found in the temple.
“the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this. But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day’s journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances. And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them.”.
(Lk 2, 43-46)
Luminous Mysteries
First Luminous Mystery. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
“And it happened that, in those days, Jesus arrived from Nazareth of Galilee. And he was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, upon ascending from the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit, like a dove, descending, and remaining with him. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.””.
(Mk 1, 9-11)
Second Luminous Mystery. Jesus’ self-revelation at the Wedding Feast at Cana.
“And when the wine was failing, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her: “What is that to me and to you, woman? My hour has not yet arrived.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”. This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus accomplished in Cana of Galilee, and it manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.”.
(Jn 2, 3-5.11)
Third Luminous Mystery. The announcement of the Kingdom of God inviting conversion.
“Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying: “For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.””.
(Mk 1,14-15)
Fourth Luminous Mystery.The Transfiguration.
“And while he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his vestment became white and shining…And a voice came from the cloud, saying: “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.””.
(Lk 9, 29.35)
Fifth Luminous Mystery. The Institution of the Eucharist.
“Now while they were eating the meal, Jesus took bread, and he blessed and broke and gave it to his disciples, and he said: “Take and eat. This is my body.” And taking the chalice, he gave thanks. And he gave it to them, saying: “Drink from this, all of you.””.
(Mt 26, 26-27)
Sorrowful Mysteries
First Sorrowful Mystery. The Agony in the Garden.
And departing, he went out, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. And when he had arrived at the place, he said to them: “Pray, lest you enter into temptation.” And he was separated from them by about a stone’s throw. And kneeling down, he prayed, saying: “Father, if you are willing, take this chalice away from me. Yet truly, let not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an Angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more intensely; and so his sweat became like drops of blood, running down to the ground.
(Lc 22, 39-44)
Second Sorrowful Mystery. The Scourging at the Pillar.
“Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do about Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.”…Then Pilate, wishing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them, and he delivered Jesus, having severely scourged him, to be crucified.”.
(Mt 27, 22; Mk 15, 15)
Third Sorrowful Mystery. The Crowning with Thorns.
“Then the soldiers led him away to the court of the praetorium. And they called together the entire cohort. 17. And they clothed him with purple. And platting a crown of thorns, they placed it on him. 18. And they began to salute him: “Hail, king of the Jews””.
(Mk 15, 16-18)
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery. The Carrying of the Cross.
“Therefore, he then handed him over to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away. And carrying his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew it is called the Place of the Skull. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.”
(Jn 19, 16-18)
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord.
“Therefore, when Jesus had seen his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Next, he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple accepted her as his own…Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour. And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And upon saying this, he expired”.
(Jn 19, 26-27; Lk 23, 44-46)
Glorious Mysteries
First Glorious Mystery. The Resurrection of the Lord.
“And upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, covered with a white robe, and they were astonished. And he said to them, “Do not become frightened. You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him”.
(Mk 16, 5-6)
Second Glorious Mystery. The Lord’s Ascension into heaven.
“And Jesus, drawing near, spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…” And lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it happened that, while he was blessing them, he withdrew from them, and he was carried up into heaven.”.
(Mt 28, 18-19; Lk 24, 50-51)
Third Glorious Mystery. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Virgin Mary and the apostles.
“And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same place…And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they began to speak in various languages, just as the Holy Spirit bestowed eloquence to them”.
(Acts 2, 1.3-4)
Fourth Glorious Mystery. Saint Mary’s Assumption into Heaven.
“The Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, at the end of her earthly life, was promoted in body and spirit to heavenly glory”
(Dogmatic definition of Pius XII)
Fifth Glorious Mystery. The coronation of Saint Mary.
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars”.
(Rev 12, 1)
Final Prayers
If you did not start with the Creed, offer these prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (if you want to win the plenary indulgence, remember to confess and take communion), pray the Our Father, the 3 Hail Mary, the Glory and the Creed.
Whether you started with the Creed at the beginning or prayed at the end, say Hail Holy Queen.
Download the application Loving the hearts of Jesus and Mary that will help you to pray the rosary along with other prayers and practices to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.