Our Ladys Wailing House

The Rosary consists of a series of prayers, including the Apostles' Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and others. These prayers are said while reflecting on the Mysteries of the Rosary, which are significant moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. These mysteries are divided into four groups:

• Joyful Mysteries
• Sorrowful Mysteries
• Glorious Mysteries
• Luminous Mysteries

Each set of mysteries focuses on different key events, such as the Annunciation, the Passion of Christ, the Resurrection, and the Ministry of Christ.

The word "Rosary" comes from the Latin "rosarium," meaning "rose garden." It symbolizes the devotion and the sweet fragrance of prayers being offered to God through the intercession of Mary.

Why Pray the Rosary

The Rosary is considered a powerful prayer for several reasons:

1. Draws Us Closer to Jesus:
   By meditating on the life of Jesus and Mary, the Rosary helps to deepen one's relationship with Christ and encourages the Christian virtues of humility, patience, and faith.
2. Spiritual Strength and Comfort:
   The repetitive prayers and meditations bring comfort and peace to those who pray, especially during times of stress, anxiety, or difficulty. It helps to calm the mind and heart, allowing the individual to focus on God's grace.
3. Intercessory Prayer:
   The Rosary is a way to ask for Mary's intercession before God. Catholics believe that Mary, as the Mother of Jesus, is a powerful advocate who intercedes on behalf of those who pray to her.
4. Promotes Peace:
   The Rosary has long been associated with peace, both in individual hearts and in the world. Many have turned to the Rosary in times of war and conflict, seeking peace and healing through prayer.
5. Strengthens Faith:
   Praying the Rosary regularly builds spiritual discipline and strengthens one's faith in God. It encourages a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and promotes a life centered around Christ's teachings.
6. Fulfillment of Promises:
   Various saints and popes have encouraged the faithful to pray the Rosary, offering promises of grace and blessings. Pope Leo XIII, in his Apostolic Letter "Octobri Mense", said that the Rosary "is a powerful weapon" for defeating evil and cultivating holiness.

How to pray the Rosary

Here's a simple step-by-step guide on how to pray the Rosary, broken down into its main components:

1. Start with the Sign of the Cross
   Begin by making the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Apostles' Creed
   Recite the Apostles' Creed to affirm your Catholic faith: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord...(Continue with the full Apostles' Creed.)
3. Our Father
   Say the Our Father (The Lord's Prayer) on the first large bead.
4. Three Hail Marys
   Say three Hail Marys on the next three smaller beads, asking for the gift of faith, hope, and charity.
5. Glory Be
   Recite the Glory Be prayer: 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.
6. Announce the First Mystery
   Announce the first mystery and then say the Our Father on the large bead.
7. Say 10 Hail Marys
   On each of the 10 smaller beads, say one Hail Mary while meditating on the mystery.
8. Glory Be and Fatima Prayer
   After the 10 Hail Marys, say the Glory Be, followed by the Fatima Prayer: 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 Thy mercy.
9. Repeat for the Next Mysteries
   Continue with the next four sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous), repeating the same process for each.
10. Hail Holy Queen
    After the five mysteries have been completed, end with the Hail Holy Queen: Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope...
11. Final Prayer
    Say the closing prayer: O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon 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.
12. Sign of the Cross
    Conclude by making the sign of the cross again

The Mysteries of the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Everyday)

• The Annunciation: Mary receives the message from the angel Gabriel that she will bear the Son of God.
• The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
• The Nativity: The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
• The Presentation in the Temple: Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the Temple, as per Jewish law.
• The Finding in the Temple: Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple after searching for him for three days.

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

• The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking for strength before His Passion.
• The Scouring at the Pillar: Jesus is scourged (whipped) by Roman soldiers.
• The Crowning with Thorns: Jesus is crowned with a crown of thorns and mocked by soldiers.
• The Carryin of the Cross: Jesus carries His cross to the site of His crucifixion.
• The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies for the sins of the world.

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday)

• The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead, conquering death and sin.
• The Ascension Jesus ascends to Heaven, promising to send the Holy Spirit.
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles at Pentecost.
• The Assumption of Mary: Mary is taken up body and soul into Heaven
• The Coronation of Mary: Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)

• The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan: Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, showing His humility
• The Wedding at Cana: Jesus performs His first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding.
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God and calls for repentance
• The Transifiguration: Jesus is transifiguration on the mountain, revealing His divine glory.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus institutes the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.

Prayer for the Rosary

Opening Prayer

1. Sign of the Cross
   • In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Apostles' Creed:
   • 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.
3. Our Father:
   • 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.

The Hail Mary

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

Glory Be

• 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.

The Fatima Prayer (after each decade)

• O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Closing Prayers

1. Hail Holy Queen
   • 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, 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. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
2. Final Prayer
   • O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon 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.
   • My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore , do don't hope, and don't love You.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loreto)

• Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
• Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
• God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
• God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
• God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
• Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
• Holy Mary, pray for us.
• Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
• Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
• Mother of Christ, pray for us.
• Mother of the Church, pray for us.
• Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us.
• Mother Most Pure, pray for us.
• Mother Most Chaste, pray for us.
• Mother Inviolate, pray for us.
• Mother Undefiled, pray for us.
• Mother Most Amiable, pray for us.
• Mother Most Admirable, pray for us.
• Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.
• Mother of Our Creator, pray for us.
• Mother of Our Savior, pray for us.
• Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Prudent, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Venerable, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Renowned, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Merciful, pray for us.
• Virgin Most Faithful, pray for us.
• Mirror of Justice, pray for us.
• Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
• Cause of Our Joy, pray for us.
• Spiritual Vessel, pray for us.
• Vessel of Honor, pray for us.
• Singular Vessel of Devotion, pray for us.
• Mystical Rose, pray for us.
• Tower of David, pray for us.
• Tower of Ivory, pray for us.
• House of Gold, pray for us.
• Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
• Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
• Morning Star, pray for us.
• Health of the Sick, pray for us.
• Refuge of Sinners, pray for us.
• Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.
• Help of Christians, pray for us.
• Queen of Angels, pray for us.
• Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
• Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
• Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
• Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
• Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
• Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
• Queen of All Saints, pray for us.
• Queen Conceived Without Original Sin, pray for us.
• Queen Assumed Into Heaven, pray for us.
• Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
• Queen of Peace, pray for us.
• Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
• Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
• Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
• Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.