The Rosary (; la, , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), also known as the Dominican Rosary,
or simply the Rosary, refers to a set of
prayers used primarily in the
Catholic Church, and to the physical string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers. When referring to the prayer, the word is usually capitalized ("the Rosary", as is customary for other names of prayers, such as "the
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father or Pater Noster, is a central Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. Two versions of this prayer are recorded in the gospels: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gosp ...
", and "the
Hail Mary"); when referring to the
prayer beads as an object, it is written with a lower-case initial letter (e.g. "a rosary bead").
The prayers that compose 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
The Gloria Patri, also known as the Glory Be to the Father or, colloquially, the Glory Be, is a doxology, a short hymn of praise to God in various Christian liturgies. It is also referred to as the Minor Doxology ''(Doxologia Minor)'' or Lesser ...
. Some Catholics also recite the "
O my Jesus" prayer after the Glory Be; it is the most well-known of the seven
Fátima prayers that appeared in the early 20th century. Rosary
prayer beads are an aid for saying these prayers in their proper sequence.
Usually, five decades are recited in a session. Each decade provides 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.
In the 16th century
Pope Pius V established a standard 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, based on long-standing custom. This groups the mysteries in three sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. In 2002,
Pope John Paul II said it is fitting that a new set of five be added, termed the Luminous Mysteries, bringing the total number of mysteries to 20. The mysteries are prayed on specific days of the week; with the addition of the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, the others are the Glorious on Sunday and Wednesday, the Joyful on Monday and Saturday, and the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday.
Over more than four centuries, several popes have promoted the Rosary as part of the
veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church, and consisting essentially in
meditation on the life of 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".
Praying the Rosary
Basic structure
The structure of the Rosary prayer, recited using the rosary beads, is as follows:
The Rosary is begun on the short strand:
* The
Sign of the Cross
Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...
(sometimes using the cross or crucifix);
* The
Apostles' Creed (the cross or crucifix is held in the hand);
* The
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father or Pater Noster, is a central Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. Two versions of this prayer are recorded in the gospels: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gosp ...
at the first large bead (for the needs of the
Catholic Church and the intentions of the reigning
pope);
* The
Hail Mary on each of the next three beads (for the three
theological virtues:
faith,
hope
Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large.
As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish ...
, and
charity); and
* The
Glory Be
The Gloria Patri, also known as the Glory Be to the Father or, colloquially, the Glory Be, is a doxology, a short hymn of praise to God in various Christian liturgies. It is also referred to as the Minor Doxology ''(Doxologia Minor)'' or Lesser ...
in the space before the next large bead.
The praying of the decades then follows, repeating this cycle for each
mystery:
* Announcing the mystery (e.g. "The First Glorious Mystery is the
Resurrection of Jesus.");
* The Lord's Prayer on the large bead;
* The Hail Mary on each of the ten adjacent small beads;
* The Glory Be on the space before the next large bead (often followed by the Fatima Prayer); and
To conclude:
* The
Hail Holy Queen (sometimes with other prayers, while holding the medal or large bead); and
* The Sign of the cross.
Variations and common pious additions
Common pious additions to the Rosary are sometimes inserted after each decade and after recitation of the ''Salve Regina''. Instead of ending each decade with the ''Gloria Patri'',
Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...
would add: "May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace
Rest in peace (RIP), a phrase from the Latin (), is sometimes used in traditional Christian services and prayers, such as in the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist denominations, to wish the soul of a decedent eternal rest and peace.
...
."
Some Catholics piously add the
Fatima Prayer
Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Khadija. Fati ...
after the ''Gloria Patri'', still on the large bead. Some add the
Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal (french: Médaille miraculeuse), also known as the Medal of Our Lady of Graces, is a devotional medal, the design of which was originated by Catherine Labouré following her apparitions of the Blessed Virgin MaryAnn Ball, ...
prayer which begins "O Mary, conceived without sin…", while others add the
Eucharistic
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...
prayer "O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine" in honour of Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament. In the practice of the
Brothers of the Christian Schools
french: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes
, image = Signum Fidei.jpg
, image_size = 175px
, caption =
, abbreviation = FSC
, nickname = Lasallians
, named_after =
, formation ...
, there is a sixth decade for the intentions of the students, or the Virgin Mary.
Other popular additions include the shorter form of the
Prayer to Saint Michael; the ''
Memorare'', and a prayer for the intentions of the Pope. In many cases, the
Litany of Loreto is recited before the end.
In the practice of the
Dominican Order, the beginning prayers of the rosary correspond to the
preces that begin the
Divine Office Divine Office may refer to:
* Liturgy of the Hours, the recitation of certain Christian prayers at fixed hours according to the discipline of the Roman Catholic Church
* Canonical hours
In the practice of Christianity, canonical hours mark t ...
:
# In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
# Hail Mary, full of grace, the is with Thee.
# Blessed art Thou among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
# O , open my lips.
# And my mouth will proclaim Your praise.
#
Incline Your aid to me, O God.
# O , make haste to help me.
# 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.
Group recitation of the Rosary
When a group recites the Rosary, it is customary that the prayers that constitute the decades are divided into two parts. The second part of the Our Father begins with "Give us this day our
daily bread"; the second part of the Hail Mary begins with "Holy Mary,
Mother of God"; and the second part of the Glory Be with "As it was in the beginning". This lends itself to
antiphonal prayer.
Sometimes, a chosen leader will recite the first half of the prayer while other participants recite the second. In another style, recitation of the first part of the prayers is rotated among different persons while still maintaining the traditional Leader-Congregation alternation.
Mysteries of the Rosary
The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond. These are traditionally grouped by fives into themed sets known as the ''Joyful'' (or ''Joyous'') ''Mysteries'', the ''Sorrowful Mysteries'', and the ''Glorious Mysteries''.
Pope John Paul II recommended an additional set called the ''Luminous Mysteries'' (or the "Mysteries of Light") in his apostolic letter ''
Rosarium Virginis Mariae'' (October 2002).
Typically, a spiritual goal known as a "fruit" is also assigned to each mystery. Below are listed from the appendix of
Louis Marie de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and Confessor of the Faith#Western Christianity, confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope ...
's book ''
Secret of the Rosary'' for the original 15 mysteries, with other possible fruits being listed in other pamphlets bracketed:
Joyful Mysteries
# The
Annunciation
The Annunciation (from Latin '), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the biblical tale of the announcement by the ange ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Humility
# The
Visitation
Visitation may refer to:
Law
* Visitation (law) or contact, the right of a non-custodial parent to visit with their children
* Prison visitation rights, the rules and conditions under which prisoners may have visitors
Music
* ''Visitation'' (D ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbour
# The
Birth of Jesus
The nativity of Jesus, nativity of Christ, birth of Jesus or birth of Christ is described in the biblical gospels of Luke and Matthew. The two accounts agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judaea, his mother Mary was engaged to a man na ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty, Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the Poor
# The
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Gift of Wisdom and Purity of mind and body (Obedience)
# The
Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: True Conversion (Piety, Joy of Finding Jesus)
Luminous Mysteries
# The
Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is a major event in the life of Jesus which is described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark and Luke). It is considered to have taken place at Al-Maghtas (also called Bethan ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit, the Healer.
# The
Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary, Understanding of the ability to manifest-through faith.
# Jesus' Proclamation of the
Kingdom of God
The concept of the kingship of God appears in all Abrahamic religions, where in some cases the terms Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are also used. The notion of God's kingship goes back to the Hebrew Bible, which refers to "his kingdom" b ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in God (Call of Conversion to God)
# The
Transfiguration
Transfiguration(s) or The Transfiguration may refer to:
Religion
* Transfiguration of Jesus, an event in the Bible
* Feast of the Transfiguration, a Christian holiday celebrating the Transfiguration of Jesus
* Transfiguration (religion), a mo ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness.
# The
Institution of the Eucharist. Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration.
Sorrowful Mysteries
# The
Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the Will of God
# The
Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification (Purity)
# The
Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the World (Moral Courage)
# The
Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
# The
Crucifixion and Death of our Lord. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance in Faith, Grace for a Holy Death, Forgiveness.
Glorious Mysteries
# The
Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Faith
# The
Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: Hope, Desire to Ascend to Heaven
# The
Descent of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God, Holy Wisdom to know the truth and share it with everyone, Divine Charity, Worship of the
Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
# The
Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: Union with Mary and True Devotion to Mary
# The
Coronation of the Virgin
The Coronation of the Virgin or Coronation of Mary is a subject in Christian art, especially popular in Italy in the 13th to 15th centuries, but continuing in popularity until the 18th century and beyond. Christ, sometimes accompanied by God th ...
. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance and an Increase in Virtue (Trust in Mary's Intercession)
The original ''Mysteries of Light'' were written by
George Preca, the only
Maltese
Maltese may refer to:
* Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta
* Maltese alphabet
* Maltese cuisine
* Maltese culture
* Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people
* Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...
official Catholic saint, and later reformed by the pope.
Mysteries prayer schedule
Traditionally the full Rosary consisted of praying all 15 traditional mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious) together. Alternatively, a single set of five mysteries can be prayed each day, according to the following convention:
Devotions and spirituality
Pope John Paul II placed the Rosary at the very center of Christian spirituality and called it "among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation."
[ ]Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...
is quoted as saying, for example, "The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight."
Saints and popes have emphasized the meditative and contemplative elements of the rosary and provided specific teachings for how the rosary should be prayed, for instance the need for "focus", "respect", "reverence" and "purity of intention" during rosary recitations and contemplations. Scriptural meditations concerning the rosary are based on the Christian tradition of '' Lectio Divina'' (literally "divine reading") as a way of using the Gospel to start a conversation between the person and Christ. Padre Pio, a rosary devotee, said: "Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds him." From the sixteenth century onwards, Rosary recitations often involved "picture texts" that further assisted meditation. Such imagery continues to be used to depict the Mysteries of the rosary.
References to the Rosary have been part of various reported Marian Apparitions spanning two centuries. The reported messages from these apparitions have influenced the spread of Rosary devotion worldwide. In ''Quamquam pluries
''Quamquam pluries'' is an encyclical on Saint Joseph by Pope Leo XIII. It was issued on August 15, 1889 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Saint Joseph
Leo XIII presented St. Joseph as a model at a time when the world and the Church were wrestl ...
,'' Pope Leo XIII related Rosary devotions to Saint Joseph
Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers of ...
and granted indulgences in favour of Christians who, in the month of October, would have added the Prayer to Saint Joseph at the end of the Holy Rosary.
Praying the Rosary may be prescribed by priests as a type of penance
Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of Repentance (theology), repentance for Christian views on sin, sins committed, as well as an alternate name for the Catholic Church, Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox s ...
after the Sacrament of Penance. It must be noted that penance is not generally intended as a "punishment"; rather, it is meant to encourage meditation upon and spiritual growth from past sins.
History
Knotted prayer ropes were used in early Christianity; the Desert Fathers are said to have created the first such, using knots to keep track of the number of times they said the Jesus prayer or the 150 psalms.
According to pious tradition, the concept of the Rosary was given to Dominic of Osma in an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...
during the year 1214 in the church of Prouille, though in fact it was known from the ninth century in various forms. This Marian apparition received the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.[Beebe, Catherine, ''St. Dominic and the Rosary'' ]
According to Herbert Thurston, it is certain that in the course of the twelfth century and before the birth of Dominic, the practice of reciting the ''Ave Maria'' 50 or 150 times had become generally familiar. According to 20th century editions of the '' Catholic Encyclopedia'', the story of Dominic's devotion to the Rosary and supposed apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary does not appear in any documents of the Catholic Church or the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) prior to the writings of the Dominican Alanus de Rupe (also Alan de la Roche), some 250 years after Dominic. However, recent scholarship by Donald H. Calloway seeks to refute this claim.
Leonard Foley said that although Mary's giving the Rosary to Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the Order of Preachers.
The practice of meditation during the praying of the Hail Mary is attributed to Dominic of Prussia (1382–1460), a Carthusian monk who termed it "Life of Jesus Rosary".[ The German monk from Trier added a sentence to each of the 50 Hail Marys, using quotes from scripture (which at that time followed the name "Jesus," before the intercessory ending was added during the ]Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation (), also called the Catholic Reformation () or the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It began with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) a ...
). In 1569, the papal bull '' Consueverunt Romani Pontifices'' by the Dominican Pope Pius V officially established the devotion to the Rosary in the Catholic Church.
From the 16th to the early 20th century, the structure of the Rosary remained essentially unchanged. There were 15 mysteries, one for each of the 15 decades. According to John Henry Newman, Mariology is always Christocentric. During the 20th century, the addition of the Fatima Prayer
Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Khadija. Fati ...
to the end of each decade became common. There were no other changes until 2002, when John Paul II suggested the five optional Luminous Mysteries; variations of these had previously been proposed by George Preca, and were implemented during the mid-20th century by figures such as Patrick Peyton.
Devotional growth
Through the preaching of de Rupe, Rosary confraternities began to be erected shortly before 1475.
When Penal Laws in Ireland restricted or banned the Mass, the Rosary became a substitute prayer ritual within private homes. During the 18th century, de Montfort elaborated on the importance of the rosary and emphasized that it should be prayed with attention, devotion, and modesty (reverence).
In Brazil, two million men engage in a movement called ("Men's Rosary"). It consists of weekly meetings to pray a set of mysteries. In neighboring Hispanic countries, the movement is called .
The theologian Romano Guardini described the Catholic emphasis on the Rosary as "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ."[Rosenkranz, A Heinz. Marienlexikon, Eos, St. Ottilien, 1993, p.555, ] This opinion was expressed earlier by Leo XIII who considered the rosary as way to accompany Mary in her contemplation of Christ.[Encyclical Jucunda Semper 8.9.1894 quoted in Marienlexikon,Eos St. Ottilien, 1988 42]
Papal endorsements
During the 16th century, Pope Pius V associated the rosary with the General Roman Calendar by instituting the Feast of Our Lady of Victory (later changed to Our Lady of the Rosary), which is celebrated on 7 October.
Pope Leo XIII issued twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters concerning the rosary and added the invocation "''Queen of the Most Holy Rosary"'' to the Litany of Loreto. Leo XIII explained the importance of the Rosary as the one road to God from the faithful to the mother and from her to Christ, and through Christ to the Father, and that the Rosary was a vital means to participate with the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ. Leo instituted the custom of praying the Rosary daily during the month of October.
The Rosary as a family prayer was endorsed by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
in his encyclical '' Ingruentium malorum'': "In vain is a remedy sought for the wavering fate of civil life, if the family, the principle and foundation of the human community, is not fashioned after the pattern of the Gospel…We affirm that the custom of the family recitation of the Holy Rosary is a most efficacious means." Pope Pius XII and his successors actively promoted veneration of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima
Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, th ...
, which is credited with a new resurgence of the Rosary within the Catholic Church.[
Pope John XXIII deemed the Rosary of such importance that on 28 April 1962, he issued an apostolic letter where he appealed for recitation of the Rosary in preparation for the Second Vatican Council.]
Pope John Paul II issued the apostolic letter '' Rosarium Virginis Mariae'' which emphasized the Christocentric nature of the Rosary as a meditation on the life of Christ. He said: "Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as by the hands of the Mother of the Redeemer."
On 3 May 2008, Pope Benedict XVI stated that the Rosary was experiencing a new springtime: "It is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother."[ihmhermitage.stblogs.com/2008/05/15/benedict-xvi-on-the-rosary/] For Benedict XVI, the Rosary is a meditation on all the important moments of salvation history.
The Congregation for Divine Worship's directory of popular piety and the liturgy emphasizes the Christian meditation/meditative aspects of the rosary, and states that the Rosary is essentially a contemplative prayer which requires "tranquility of rhythm or even a mental lingering which encourages the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life."[''Directory of popular piety and the liturgy'', §197, Congregation of Divine Worship, Vatican, 2001]
The Congregation for Divine Worship points out the role the Rosary can have as a formative component of spiritual life.
Rosary encyclicals and Apostolic Letters
* '' Consueverunt Romani Pontifices'' – Pius V
* List of encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary
During his pontificate, Pope Leo XIII wrote twelve encyclicals on the Rosary.
The first such encyclical was ''Supremi apostolatus officio'' of September 1883. Most were issued in September in anticipation of October, which Leo would have dedicate ...
* ''Ingravescentibus Malis'' – Pius XI
* '' Ingruentium malorum'' – Pius XII
* '' Grata recordatio'' – John XXIII
* ''Christi Matri
''Christi Matri'' is an encyclical by Pope Paul VI issued on 15 September 1966 to encourage the faithful to pray for peace by way of the customary special devotions during the month of October, traditionally dedicated in honor of the Most Blessed ...
'' – Paul VI
* '' Rosarium Virginis Mariae'' – John Paul II
Rosary beads
Rosary beads provide a physical method of keeping count of the number of Hail Marys said as the mysteries are contemplated. By not having to keep track of the count mentally, the mind is free to meditate on the mysteries. A five-decade rosary contains five groups of ten beads (a "decade"), with additional large beads before each decade. The Hail Mary is said on the ten beads within a decade, while the Lord's Prayer is said on the large bead before each decade. A new mystery meditation commences at each of the large beads. Some rosaries, particularly those used by religious orders, contain fifteen decades, corresponding to the traditional fifteen mysteries of. Both five- and fifteen-decade rosaries are attached to a shorter strand, which starts with a crucifix, followed by one large bead, three small beads, and one large bead, before connecting to the rest of the rosary. A five-decade rosary consists of a "total" of 59 beads.
Although counting the prayers on a string of beads is customary, the prayers of the Rosary do not require beads, but can be said using any type of counting device, by counting on the fingers, or by counting mentally.
Single-decade rosaries
Single-decade rosaries can also be used: the devotee counts the same ring of ten beads repeatedly for every decade. During religious conflict in 16th- and 17th-century Ireland severe legal penalties
Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...
were prescribed against practising Catholics. Small, easily hidden rosaries were thus used to avoid identification and became known as Irish penal rosaries. Sometimes rather than a cross, other symbols of specific meanings were used: a hammer to signify the nails of the cross, cords to represent the scourging, a chalice to recall the Last Supper, or a crowing rooster signifying the denial of Peter.
Materials and distribution
The beads can be made from any materials, including wood, bone, glass, crushed flowers, semi-precious stones such as agate, jet
Jet, Jets, or The Jet(s) may refer to:
Aerospace
* Jet aircraft, an aircraft propelled by jet engines
** Jet airliner
** Jet engine
** Jet fuel
* Jet Airways, an Indian airline
* Wind Jet (ICAO: JET), an Italian airline
* Journey to Enceladus a ...
, amber, or jasper, or precious materials including coral, crystal, silver, and gold. Beads may be made to include enclosed sacred relics or drops of holy water. Rosaries are sometimes made from the seeds of the " rosary pea" or " bead tree." Today, the vast majority of rosary beads are made of glass, plastic, or wood. It is common for beads to be made of material with some special significance, such as jet from the shrine of Saint James the Greater at Santiago de Compostela, or olive seeds from the Garden of Gethsemane. In rare cases, beads are made of expensive materials, from gold and silver, to mother of pearl and Swarovski
Swarovski (, ) is an Austrian producer of glass based in Wattens, Austria, and has existed as a family-owned business since its founding in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski.
The company is split into three major industry areas: the Swarovski Crystal ...
black diamonds. Early rosaries were strung on thread, often silk, but modern ones are more often made as a series of chain-linked beads. Most rosaries used in the world today have simple and inexpensive plastic or wooden beads connected by cords or strings. Italy has a strong manufacturing presence in medium- and high-cost rosaries.
There are a number of rosary-making clubs around the world that make and distribute rosaries to missions, hospitals, prisons, etc. free of charge. Our Lady's Rosary Makers
Our Lady's Rosary Makers is a non-profit Catholic apostolate in Louisville, Kentucky, USA dedicated to spreading devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Rosary. According to the OLRM Web site, its 17,000 members, in the U.S. and other countries, mak ...
produce some 7 million rosaries annually that are distributed to those deemed to be in economic and spiritual need.
Wearing the rosary
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
encouraged Christians to also wear the rosary beads, stating that doing so "eased him considerably." Many religious orders wear the rosary as part of their habit. A rosary hanging from the belt often forms part of the Carthusian habit.
Canon Law §1171 provides that sacred objects, which are designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated reverently and are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use even if they are owned by private persons. As such, according to Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University:
If the reason for wearing a rosary is as a statement of faith, as a reminder to pray it, or some similar reason "to the glory of God," then there is nothing to object to. It would not be respectful to wear it merely as jewelry. This latter point is something to bear in mind in the case of wearing a rosary around the neck. In the first place, while not unknown, it is not common Catholic practice. … While a Catholic may wear a rosary around the neck for a good purpose, he or she should consider if the practice will be positively understood in the cultural context in which the person moves. If any misunderstanding is likely, then it would be better to avoid the practice … Similar reasoning is observed in dealing with rosary bracelets and rings, although in this case there is far less danger of confusion as to meaning. They are never mere jewelry but are worn as a sign of faith.
A 2022 opinion piece in '' The Atlantic'' linked Catholic rosary beads to Christian nationalism, radical traditional Catholicism
Traditionalist Catholicism is the set of beliefs, practices, customs, traditions, liturgical forms, devotions, and presentations of Catholic teaching that existed in the Catholic Church before the liberal reforms of the Second Vatican Counc ...
and "extremist" right wing movements in the United States. The article raised concerns of anti-Catholic sentiment and disrespecting people of faith.
A rosary ring, also known as a " Basque rosary," is a finger ring with eleven knobs on it, ten round ones and one crucifix, representing one decade of a rosary. These and other kinds of religious rings were especially popular during the 15th and the 16th centuries. These rosary rings have been given to some Catholic nuns at the time of their solemn profession.
A rosary bracelet is one with ten beads and often a cross or medal. Another form is the rosary card. A rosary card is either one with a "handle" that moves like a slide rule to count the decade, or it has a whole rosary with bumps similar to Braille and ancient counting systems. Some households that cannot afford Christian artwork or a crucifix simply hang up a rosary as a focal point for prayer. In addition, many Christians hang rosaries from the rear-view mirror of their automobiles as a witness of their faith and protection as they drive.
Rosary recordings and products
Audio recordings of the Rosary help with aspects of prayer such as pacing, memorization, and by providing inspirational meditations in the form of commentary. Some are sponsored by various groups such as the Knights of Columbus, and religious congregations. In 2008, Vatican Radio released a 4-CD set of Pope Benedict XVI praying the Rosary in Latin. Ecclesiastical Latin was used because “we have received requests not only from Italy but from places such as Germany and other countries. So we have used this language for the Rosary which everyone understands easily and because it is the universal language of the Church.”
In October 2019, the Vatican launched a US$109 "electronic rosary" with ten black agate and hematite
Hematite (), also spelled as haematite, is a common iron oxide compound with the formula, Fe2O3 and is widely found in rocks and soils. Hematite crystals belong to the rhombohedral lattice system which is designated the alpha polymorph of . ...
beads, and a metal cross that detects movement. It is linked to the "Click to Pray eRosary" mobile app designed to help Catholic users pray for world peace and contemplate the Gospel. The rosary can be worn as a bracelet, and is activated by making the Sign of the cross. The app also gives visual and audio explanations of the Rosary.
Rosary-based devotions
* Novenas which include recitation of the Rosary is popular among Catholics. The traditional method consists of praying the Rosary along with the other component prayers of the Novena on nine consecutive days.
* The Servite Rosary – originated with the Servite Order, it consists of seven groups of seven beads. It is often said in connection with the Seven Dolours of Mary
Our Lady of Sorrows ( la, Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens), Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows ( la, Mater Dolorosa, link=no), and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names ...
.
* The Franciscan Crown – a devotion that recalls seven joyful episodes in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The practice originated among the Franciscans in early 15th-century Italy. The themes resemble the 12th-century ''Gaudes'', Latin praises that ask Mary to rejoice because God has favoured her in various ways.
* 54-day Rosary Novena – consists of two parts, 27 days each. It is a series of Rosaries in honor of the Virgin Mary, reported as a private revelation in 1884 by Fortuna Agrelli in Naples, Italy.[''The Church's Most Powerful Novenas'' by Michael Dubruiel 2006 pp. 171–174] This Novena is performed by praying five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition. The second phase which immediately follows consists of five decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, and is prayed whether or not the petition has been granted. During the Novena, the meditations rotate among the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries.
* Peace Rosary – also known as the "Workers' Rosary" or the "Peace Chaplet", it is popular with devotees of Our Lady of Medjugorje. The Chaplet later became a basis for a prayer for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, known as the Chaplet in Honour of the Holy Spirit
The Chaplet in Honour of the Holy Spirit, also known as Chaplet of the Holy Spirit and His Seven Gifts, is a modern Christian devotion to the Holy Spirit (invented in Poland), asking for seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, cou ...
, and has been translated into many languages.
In non-Catholic Christianity
Many similar prayer practices exist in other Christian communities, each with its own set of prescribed prayers and its own form of prayer beads (known in some traditions as the '' Chotki''), such as the prayer rope in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. These other devotions and their associated beads are usually referred to as " chaplets". The Rosary is sometimes prayed by other Christians, especially in Lutheranism, the Anglican Communion, and the Old Catholic Church.
Another example of Rosary-based prayers includes the non-denominational Ecumenical Miracle Rosary The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary or "ecumenical rosary" is a set of prayers for ecumenical use associated with the Roman Catholic rosary. The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary presents a core format whose theme is believed by its creator to be central to any C ...
, "a set of prayers and meditations which covers key moments in the New Testament."
Anglicanism
The use of the Catholic Rosary is fairly common among Anglicans of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship. Many Anglo-Catholic prayer books and manuals of devotion, such as Saint Augustine's Prayer Book contain the Catholic Rosary along with other Marian devotions. The public services of the Anglican churches, as contained in the Book of Common Prayer, do not directly invoke the Blessed Virgin or any other saint in prayer as the Thirty-Nine Articles reject the practice of praying to saints, but many Anglo-Catholics feel free to do so in their private devotions. Anglicans who pray the Catholic Rosary tend not to use the Luminous Mysteries or the Fátima decade prayer.[''The Rosary for Episcopalians/Anglicans'' by Thomas Schultz 2003 ]
Anglican prayer beads, also known informally as the "Anglican rosary," are a recent innovation created in the 1980s. They consist of four "weeks" (the equivalent of a decade) of seven beads each. The weeks are separated from each other by single beads termed "cruciform beads". A variety of different prayers may be said, the most common being the Jesus Prayer.
Anglican Prayer Beads are not a Marian devotion, and there are no appointed meditations. Although it is sometimes called the "Anglican ''rosary''," it is distinct from the Rosary of Our Lady as prayed by Catholics, Anglicans, and other Western Christians.[''Mary: The Imagination of Her Heart'' by Penelope Duckworth 2004 p. 118]
Lutheranism
A small minority of Lutherans pray the Rosary. However, while using the Catholic format of the Rosary, each "Hail Mary" is replaced with the "Jesus Prayer". The only time the "Hail Mary" is said is at the end of the Mysteries on the medal, where it is then replaced with the "Pre-Trent" version of the prayer (which omits "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"). The final "Hail Mary" can also be replaced by reciting of either the '' Magnificat'', or Martin Luther's "Evangelical Praise of the Mother of God."[A Lutheran Rosary]
. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
The Wreath of Christ is used in the Lutheran Church of Sweden. While an official order and rubric for its use exists, it is often used as a tool for reflection and meditation rather than recitation of specific prayers or devotions, often as part of Confirmation
In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands. For adults, it is an affirmation of belief. It involves laying on ...
classes. Some members of the Church of Sweden of high-church or evangelical catholic churchmanship will pray the traditional rosary, sometimes in an ecumenical setting with Roman Catholics.
Churches named for the Holy Rosary
Catholic Marian church buildings around the world named in honor of the rosary include: the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei in Italy, '' Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica'' in the archdiocesan seat of Rosario
Rosario () is the largest city in the central provinces of Argentina, Argentine province of Santa Fe Province, Santa Fe. The city is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the west bank of the Paraná River. Rosario is the third-most populous ci ...
province, Argentina; the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás
Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás is, in Catholicism, a title of veneration of the Virgin Mary associated with a reported private revelation to Gladys Quiroga de Motta, a middle-aged housewife, beginning in the 1980s in the city of San Nicol ...
in the neighboring suffragan diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Our Lady of Pompeii in New York City, which is named for the Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, the '' Rosary Basilica'' in Lourdes, ''Nossa Senhora do Rosário'' in Porto Alegre, Brazil, The Chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary (1531–1690) in Puebla City, Mexico.
Image:Fatima.jpg, Rosary Basilica, Fatima
The Rosary (; la, , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), also known as the Dominican Rosary, or simply the Rosary, refers to a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and to the physical string of knots or b ...
, Portugal, 1953.
File:Sanctuary NDL 3.jpg, Rosary Basilica, Lourdes, France, 1899.
File:Drawien Church 03 (2009).JPG, Our Lady of the Rosary, Drawień
Drawień is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Szczecinek, within Szczecinek County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Szczecinek and east of the regional capital Szczecin.
...
, Poland, 1695.
File:ToledoCathedralHolyRosary.jpg, Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, Ohio, 1931.
File:Santuario_de_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Rosario_de_San_Nicol%C3%A1s.JPG, Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás
Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás is, in Catholicism, a title of veneration of the Virgin Mary associated with a reported private revelation to Gladys Quiroga de Motta, a middle-aged housewife, beginning in the 1980s in the city of San Nicol ...
, Buenes Aires province, Argentina
In Marian art
Since the 16th century, the rosary began to appear as an element in Catholic Marian art.[''The road from Eden: studies in Christianity and culture'' by John Barber 2008 p. 288] One notable depiction of the rosary in Marian art is seen in Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, known as simply Caravaggio (, , ; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the final four years of hi ...
's ''Madonna of the Rosary
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
'' oil canvas painting in Vienna. Other depictions are shown below.
Image:Madonnadelrosario Nicola Porta.jpg, Madonna and rosary by Nicola Porta
Image:Guido Reni 057.jpg, Madonna with rosary, by Guido Reni, 1596
Image:Maria Anger - Seitenaltar 2.jpg, Madonna offering Saint Dominic rosary by August Palme, 1860
Image:Bartolomé Esteban Perez Murillo 020.jpg, Madonna with the Rosary by Murillo, 1650
Image:545px-Madonna del Rosario formiello - particolare.JPG, Madonna of the Rosary statue, Naples, Italy
Image:N-s-dos-passos-14.jpg, Rosary Madonna, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Image:Rosary-Madonna-Atzwang.jpg, Madonna with Rosary, South-Tyrol, Austria
Image:Rosary-Madonna-Mersa.jpg, Madonna with Rosary by Josef Mersa, Italy
Image:Meditationmystery.jpg, Crucifixion and rosary
Image:Saint ANoine.jpg, Saint Anthony with a rosary
File:Rosary with pomander.jpg, Rosary with pomander
File:Laurens vieille normande.JPG, Old woman praying
Image:Michelangelo Merisi, called Caravaggio - Madonna of the Rosary - Google Art Project.jpg, Madonna of the Rosary by Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, known as simply Caravaggio (, , ; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the final four years of hi ...
File:Virgen_Maria_San_Nicolas_2.jpg
File:Icona_Madonna_Pompei.jpg
See also
* The Angelus
* Anglican devotions
* Catholic devotions
* Catholic Mariology
* Confraternity of the Rosary
* Franciscan Crown
* Methods of praying the rosary
Five methods of praying the rosary are presented within the works of Saint Louis de Montfort, a French Roman Catholic priest and writer of the early 18th century. Montfort was an early proponent of Mariology, and much of his work is devoted to the ...
* Rule of the Theotokos The Rule of the Theotokos is a Christian prayer of the Eastern Orthodox that consists of reciting the Angelic salutation 150 times. This rule is similar to the Rosary of the Western Church.
Some believe that the Mother of God showed the Rule to ...
* Prayer rope
* Secret of the Rosary
* Papal support
** '' Ingruentium malorum'' (Pope Pius XII)
** '' Rosarium Virginis Mariae'' (Pope John Paul II)
* Prayer beads
References
Works cited
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General references
* "Rosary" in ''New Catholic Encyclopedia''. Ed. Catholic University of America. New York: McGraw Hill, 1967.
Further reading
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External links
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"How to Pray the Rosary", USCCB
{{Authority control
Christian terminology
Salvation in Catholicism