How to Pray the Rosary

If you have ever wondered about the famous Catholic tradition of the Rosary and praying the rosary, this article is likely to interest you. You will discover a great many things about it.

We conducted our own research so you know exactly what the rosary prayer is, and how to perform it.

Although praying the rosary is obvious to Catholic believers, they do not necessarily understand its full meaning. It is important to remember that this act of devotion has a very special meaning.

Without further ado, let's start the article right now!

What is the rosary?

The rosary is a religious jewel composed of several beads threaded on a cord forming a circle. It is an object of devotion, and it is used in many religious traditions . The beads can be counted , and it is by counting them that the prior recites his prayers . These beads can be made from various materials (wood, bone, pits, metal, ivory, coral, precious stone, pearl, etc.). In the Catholic religion , the traditional rosary is made up of five decades of beads. The sequences are spaced by large beads.

The rosary can also refer to the series of prayers that are done using this object. When we talk about praying the rosary , we are mainly referring to this second definition.

In the Christian religion , the rosary finds its place in the Catholic confession. Indeed, it is an act of devotion to the Holy Virgin Mary. Catholics consider that holy personalities have the power to bless us. It is possible to address prayers to them, and to venerate them through religious worship.

Praying the rosary is not just about reciting a series of prayers, meditation is also one of its most important components. The praying person must recite passages from the life of Jesus, and meditate on them.

What prayers make up the rosary?

Each bead of the rosary corresponds to a very specific prayer. The prayers that must be recited are:

• I believe in God

“ 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; descended into hell, the third day rose from the dead, 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

“ 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

“ 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 to the father

“ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever, world without end. Amen. ”

• Hail, O Queen

“ Hail, O Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope, hail. Children of Eve, unfortunate exiles, we raise our cries to you; we sigh for you, groaning and weeping in this valley of tears. O our advocate, turn then towards us your merciful eyes, and as we come out of this exile show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb. O clement, O charitable, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, holy Mother of God. That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ. ”

How to chain the prayers of the rosary?

The rosary begins with the recitation of the Creed . While making the sign of the cross , the prior recites the following words: " In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. " The Creed corresponds to the cross of the rosary , and it opens the sequence.

Then, one must recite an Our Father (corresponding to the first bead), followed by three Hail Marys (theological virtues), and a Glory Be .

The five decades that follow (represented by an isolated bead) all begin with an Our Father . This prayer is followed by ten Hail Marys (in accordance with the group of ten beads), and closes with a Glory Be.

The prayer of the rosary is not done in a single round. Tradition has it that the believer makes four rounds, and this is what is called a "Rosary". A Rosary corresponds to twenty decades, or 200 Hail Marys (Marian Psalter). Each of these decades is associated with the mysteries of the life of Jesus. Thus, we can count five joyful, five sorrowful, five glorious and five luminous.

It is important to note that Pope John Paul II added a fourth series, called the "five luminous ones". But in principle, it should not be prayed during the Rosary. It is mostly done during a single rosary (ideally on Thursday).

You should know that there is also a rosary made up of seven septaines, and whose separation is done by medals or large beads. The sequences close by forming a circle. The rosary ends with a medal preceded by three beads. This very particular model is called "Chapel of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin".

Apart from the Catholic religion, other Christian denominations also use the rosary. However, they use their own models of rosary. For example, the chotki (or komboskini) is a rosary used by the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics. It consists of 30, 50, 100 or 300 knots. Among the Orthodox Old Believers, the rosary is called "lestovka".

We can also take this opportunity to talk about the rosaries called "precious blood". The tradition of "precious blood" is a tribute to the victory of the French army over the revolution of 1849. Nevertheless, this feast reminds us of all the circumstances in which the blood of Christ was shed. This is why the rosary of the precious blood can also be used for prayer.

Why pray the rosary?

The Rosary is a spiritual pause. It is an interior meditation that consists of conversing gently with God. It is a means to draw closer to God , and to place Christ at the center of our life as believers.

The prayer of the rosary is not a simple mechanical recitation . It brings authenticity and depth to the Christian's prayer . Our world is strongly characterized by materialism. However, this kind of behavior distances us from God. Believers want to refocus on their relationship with God . The rosary and the rosary are means that can help them. It is even possible to practice these rituals every day in order to strengthen our spirituality . They are very precious instruments of meditation and prayer. They can help us live in accordance with the principles of God.

Christians are particularly keen that their lives and daily routines be marked by a divine presence . The beads of the rosary accompany us in achieving this goal. Many believers can testify to the beneficial actions of the Rosary . Here are its many benefits:

• The prayer of the rosary exerts “a pacifying action” on the person praying (according to the words of Pope John Paul II);
• Ritual nourishes the Catholic faith. Indeed, it takes us repeatedly through the events of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ;
• The rosary encourages us to meditate deeply on the principal mysteries of our faith;
• It helps us to return to God, and to live according to His principles and His will;
• Praying the rosary encourages us to place Christ at the center of our existence, just like the Holy Virgin (according to Pope Benedict XVI).

For Catholic believers, the Marian prayers of the Rosary are a real “breath of fresh air.” They encourage us to dive into the heart of the Gospel, but accompanied by the Mother of God. This is a particularly effective way to regenerate our relationship with God. Praying every day generally gives good results. Praying the Rosary is therefore far from useless.

Make the Rosary a daily prayer

It is quite possible to pray the rosary every day . Faced with the many demands of the modern world, it is even a very good asset. The prayer of the Rosary has the advantage of being simple and easy to memorize. In addition, it is practiced by thousands of believers across the planet.

As a reminder, the prayers are linked as follows:

• The Creed (pronounced on the cross);
• The Our Father (recited on the large beads);
• The Hail Mary (repeated on the small beads);
• Hail, O Queen (pronounced on the largest bead);
• Glory to the Father (recited at the end of a decade).

These contemplative prayers allow us to find peace in our daily lives, both in our hearts and in our minds. Indeed, we do not need to be in a particular place to recite these prayers. We do not have to pause in silence, or consult a book. Whether you are on the street, on foot, in a car or on the subway, you can always take a moment to pray . The prayers of the rosary require little attention from our hearts and minds.

The Holy Rosary is a very easy prayer. It can even help us combat stress. This prayer can also help fulfill the various wishes of the Christian. Among other things, praying the rosary allows us to:

• Rest our trials and sorrows on the Holy Virgin Mary;
• To show our love and gratitude to the Mother of God;
• Welcoming the gift of the Holy Spirit;
• Drawing closer to God through the Virgin Mary;
• Pray effectively ;
• Protect our family;
• Learn to pray ;
• Overcoming evil by equipping ourselves with great spiritual strength;
• Heal our soul;
• Bringing blessing into our home;
• Bring peace and unity to the world.

So, the more we recite these prayers , the more indispensable they become. Each time we recite them, our heart and soul become a little more peaceful. The rosary teaches us to place ourselves entirely in Jesus Christ, who is our best asset to face this life.

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Have a rosary with you to practice the prayers of the rosary

Now you know that praying the rosary is much more than just a tradition. It is an instrument that you can use to face the different trials of life. Not only will the Rosary endow you with great spiritual strength, but it will also help you soothe your heart and soul. Through praying the rosary , you will be able to meditate deeply on the life and things accomplished by Jesus Christ. You will know why you must completely entrust yourself to Him. In addition to praying the rosary, here is another of our articles that teaches you how to pray to Our Lady of Lourdes .