Praying the Holy Rosary – During May

Did you know?

The Rosary is the traditional devotion in honour of Mary, the Mother of God. It combines vocal and mental prayer. The prayer has 15 decades which are divided into 3 parts of 5 decades, each recalling Jesus’ Life, Passion and Resurrection. When we pray the Holy Rosary, we usually hold a set of Rosary beads.

The word rosary means ‘a garland or wreath of roses.’ Each prayer said in the Rosary is a spiritual rose offered to our Blessed Mother Mary.

In the 13^th century, Jesus’ Mother Mary appeared to St Dominic, the founder of the Order of Friars Preachers. She comforted him and gave him the prayer of Rosary.

The first five mysteries are called the Joyful Mysteries because they brought joy into our hearts as we journey with Mary as the Mother of the Child Jesus.

The second five mysteries are called the Sorrowful Mysteries because they tell the suffering that Jesus underwent for us during His Passion.

The last five mysteries are the Glorious Mysteries because they represent Jesus’ triumph over death and Mary the mother of Jesus, crowned in Heaven.

What are the prayers of the Rosary?

There are 7 prayers said during the devotion – they are:

• The Sign of the Cross
• Apostles Creed
• The Our Father
• The Hail Mary
• The Glory Be
• Fatima Decade Prayer
• The Hail Holy Queen

Here is a diagram that you can use to help your family pray the Rosary together. You could use the Olive Wood heart in your family prayer bags to announce the mystery.