October: Month of the Holy Rosary

The devotion of the Holy Rosary has been treasured in the church for many centuries. It is a summary of Christian faith in language and prayers inspired by the Bible. The Rosary is one of the best prayers in common.

The origin of this devotion is traditionally connected with St Dominic, who was in Spain in the 13^th century. He founded the order of Preachers, or Dominicans. He went to France as a missionary to convert some people. One day, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Dominic, holding a rosary in her hand. She told him that the devotion of the Rosary would convert sinners and obtain great graces from God. She said “ This is the precious gift which I leave to you “. St Dominic taught the people how to say the Rosary. Later, at Lourdes, France, in 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Bernadette and said the rosary with her. At Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, She said the rosary with the three children to whom she appeared and said: “ I am the Lady of the Rosary , and I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. People must not continue to offend the Lord who is already so deeply offended. They must say the rosary “.

The Rosary is a sacramental. It is a devotion most pleasing to our Blessed Mother and to Our Lord. Long ago, people were punished for going to Mass. They said the rosary when they could not go. It kept the faith alive. It is a very good custom for a family to say the rosary together. “ The family that prays together stays together “.

The Rosary calls to mind the most important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. These events are called Mysteries. There are since October 2002 twenty mysteries (Gospel stories) in it, and are divided into four groups:

Five are Joyful, usually said on Mondays and Saturdays;

Five are Luminous (Thursdays)

Five are Sorrowful ( Tuesdays and Fridays );

Five are Glorious ( Wednesdays and Sundays ).

The Five Joyful Mysteries are:

The Annunciation (Lk 1/26-38)

The Visitation (Lk 1/39-45)

The Birth of Jesus (Lk 2/1-7)

The Presentation (Lk 2/21-40)

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. (Lk 2/41-50)

The Five Mysteries of Light are:

The Baptism of The Lord (Mt. 3:13-17)

The Wedding Of Cana (Jn. 2:1-12)

The Proclamation of The Kingdom (Mk 1:15; Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47-48; Jn 20:22-23).

The Transfiguration. (Luke 9:28-35).

The Institution of The Eucharist. (Mk 14:22-25; Jn 13:1).

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are:

The Agony in the Garden (Luke 22/39-46)

The Scourging (Jn 19/1)

The Crowning with Thorns (Mk 27/27)

The Carrying of the Cross (Jn 19/17-22)

The Crucifixion (Lk 23/44-49)

The Five Glorious Mysteries are:

The Resurrection (Jn 20/1-18)

The Ascension (Luc 24/50-53)

The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Act 2/1-13)

The Assumption of Our Lady (Pope Pius XII : Assumption Dogma 1950)

The Coronation of Our Lady. (Rev 12/13)

People begin the Rosary by saying the Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Mary’s and Glory be. Then they say a decade in honor of each mystery. FIRST THE ANNUNCIATION, OUR FATHER, TEN HAIL MARY’S, GLORY….

Think of each story while you are saying the decade.