The Holy Rosary
THE HOLY ROSARY
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God,/ the Father Almighty,/ creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ,/ His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/ was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day/ he rose again. He ascended into heaven,/ and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again/ 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be
The Fatima Decade Prayer (after each decade):
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need of your mercy.
Queen of the most holy rosary, - pray for us.
The Joyful Mysteries
(on Mondays and Saturdays)
I. The Annunciation
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Angel Gabriel saluted Virgin Mary the mother of God with the title: “Full of Grace,” and declared to her the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
II. The Visitation
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the Angel that her relative, Elizabeth, had conceived, went with haste to the mountains of Judea to visit her, and remained with her about three months.
III. The Birth of Jesus
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her delivery had come, brought forth her son, Jesus Christ, at mid-night, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn at Bethlehem.
IV. The Presentation of Jesus
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her
purification, presented the Child Jesus in the temple, where holy Simeon, giving thanks to God with great joy, received him into his arms, and with the prophetess Anna, proclaimed him Saviour of the world.
V. Jesus in the Temple
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary and Joseph, having lost the Child Jesus in Jerusalem, sought him for three days, and to their great joy found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(on Tuesdays and Fridays)
I. The Agony in the Garden
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord, Jesus Christ, was so afflicted for us in the garden of Gethsemane, that His Body was bathed in a sweat of blood.
II. The Scourging of Jesus
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, being delivered up by Pilate to the fury of the soldiers, was tied to a pillar and most cruelly scourged.
III. The Crowning with Thorns
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the soldiers plaited a crown of sharp thorns, and most cruelly pressed it on the sacred Head of our Lord Jesus Christ.
IV. The Carrying of the Cross
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord, Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bore with the most amazing patience, the Cross which was laid upon Him for His greater torment and ignominy.
V. The Crucifixion
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ was stripped off His
clothes, and how His hands and feet were most cruelly nailed to the Cross, on which He died, in the presence of His most afflicted Mother.
The Glorious Mysteries
(on Wednesdays and Sundays)
I. The Resurrection
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing over death, rose again the third day glorious and immortal.
II. The Ascension
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus, forty days after his resurrection, ascended into Heaven, in the presence of his most Holy Mother, and his Apostles and disciples.
III. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated at the right hand of God, sent, as he had promised, the Holy Spirit upon his Apostles, who after the Ascension, returned to Jerusalem, and continued in prayer and supplication with the Blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the fulfilment of His promise.
IV. The Assumption
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the glorious Virgin, many years after the Resurrection of her Son, passed out of this world to Him, and was taken bodily into
Heaven, accompanied by the holy Angels.
V. The Crowning of Mary in Heaven
Let us contemplate in this mystery how the glorious Virgin Mary was, to the great jubilation and exultation of the whole court of Heaven, crowned by her Son with the
brightest diadem of glory, and how all the Saints rejoice with her in heaven.
The Luminous Mysteries
(on Thursdays)
1. Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan
Let us contemplate in this mystery the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the descending of the Holy Spirit upon him and the Father’s voice saying: “This is my beloved Son, in him I am well pleased.”
II. The Wedding Feast of Cana
Let us contemplate in this mystery the presence of Mary and Jesus at the wedding
feast at Cana and how Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, worked his first miracle - changing water into wine.
III. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Let us contemplate in this mystery Jesus’ proclamation of the coming of God’s Kingdom and his invitation to repent over our sins and to grow in faith.
IV. The Transfiguration
Let us contemplate in this mystery the transfiguration of Jesus on mount Tabor. A
voice from heaven said: “this is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him.”
V. The Institution of the Eucharist
Let us contemplate in this mystery the institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus
at the Last Supper and thus sharing with us his Body and Blood as our food and drink in our spiritual journey to Heaven.
The Marian Litany of Loreto
(Approved in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V)
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us, Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us, Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, ”
God the Holy Spirit, ”
Holy Trinity, one God, ”
Holy Mary, Pray for us
Holy Mother of God, ”
Holy Virgin of virgins, ”
Mother of Christ, ”
Mother of the Church,
Mother of mercy,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother of hope,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honour,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Solace of migrants,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace.
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, O Lord.
We have recourse to your protection, holy Mother of God, reject not the prayers we
send up to you in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, -
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: Defend O Lord, we beseech you, by the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, this your family from all adversity; and mercifully protect us, who prostrate ourselves before you with all our hearts, from the snares of the enemy through Christ our Lord. Amen
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen,/ mother of mercy,/ our life our sweetness, and our hope,/ to you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs,/ mourning and weeping/ in this vale of tears. Turn then,/ most gracious advocate,/ your eyes of mercy towards us,/ and after this our exile,/ show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, -
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: Almighty and eternal God, you have ordained from all eternity, the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the worthy dwelling place of your beloved Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grant, we beseech you, that we who rejoice over her merits, may be preserved by her intercession from all the dangers of the world and eternal death. This we ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
O Faithful guardian and Father of Virgins, Blessed Joseph to whom was confided the care of Jesus and Mary, the Queen of Virgins, we most humbly supplicate you, by the love you do bear for Jesus and Mary, to obtain for us that, being preserved from every stain of sin for our whole life, we may be ever able to serve them with unspotted purity of mind and body. Amen.
1 Our Father... 1 Hail Mary ... 1 Glory be...
Prayer to the Guardian Angels
Our guardian angels watch over us who are entrusted to your care by the Grace of
God, this day and at the time of our death. Our Patron Saints, Holy Apostles Peter, Paul and Thomas, pray for us that we may always find favour with God. Amen.
1 Our Father ..., 1 Hail Mary ...,1 Glory be ...
Prayer for the Departed Souls
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. –
Eternal Father,/ have mercy on them/ by the merits of the most precious Blood/ of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Our Father ..., 1 Hail Mary ..., 1 Glory be ...
(Repeat 3 times)
Prayer for the Mission
(Prayer of Pope Francis)
Heavenly Father, empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be courageous and zealous in bearing witness to the Gospel, so that the mission entrusted to the Church, which is still very far from completion, may find new and efficacious expressions that bring life and light to the world. Help us make it possible for all peoples to experience the saving love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Amen.
1 Our Father ..., 1 Hail Mary ..., 1 Glory be ...
St. Thomas the Apostle, pray for us.
St. Therese of Child Jesus, pray for us.
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
St. Alphonsa, pray for us.
Remember, O Mary (Prayer of St. Bernard)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,/ that never was it known,/ that anyone who fled to your protection,/ implored your help/ and sought your intercession/ was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence,/ I fly unto you, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To you I come,/ before you I stand,/ sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,/ despise not my petitions,/ but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.