The Rosary

Last week, I wrote about the Memorare. This week, it’s the Rosary. I know, two Catholic posts in a row, but they’re heavily linked. Now, if you’re looking for the official Roman Catholic approach to the Rosary, the Vatican website on the topic is probably your best bet.

What is the Rosary?

The word “rosary” apparently means something along the lines of “crown of roses” or “garland of roses” in Latin. And it’s a prayer heavily linked to Mary. In fact, remember all those visitations I mentioned last week? Well, in pretty much all of them, she talks about the Rosary. Now, traditional convention is that when talking about the prayer beads, we use a lower case “r” and when talking about the prayer, we use the upper case “R”.

When I was growing up, the Rosary consisted of 3 rounds of 5 Mysteries, although it’s rare you’d be saying all 15 at once. Then in 2002 I think it was. John Paul II added another set (Luminous).

The Mysteries

Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: Humility.
2. The Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor.
3. The Birth of Jesus. Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty, Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the Poor.
4. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Gift of Wisdom and Purity of mind and body (Obedience).
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: True Conversion (Piety, Joy of Finding Jesus).

Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit, the Healer.
2. The Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary, Understanding of the ability to manifest-through faith.
3. Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in God (Call of Conversion to God).
4. The Transfiguration. Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist. Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration.

Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the Will of God.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification (Purity).
3. The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the World (Moral Courage).
4. The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience.
5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance in Faith, Grace for a Holy Death, Forgiveness.

Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Faith.
2. The Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: Hope, Desire to Ascend to Heaven.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit. 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.
4. The Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: Union with Mary and True Devotion to Mary.
5. The Coronation of the Virgin. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance and an Increase in Virtue (Trust in Mary’s Intercession).

So, each number along there represents the one Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and one Glory Be we say.

Each round of the prayers above is devoted to consideration of and meditation on one mystery. Officially.

Unofficially?

OK, so I know plenty of people get all caught up on the “official” way to pray the Rosary. In my experience, I find Mary isn’t keeping count. Seriously.

I’ve used a decade or two to calm my mind. I’ve used the Rosary as a way to combat insomnia. Meditation. Desperation. Joy. Support. Thankfulness.

I’ve used 1 decade. I’ve used 100 decades.

There are times and seasons in my life I’ve turned to the Rosary and more and less than others. Saying it in Irish is different in my head to saying it in English.

Our Father

Ár nAthair, atá ar neamh, go naomhaítear t’ainm, go dtaga do ríocht, go ndeintear do thoil ar an dtalamh mar a ndeintear ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dhúinn inniu, agus maith dhúinn ár bhfiacha, mar a mhaithimid d’ár bhféichiúnna féin, agus ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc. áiméin.

Hail Mary

Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire, atá lán de ghrásta, tá an Tiarna leat. Is beannaithe thú idir na mná agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne, Íosa. A Naomh-Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé, guigh orainn na peacaigh,anois agus ar uair ár mbáis. áiméin.

Glory Be

Glóire don Athair is don Mhac is don Spiriod Naomh, mar a bhí ar dtúis, mar atá anois, is mar a bheidh go deo, trí shaol na saol. áiméin.

Why share this?

Well, today is the 8th December, which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In other words, it’s the day the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the fact that Mary, the mother of God, was the one person in the entire history of the world, that was born without original sin.

Yeah, it’s got nothing to do with Jesus at all, other than she was his mother.

The Immaculate Conception is very often misunderstood as a feast, with many people thinking it’s because Mary was a virgin who gave birth. Those of you who pay attention to my writings will know how I feel about virginity in general. But because Mary was going to be a vessel for the son of God, she’s special.

Personally though, there’s a bit more to this. As many of ye also know, I went to boarding school for secondary school and the 8th December was the day we celebrated Christmas as a school (well the boarders did. It used to be a day off in the 90’s ok?)

So for me, 8th December stands as the start of the Christmas season.

It’s a personal thing.

And no, it’s not the start of the 12 Days of Christmas – that’s from Christmas Day to Nollag na mBan or Women’s Christmas (also known as the Feast of the Epiphany) on 6th January.

So, this time of year, I start to think more about Mary. And pray the Rosary.

There’s a lot of light and hope there and I need it!