The Holy Rosary in Latin English and Spanish

The Holy Rosary in English, Latin and Spanish-With Useful and Informative Articles on The History of the Holy Rosary, the Brown Scapular and Why Catholics Pray to MaryPlease join with the Church Militant throughout the entire universal Church in saying the holy Rosary. We urge you to learn it in Latin for it helps in preserving the Truths and Traditions of Holy Mother Church by praying in the Mother tongue. It also helps cut down on distractions when said in the language of the angels, and by alternating mysteries between Latin and English, it also helps you keep track of the decade you're on. We have also included Spanish to accommodate as many Catholics as possible. Outside of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the holy Rosary is the most powerful weapon we have against the world, the flesh and the devil. Pray it as often as you can and say as many Rosaries as possible daily depending on your particular state-of-life. Joyful Mysteries Prayed on Monday, Thursday and Saturday Sorrowful Mysteries Prayed on Tuesday, Friday, Lent and Advent Glorious Mysteries Prayed on Sunday, Wednesday, and Paschaltide --------------------------------Prayers of the Holy Rosary I unite with all the saints in Heaven, with all the just on earth and with all the faithful here present. I unite with Thee, O my Jesus, in order to praise worthily Thy Holy Mother and to praise Thee in her and through her. I renounce all the distractions I may have during this Rosary which I wish to pray with modesty, attention and devotion, just as if it were to be the last of my life. We offer Thee, O Most Holy Trinity, this Creed in honor of all the mysteries of our Faith; this Our Father and these three Hail Mary's in honor of the unity of Thy Essence and the Trinity of Thy Persons. We ask of Thee a lively Faith, a firm Hope, and an ardent Charity. Amen. Saint Louis Marie de Montfort . ------------------------------ The Apostles' Creed In nomine Patris, et Filii, † et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. Credo in Deum Patri omnipotentem, Creatorum Caeli et terrae; et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius, Unicum, Dominum nostrum, Qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus et sepultis; descendit ad inferos; teritie die resurrexit a mortuis; ascendit Caelos, sedet ad dexteram Die Patris omnipotentis; inde venturis est judicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorium, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, † and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only-begotten Son, Our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And in life everlasting. Amen. En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, †y del Espíritu Santo. Creo en Dios, Padre todopoderoso, creador del Cielo y de la Tierra. Creo en Jesucristo su único Hijo, Nuestro Señor, que fue concebido por obra y gracia del Espíritu Santo; nació de Santa María Virgen; padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato; fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado; descendió a los infiernos; al tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos; subió a los cielos y está a la diestra de Dios Padre; desde allí ha de venir a juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. Creo en el Espíritu Santo, en la Santa Iglesia Católica, la comumión de los Santos en el perdon de los pecados la resurrección de los muertos y la vida eterna. Amen. Pater Noster The Lord's Prayer Padre nuestro Pater Noster, Qui es in Coelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum, fiat voluntas Tua, sicut in Caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris; et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen. Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by 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 tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Padre nuestro, Que estás en el Cielo. Santificado sea Tu nombre. Venga Tu reino. Hágase Tu voluntad en la tierra como en el Cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Amen Three Hail Mary's for an increase in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. After each Hail Mary, recite the corresponding Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity below. Ave Maria Hail Mary Dios te salve, Maria Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructis ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. 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. Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen ACT OF FAITH O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou has revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructis ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. 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. Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen ACT OF HOPE O my God, relying on Thy Almighty Power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructis ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. 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. Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen ACT OF CHARITY O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Gloria Patri Doxology Prayer Gloria al Padre Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Gloria al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amen. The Fatima Prayer This is said after every Gloria Patri O Mi Jesu, remitte nobis peccata nostra, custodi nos ab igne inferi, attrahe omnes animas ad Caelum praecipue illas maxime egentes misericordiae Tuae. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy Mercy. Oh mi Jesús, perdónanos nuestros pecados, líbranos del fuego del infierno, lleva todas las almas al cielo, especialmente las mas necesitadas de tu misericordia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Mysteries of the Rosary Traditionally Monday, Thursday, and Saturday are the Joyful Mysteries; Sunday and Wednesday the Glorious Mysteries, sometimes on Saturday; Tuesday and Friday and all through Lent and Advent the Sorrowful Mysteries; during Christmastide the Joyful Mysteries, and during Easter Season the Glorious Mysteries. For more on the Mysteries, see below. The Joyful Mysteries The Sorrowful Mysteries The Glorious Mysteries One prays ten Hail Mary's while meditating on the particular Mystery. At the end of each decade, one prays the Doxology, then the Fatima Prayer, followed by May the grace of the Mystery of (name the Mystery just prayed) come down into our souls. Amen. Salve Regina At the end of the Rosary, one prays the Hail, Holy Queen. Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus gementes et fientes in hac lacrymarum valle. Eia ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis, post hoc exilium, ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. Oremus. Deus, cujus Unigentius per vitam mortemet resurrectionenem Suam nobis salutis aeterne praemia comparavit: concede, quaesumus; ut haec mysteria sanctissimo beatae Mariae Virginis Rosario recolentes, et imitemur quor promittunt, assequamur. Per eumdem Dominum. Amen. Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God Whose only begotten Son by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Dios te salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia, vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve. A ti clamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva. A ti suspiramos gimiendo y llorando en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra: vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos. Y después de este destierro, muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre. Oh clemente, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María. Ruega por nosotros, Santa Madre de Dios, para que seamos dignos de las promesas de Cristo. Oh Dios de quién Único Hijo nos ha otorgado los beneficios de la vida eterna, concédenos la gracia que te pedimos mientras meditamos los Misterios del Mas Santo Rosario de la Bienaventurada Virgen María, debemos imitar lo que contienen y obtener lo que prometen, a través del mismo Cristo Nuestro Señor. Amen. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Useful Mediations and Prayers on the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOYFUL MYSTERIES 1. Annunciation We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this first decade in honor of Thy Incarnation in Mary's womb, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through her intercession, a profound humility. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Ground for spiritual life Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray for the virtues of humility and purity of heart, so that we can become like Mary and say: "I am your faithful servant O Lord, let it be done to me according to your Divine Will." Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Annunciation blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners to open our hearts with humility and purity to the Word of God, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2. The Visitation We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this second decade in honor of the Visitation of Thy holy Mother to her cousin St. Elizabeth and the sanctification of St. John the Baptist in her womb, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, charity towards our neighbor. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Practice of love to God and neighbor. Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery we pray for Charity in our hearts, that we may be visited by the Queen of Heaven to receive the ardent fire of Charity, so that we may worship you and that we may love and serve our neighbor. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Visitation, blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to be filled with Charity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 3. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this third decade in honor of Thy Nativity in the stable of Bethlehem, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, detachment from the things of the world, contempt of riches and love of poverty. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Adoration of God Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we acknowledge Jesus as the King of Kings, our Lord and Saviour, and we pray for all those who don't know Jesus, to come to the fountain of Salvation. Jesus, may you be born in every heart and enthrone your Kingdom within. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Nativity, blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to worship the Lord now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 4. The Presentation We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourth decade in honor of Thy Presentation in the Temple and the Purification of Mary, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, purity of body and soul. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Trust in Mother Mary Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we can become like little children, because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them, you gave us our Heavenly Mother at the cross when you said to John, " behold your Mother " We accept you Mother Mary as our Mother and we pray that you will teach us, guide us, help us, nourish us and prepare us to be worthy to come before the Presence of the Lord. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Presentation blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, present us to the Lord now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 5. Finding of the Child Jesus in the temple We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifth decade in honor of Mary's finding Thee in the Temple, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the gift of true wisdom. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: To find Jesus through the fruit of the Holy Ghost Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we live our lives in conformity with the Gospel, and since we are temples of your Holy Spirit, we pray that you help us to find you as we practice virtue and aspire to be holy. May we discover you as we live with patience, faith, hope, love, humility, meekness, charity, peace, generosity, faithfulness and self control. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the finding of the child Jesus in the temple blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, help us to find him now and at the hour of our death. Amen. ------------------------------ SORROWFUL MYSTERIES 6. Agony in the Garden We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honor of Thy Agony in the Garden of Olives, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, contrition for our sins. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Repentance Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we may feel sorrow for our sins, we pray for the conversion of the whole world. Teach us how to pray and to accept always your Divine Will. " Not my will Lord, but your Will be done. " Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Agony in the Garden blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to convert now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 7. Scourging at the Pillar We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honor of Thy cruel Scourging, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the grace of mortifying our senses. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Overcoming the flesh; mortification of the body Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that your grant us the graces of purity and chastity according to our state of life. We pray that you forgive us for the sins committed in our bodies which are your temple and we ask you to forgive us and to forgive the whole world. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the scourging blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to overcome the flesh now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 8. The Crowning with Thorns We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honor of Thy being crowned with thorns, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, contempt of the world. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Overcoming the world Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that you help us to overcome the materialism of our lives. We have been attached to so many temporal and visual things and we have neglected your call. Grant us to attach ourselves only to your Most Sacred Heart. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the crowning with thorns blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to overcome the world now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 9. Carrying of the cross We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honor of Thy carrying of the Cross, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, patience in bearing our crosses. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Overcoming the devil Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we may learn to accept your Holy Will and that we carry your cross daily. We pray that your give us Our Lady as our Cyrenean to help us carry the cross to Calvary. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the carrying of the cross blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to overcome satan by doing the will of God now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 10. Crucifixion We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honor of Thy Crucifixion and ignominious Death on Calvary; and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of the just, and the relief of the souls in Purgatory. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Remaining crucified in imitation of Jesus Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we come to Calvary with the crosses that you have given us in our sufferings, trials, misunderstandings, limitations and sicknesses. We pray that you accept our offering, as we crucify our will, our passions, our temptations from the world, the devil and the flesh. Unite us O Lord Jesus to your Most Precious Blood, have Mercy on us and on the whole world. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the crucifixion blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to be saved now and at the hour of our death. Amen. ------------------------------------------------------- GLORIOUS MYSTERIES 11. Resurrection We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eleventh decade in honor of Thy glorious Resurrection, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, love of God and fervor in Thy service. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Practice of the faith Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that the Light of the Resurrection will shine upon our souls renewing us daily with the Holy Spirit. We pray that you increase our Faith. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the resurrection blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, increase our faith now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 12. The Ascension We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this twelfth decade in honor of Thy triumphant Ascension, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, an ardent desire for Heaven, our true home. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Practice of Trust in God Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we trust in Jesus who has ascended into Heaven to intercede for us and to prepare a place for our souls. Grant us Lord that we may always trust in you with the Grace of Hope. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Ascension blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, increase our trust in God now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 13. The Descent of the Holy Ghost Upon the Apostles We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this thirteenth decade in honor of the Mystery of Pentecost, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the coming of the Holy Ghost into our souls. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Practice of Love to God - Witnessing the faith Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that the little spark of love that you placed in our hearts in baptism may grow constantly as we adore you and as we love our neighbor. Anoint us O Lord with the fire of your Divine Love, purify us, heal us, bless us and sanctify us with the Power of your Holy Spirit. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In Pentecost blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, increase our love now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 14. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourteenth decade in honor of the resurrection and triumphant Assumption of Thy holy Mother into Heaven, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through her intercession, a tender devotion for so good a Mother. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Consecration to Our Lady Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we can have great love for our Lady. We acknowledge her dignity as the perfect daughter of God, the Mother of God the Son and the Heavenly Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. Mother Mary, help us to grow in virtue: in humility, purity, faith, hope, love, charity, obedience, detachment from the world, prudence, silence, patience, prayer and contemplation. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Assumption blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to come to you with great devotion now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 15. The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and earth We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifteenth decade in honor of the Coronation of Thy holy Mother, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through her intercession, perseverance in grace and a crown of glory hereafter. Amen. MEDITATION for this mystery: Glory of the life to come Heavenly Father, as we offer you this mystery, we pray that we may keep our spiritual eyes fixed on the things of Heaven, we pray that Kingdom of Heaven be enthroned in our hearts as we open them to Jesus and Mary. Grant us the final perseverance. Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. In the Coronation blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, my mother, pray for us sinners, to have holy fear of God and to persevere now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary (Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan) Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary. The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination. ------------------------------------------------------------ The History of the Rosary And Other Important Information "One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world" These were the words spoken to Saint Dominic by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1208 when she appeared to him. The Rosary as we know it today was in a different form in it's beginnings. Now let us look at the times before St. Dominic, at the earlier history of prayer that gave birth to the Rosary. At an early date among the monastic orders the practice of counting prayers established itself not only of offering Masses, but of saying vocal prayers as a suffrage for their deceased brethren. For this purpose the private recitation of the 150 psalms, or of 50 psalms, the third part, was constantly enjoined. Already in A.D. 800 we learn from the compact between St. Gall and Reichenau ("Mon. Germ. Hist.: Confrat." Piper, 140) that for each deceased brother all the priests should say one Mass and also fifty psalms. "Ancient Customs of Cluny", collected by Udalrio in 1096, that when the death of any brother at a distance was announced, every priest was to offer Mass, and every non-priest was either to say fifty psalms or to repeat fifty times the Paternoster (The Lord's Prayer). To count these accurately there is every reason to believe that already in the eleventh and twelfth centuries a practice had come in of using pebbles, berries, or discs of bone threaded on a string. It is in any case certain that the Countess Godiva of Coventry (c 1075) left by will to the statue of Our Lady in a certain monastery "the circlet of precious stones which she had threaded on a cord in order that by fingering them one after another she might count her prayers exactly" (Malmesbury, "Gesta Pont.", Rolls Series 311). Another example seems to occur in the case of St. Rosalia (A. D. 1160), in whose tomb similar strings of beads were discovered. Even more important is the fact that such strings of beads were known throughout the Middle Ages - and in some Continental tongues are known to his day - as "Paternosters" which are Our Fathers. The evidence for this is overwhelming and comes from every part of Europe. In the times before St. Dominic we can see that the, Paternosters, (The Lord's Prayer) was prayed, and we know from history that during St. Dominic's time The Lord's Prayer and Our Lady's Psalter, (The Hail Mary) were prayed on pebbles, or a string of beads. St. Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse where he prayed unceasingly for three days and three nights. During this time he did nothing but weep and do harsh penance's in order to appease the anger of Almighty God. Tradition tells that our Lady appeared to him while he prayed. The story is told that she spoke to him gently that day in the forest. "My son," the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls. Pray my Psalter and teach it to your people. That prayer, will never fail." "Our Lady's Psalter? The Hail Mary one hundred and fifty times? That is not a new prayer," Brother Dominic said to himself. He frequently prayed the Psalter as he walked along the road. Many people did. Those who could not read Holy Scripture and those who could not understand it often said a Hail Mary for each of the Psalms. Their simple prayer took the place of the one hundred and fifty Psalms of David that the learned ones could read. Counting prayers was not new either before the birth of Jesus, the people who belonged to ancient religions had counted on knotted cords the prayers they said to their gods. After the coming of our Lord, the hermits who lived in the desert in the early centuries counted their prayers to God by means of pebbles. Even in his own time, the thirteenth century, Brother Dominic knew that people were using a string of beads called "paternosters." On these they counted the number of times they repeated the Lord's Prayer. What did our Lady mean? The Blessed Mother knew that Brother Dominic was puzzled. Tradition tells that it was then that she taught him the way she wanted the Psalter said, the prayer that was to become her Rosary. "Make clear to them the mysteries of their religion, the divine truths that God has revealed but that they cannot understand. Teach them to picture in their minds the events of my Sons life. Teach them to see as I saw the joys that came into the world with the Annunciation. Recall to them the words of the Angel Gabriel when he announced to me, a Virgin, that I was to be the Mother of the Savior. "'Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.' "Let them journey with me to my cousin Elizabeth and hear, as I heard, her words of welcome, "'Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.'" The Holy Spirit had let her know that her Child was the One who would redeem men from their sins. "Teach them to picture the stable in Bethlehem where Christ the Lord was born." The Blessed Mother smiled as though she were seeing again the little Lord Jesus in His first cradle. "Let them walk with Joseph and me when we take the Baby to the great Temple in Jerusalem to receive the blessing of Almighty God. Make them rejoice with us when we find the Holy Child who was lost for three long days." Then a sadness came over the Blessed Mother as she recalled the sorrows she had shared with her Son. Brother Dominic thought of the Garden of Gethsemane. He wept as he pictured the drops of blood and the sweat on the Savior's face when He beheld the sins of the world. Brother Dominic had often meditated on the Scourging at the Pillar, for he had chosen the lash of the whip as his own frequent penance. He thought of the crown of thorns which the mocking soldiers had placed upon the head of Christ the King, the heavy Cross which He carried wearily up the long hill to Calvary. Brother Dominic saw them all as Mary had. He raised his tear-filled eyes to the Blessed Mother. How had she stood so bravely beneath the Cross of her crucified Son? She had shared with Him all of His joys, sorrows, and pain, and the glory of His triumph over death. How well had God prepared her to be the understanding Mother of all mankind! No one knows the words she spoke to Brother Dominic when he saw her in his vision. It is not exactly known how long it took to arrange our Lady's Psalter into the Hail Mary's separated by the Our Fathers that make up each decade of the Rosary. It is not known how long it took to gather together the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries into the fifteen decades of the entire Rosary. But it is known that Brother Dominic began at once to preach and teach the Incarnation and the Redemption as he had been directed to by the Blessed Mother. Filled with new zeal, Brother Dominic began to teach his listeners to picture the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as they prayed the Rosary. They recited our Lord's own prayer, the Our Father. Then they repeated over and over again the Angel Gabriel's words to the Virgin when he announced that she was to be the Mother of God's Son. As they said the Our Fathers and Hail Mary's, they learned to see in their own minds the mystery they named as they began each decade. The simple words of the prayer kept their thoughts on heavenly matters for as long as their beads slipped through their fingers. The Rosary then became a prayer that everyone could understand. Those with little learning or scholars with profound knowledge could now picture the divine life, each in his own way. The Petition "Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" had been included by the common man as "Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners, and forms similar to this long before it was made official by the Church. The prayer book for the dying, by St. Anselm of Canterbury, a native Italian (died 1109),contains a Latin prayer in verse in which the last line is a petition to Mary for assistance at the hour of death. Very much like the "Holy Mary," it runs as follows: "Mary, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, protect us against the Evil Sprit and take us to heaven at the hour of our death." In 1568 the Hail Mary was added to the Our Father to become the prescribed form exactly as we pray it today. The Glory-Be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost and the O my Jesus portion of the Rosary have been added and approved by the Church through the years to arrive at it's present form as it is prayed today. Each prayer having it's own history of Praise, Glory, and Worship of God. The History of the Rosary could go on and on, volume after volume. Here we attempt to present a short and condensed version of its' history. There is as yet much more for one to explore and discover about the Rosary, this most pleasing prayer to God. History of The Brown Scapular A scapular is a sleeveless outer garment falling from the shoulders. Use of the scapular originated in the monastic orders of priests and monks, forming part of the habit or clothing of the members. Essentially the scapular is a special garment worn as a sign of love and devotion to Mary the Immaculate Queen. With the passage of time lay people were permitted to wear the scapular as symbolic members of a monastic order, with the attendant spiritual benefits attached to such membership. Over the years the scapular, at least for lay people, became much reduced in size to but small pieces of wool cloth suspended front and back. According to tradition the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock in the year 1251, and, holding a scapular of the Order of Mount Carmel said, "Receive My beloved son, the Scapular of thy Order, as a distinctive sign of My Confraternity. Whoever dies invested with this Scapular shall be preserved from the eternal flames. It is a sign of salvation, a sure safeguard in danger, a pledge of peace and of My special protection until the end of the ages." By the end of the 16th century the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was most widely known and used. It is commonly called the Brown Scapular, and is probably the oldest scapular in use. In the year 1322 Pope John XX11 issued a document known as the Sabbatine Privilege. This was the result of a vision he had of Our Blessed Mother holding the Scapular of Mount Carmel, in which she said, "Those who have been invested with this Holy Habit will be delivered from Purgatory the first Saturday after their death." In it indulgences are granted to the members of the Carmelite Order and to its secular members. Sources: The Catholic Encyclopedia. "Mary in Her Scapular Promise",by John Matthias Haffert, The Scapular Press, 1942. "The Catechism Explained", by Rev . Francis Spirago, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc. 1993. "Divine Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary", J.M.J. Book Company, 1976. Christians Pray the Rosary and wear the Brown Scapular The Mother of God has been appearing to man for hundreds of years bringing us the same message over and over. Pray the Rosary and wear the Brown Scapular. We can help Mary save millions of souls if we will just heed her request. Try to understand the prayer that is so powerful, so beautiful, and so loved by Christ. Read about the Brown Scapular and how it can protect you by marking you as a child of Mary and of God. Learn the 2 promises given by Mary to those who wear the Brown Scapular and the 15 promises for faithfully praying the Rosary. This is a call for all Christians to join us in heeding the call to prayer. Join Mary in her quest for souls. She will always lead us to her Son. To Jesus through Mary "Jesus Christ Is the Last End of Devotion to Mary" "Jesus Christ our Savior, true God and true Man, ought to be the last end of all our other devotions, else they are false and delusive. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, of all things, We labor not, as the Apostle says, except to render every man perfect in Jesus Christ; because it is in Him alone that the whole plenitude of the Divinity dwells together with all the other plenitudes of graces, virtures and perfections. It is in Him alone that we have been blessed with all spiritual benediction; and He is our only Master, who has to teach us; our only Lord on whom we ought to depend; our only Head to whom we must be united; our only Model to whom we should conform ourselves; our only Physcian who can heal us; our only Shepherd who can feed us; our only Way who can lead us; our only Truth whom we must believe; our only Life who can animate us; and our only All in all things who can satisfy us. There has been no other name given under Heaven, except the name of Jesus, by who we can be saved. God has laid no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection or our glory, than Jesus Christ. Every building which is not built on that firm rock is founded upon the moving sand, and sooner or latter infallibly will fall. Every one of the faithful who is not united to Him, as a branch to the stock of the vine, shall fall, shall wither, and shall be fit only to be cast into the fire. Outside of Him there exists nothing but error, falsehood, iniquity, futiltiy, death and damnation. But if we are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is in us, we have no condemnation to fear. Neither the angels of Heaven not the men of earth nor the devils of Hell nor any other creature can injure us; because they cannot separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ. By Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, we can do all things; we can render all honor and glory to the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost; we can become perfect ourselves, and be to our neighbor a good odor of eternal life. (2Cor. 2:15-16)" "If, then, we establish solid devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only to establish more perfectly devotion to Jesus Christ, and to provide an easy and secure means for finding Jesus Christ. If devotion to Our Lady removed us from Jesus Christ, we should have to reject it as an illusion of the devil; but so far from this being the case, devotion to Our Lady is, on the contrary, necessary for us - as I have already shown, and will show still further hereafter - as a means of finding Jesus Christ perfectly, of loving Him tenderly, of serving Him faithfully. " "I avow, with all the Church, that Mary, being a mere creature that has come from the hands of the Most High, is in comparison with His Infinite Majesty less than an atom; or rather, she is nothing at all, because only His is "HE who is" (Exod. 3:14); consequently that grand Lord, always independent and sufficient to Himself, never had, and has not now, any absolute need of the holy Virgin for the accomplishment of His will and for the manifestation of His glory. He has but to will in order to do everything. Nevertheless, I say that, things being as they are now that is, God having willed to commence and to complete His greatest works by the most holy Virgin ever since He created her - we may well think He will not change His conduct in the eternal ages; for He is God, and He changes not, either in His sentiments or in His conduct." "The Son of God became man for our salvation; but it was in Mary and by Mary. God the Holy Ghost formed Jesus Christ in Mary; but it was only after having asked her consent by one of the first ministers of His court. God the Father communicated to Mary His fruitfulness, inasmuch as a mere creature was capable of it, in order that He might give her the power to produce His Son and all the members of His Mystical Body. God the Holy Ghost, being barren in God - that is to say, not producing another Divine Person is become fruitful by Mary, whom He has espoused. It was with her, in her, and of her that He produced His Masterpiece, which is God made Man, and that He goes on producing daily, to the end of the world, the predestinate and the members of the body of that adorable Head. This is the reason why He, the Holy Ghost, the more He finds Mary, His dear and inseparable spouse, in any soul, the more active and mighty He becomes in producing Jesus Christ in that soul, and that soul in Jesus Christ. It is not that we mean that our Blessed Lady gives the Holy Ghost His fruitfulness, as if He had it not Himself. For inasmuch as He is God, He has the same fruitfulness or capacity of producing as the Father and the Son; only He does not bring it into action, as He does not produce another Divine Person. But what we mean is that the Holy Ghost chose to make use of our Blessed Lady, though He had no absolute need of her, to bring His fruitfulness into action, by producing in her and by her Jesus Christ and His members - a mystery of grace unknown to even the wisest and most spiritual amoung Christians." "God the Father made an assemblage of all the waters and He named it the sea (mare). He made an assemblage of all His graces and he called it Mary(Maria). This great God has a most rich treasury in which He has laid up all that He has of beauty and splendor, of rarity and preciousness, including even His own Son: and this immense treasury is none other than Mary, whom the saints have named the Treasure of the Lord, out of whose plenitude all men are made rich." (Taken from the book True Devotion to Mary) Why Catholics Pray to Mary Many non-Catholics have been trained from childhood to believe that one of the clear proofs of the falsity of Catholicism is to be found in the honor that is paid to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, and in the innumerable trusting prayers that are offered to her by Catholics. At the same time it is true that many non-Catholics, when they learn what are the genuine foundations of Catholic devotion to Mary, are drawn by it so irresistibly that ultimately they become Catholics. For the truth is very simple and clear, and is all contained in the following two truths. 1. Mary is the Mother of God (Luke 1:43). Catholics do not believe that God was bound by any compulsion to have a Mother; they believe that He chose to have a Mother and all that this implies. He chose to permit His human body to be formed in her womb (Luke 1:35). He chose to permit her to bring Him forth as a tiny baby into the world. He chose to let her feed Him at her breast, carry Him in her arms, guard Him from danger, and teach Him as any child would be taught, to walk and speak and pray. He thereby chose to grant Mary a power over Him that only love can bestow (Luke 2:51). Catholics believe that in choosing a mother, the Son of God chose to grant her the power over His will that the love of a good mother always wields over a good son. 2. Mary is a mother to all men. Catholics believe that the Son of God chose to come into the world through a mother in order that that mother might accept as His brothers all the children of the sinful race of man. He set an example as to how she should be honored and loved. He prepared her for this motherhood of all by asking her to suffer every conceivable form of pain (Luke 2:35), thus teaching her sympathy for the sorrows of her children. Had she been His Mother alone, He would have spared her from pain, because He had the power to do so and because He loved her with an infinite love. He wrought His first public miracle at her request (John 2:1-11), and when He was dying He reminded her that she had been destined from the beginning to be a Mother to all (John 19:27). Catholics therefore believe that Mary will be as eager to help them, in troubles of soul and body, as every natural mother is eager to promote the welfare of her child. The rosaries that Catholics recite are but the expression of their belief in these two truths (Luke 1:48). They know that if Mary speaks to her divine Son in their behalf, there can be no doubt about their receiving an answer to their prayers. -FINIS-