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Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, 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. Amen. Hail Mary, 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. The first contains joyful mysteries (recited on Mondays and Saturdays); the second, the mysteries of light (Thursdays); the third, the sorrowful mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays); and the fourth, the glorious mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays).Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen. The Rosary is made up of twenty “mysteries” (significant events or moments in the life of Jesus and Mary), which, following the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, are grouped into four series. “This indication is not intended to limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 38).Made of high quality Holy Land olive wood beads, this rosary is skillfully hand carved by Christian craftsmen to create a beautiful and a classic piece for Christians all around the world. Works as a perfect first communion gift or for personal use, this exquisite rosary will be a constant reminder of the serenity of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of praying to Virgin Mary who is always watching over us. Pope John Paul II placed the Rosary at the very center of Christian spirituality and called it “among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation.” Pope Pius XI is quoted as saying, for example, “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight.”A small minority of Lutherans pray the Rosary. However, while using the Catholic format of the Rosary, each “Hail Mary” is replaced with the “Jesus Prayer”. The only time the “Hail Mary” is said is at the end of the Mysteries on the medal, where it is then replaced with the “Pre-Trent” version of the prayer (which omits “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death”). The final “Hail Mary” can also be replaced by reciting of either the Magnificat, or Martin Luther’s “Evangelical Praise of the Mother of God.”

Single-decade rosaries can also be used: the devotee counts the same ring of ten beads repeatedly for every decade. During religious conflict in 16th- and 17th-century Ireland severe legal penalties were prescribed against practising Catholics. Small, easily hidden rosaries were thus used to avoid identification and became known as Irish penal rosaries. Sometimes rather than a cross, other symbols of specific meanings were used: a hammer to signify the nails of the cross, cords to represent the scourging, a chalice to recall the Last Supper, or a crowing rooster signifying the denial of Peter.

Another example of Rosary-based prayers includes the non-denominational Ecumenical Miracle Rosary, “a set of prayers and meditations which covers key moments in the New Testament.” The use of the Catholic Rosary is fairly common among Anglicans of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship. Many Anglo-Catholic prayer books and manuals of devotion, such as Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book contain the Catholic Rosary along with other Marian devotions. The public services of the Anglican churches, as contained in the Book of Common Prayer, do not directly invoke the Blessed Virgin or any other saint in prayer as the Thirty-Nine Articles reject the practice of praying to saints, but many Anglo-Catholics feel free to do so in their private devotions. Anglicans who pray the Catholic Rosary tend not to use the Luminous Mysteries or the Fátima decade prayer. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort encouraged Christians to also wear the rosary beads, stating that doing so “eased him considerably.” Many religious orders wear the rosary as part of their habit. A rosary hanging from the belt often forms part of the Carthusian habit.

A 2022 opinion piece in The Atlantic, an American magazine and multi-platform publisher, linked Catholic rosary beads to Christian nationalism, radical traditional Catholicism and “extremist” right wing movements in the United States. The article raised concerns of anti-Catholic sentiment and disrespecting people of faith.When a group recites the Rosary, it is customary that the prayers that constitute the decades are divided into two parts. The second part of the Our Father begins with “Give us this day our daily bread”; the second part of the Hail Mary begins with “Holy Mary, Mother of God”; and the second part of the Glory Be with “As it was in the beginning”. This lends itself to antiphonal prayer.

When Penal Laws in Ireland restricted or banned the Mass, the Rosary became a substitute prayer ritual within private homes. During the 18th century, de Montfort elaborated on the importance of the rosary and emphasized that it should be prayed with attention, devotion, and modesty (reverence).There are a number of rosary-making clubs around the world that make and distribute rosaries to missions, hospitals, prisons, etc. free of charge. Our Lady’s Rosary Makers produce some 7 million rosaries annually that are distributed to those deemed to be in economic and spiritual need.

In October 2019, the Vatican launched a US$109 “electronic rosary” with ten black agate and hematite beads, and a metal cross that detects movement. It is linked to the “Click to Pray eRosary” mobile app designed to help Catholic users pray for world peace and contemplate the Gospel. The rosary can be worn as a bracelet, and is activated by making the Sign of the cross. The app also gives visual and audio explanations of the Rosary.

Saints and popes have emphasized the meditative and contemplative elements of the rosary and provided specific teachings for how the rosary should be prayed, for instance the need for “focus”, “respect”, “reverence” and “purity of intention” during rosary recitations and contemplations. Scriptural meditations concerning the rosary are based on the Christian tradition of Lectio Divina (literally “divine reading”) as a way of using the Gospel to start a conversation between the person and Christ. Padre Pio, a rosary devotee, said: “Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds him.” From the sixteenth century onwards, Rosary recitations often involved “picture texts” that further assisted meditation. Such imagery continues to be used to depict the Mysteries of the rosary.

Canon Law §1171 provides that sacred objects, which are designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated reverently and are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use even if they are owned by private persons. As such, according to Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University:Anglican Prayer Beads are not a Marian devotion, and there are no appointed meditations. Although it is sometimes called the “Anglican rosary”, it is distinct from the Rosary of Our Lady as prayed by Catholics, Anglicans, and other Western Christians.

Knotted prayer ropes were used in early Christianity; the Desert Fathers are said to have created the first such, using knots to keep track of the number of times they said the Jesus prayer or the 150 psalms.

The Rosary as a family prayer was endorsed by Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Ingruentium malorum: “In vain is a remedy sought for the wavering fate of civil life, if the family, the principle and foundation of the human community, is not fashioned after the pattern of the Gospel…We affirm that the custom of the family recitation of the Holy Rosary is a most efficacious means.” Pope Pius XII and his successors actively promoted veneration of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima, which is credited with a new resurgence of the Rosary within the Catholic Church.A rosary bracelet is one with ten beads and often a cross or medal. Another form is the rosary card. A rosary card is either one with a “handle” that moves like a slide rule to count the decade, or it has a whole rosary with bumps similar to Braille and ancient counting systems. Some households that cannot afford Christian artwork or a crucifix simply hang up a rosary as a focal point for prayer. In addition, many Christians hang rosaries from the rear-view mirror of their automobiles as a witness of their faith and protection as they drive.

During the 16th century, Pope Pius V associated the rosary with the General Roman Calendar by instituting the Feast of Our Lady of Victory (later changed to Our Lady of the Rosary), which is celebrated on 7 October.

In Brazil, two million men engage in a movement called Terço dos Homens (“Men’s Rosary”). It consists of weekly meetings to pray a set of mysteries. In neighboring Hispanic countries, the movement is called Rosario de Hombres Valientes.

Typically, a spiritual goal known as a “fruit” is also assigned to each mystery. Below are listed from the appendix of Louis Marie de Montfort’s book Secret of the Rosary for the original 15 mysteries, with other possible fruits being listed in other pamphlets bracketed:Pope John XXIII deemed the Rosary of such importance that on 28 April 1962, he issued an apostolic letter where he appealed for recitation of the Rosary in preparation for the Second Vatican Council.

Rosary beads provide a physical method of keeping count of the number of Hail Marys said as the mysteries are contemplated. By not having to keep track of the count mentally, the mind is free to meditate on the mysteries. While most rosaries contain five groups of ten beads (five “decades”), some other rosaries, particularly those used by religious orders, contain fifteen decades.

If the reason for wearing a rosary is as a statement of faith, as a reminder to pray it, or some similar reason “to the glory of God,” then there is nothing to object to. It would not be respectful to wear it merely as jewelry. This latter point is something to bear in mind in the case of wearing a rosary around the neck. In the first place, while not unknown, it is not common Catholic practice. … While a Catholic may wear a rosary around the neck for a good purpose, he or she should consider if the practice will be positively understood in the cultural context in which the person moves. If any misunderstanding is likely, then it would be better to avoid the practice … Similar reasoning is observed in dealing with rosary bracelets and rings, although in this case there is far less danger of confusion as to meaning. They are never mere jewelry but are worn as a sign of faith.

According to pious tradition, the concept of the Rosary was given to Dominic of Osma in an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the year 1214 in the church of Prouille, though in fact it was known from the ninth century in various forms. This Marian apparition received the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.Sometimes, a chosen leader will recite the first half of the prayer while other participants recite the second. In another style, recitation of the first part of the prayers is rotated among different persons while still maintaining the traditional Leader-Congregation alternation.

Traditionally the full Rosary consisted of praying all 15 traditional mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious) together. Alternatively, a single set of five mysteries can be prayed each day, according to the following convention:

Pope Leo XIII issued twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters concerning the rosary and added the invocation “Queen of the Most Holy Rosary” to the Litany of Loreto. Leo XIII explained the importance of the Rosary as the one road to God from the faithful to the mother and from her to Christ, and through Christ to the Father, and that the Rosary was a vital means to participate with the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ. Leo instituted the custom of praying the Rosary daily during the month of October.

Catholic Marian church buildings around the world named in honor of the rosary include: the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei in Italy, Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica in the archdiocesan seat of Rosario province, Argentina; the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás in the neighboring suffragan diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Our Lady of Pompeii in New York City, which is named for the Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes, Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Porto Alegre, Brazil, The Chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary (1531–1690) in Puebla City, Mexico.Anglican prayer beads, also known informally as the “Anglican rosary”, are a recent innovation created in the 1980s. They consist of four “weeks” (the equivalent of a decade) of seven beads each. The weeks are separated from each other by single beads termed “cruciform beads”. A variety of different prayers may be said, the most common being the Jesus Prayer.

Common pious additions to the Rosary are sometimes inserted after each decade and after recitation of the Salve Regina. Instead of ending each decade with the Gloria Patri, Pope Pius IX would add: “May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”Since the 16th century, the rosary began to appear as an element in Catholic Marian art. One notable depiction of the rosary in Marian art is seen in Caravaggio’s Madonna of the Rosary oil canvas painting in Vienna. Other depictions are shown below.

According to Herbert Thurston, it is certain that in the course of the twelfth century and before the birth of Dominic, the practice of reciting the Ave Maria 50 or 150 times had become generally familiar. According to 20th century editions of the Catholic Encyclopedia, the story of Dominic’s devotion to the Rosary and supposed apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary does not appear in any documents of the Catholic Church or the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) prior to the writings of the Dominican Alanus de Rupe (also Alan de la Roche), some 250 years after Dominic. However, recent scholarship by Donald H. Calloway seeks to refute this claim.Usually, five decades are recited in a session. Each decade provides an opportunity to meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.Over more than four centuries, several popes have promoted the Rosary as part of the veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church, and consisting essentially in meditation on the life of Christ. The rosary also represents the Catholic emphasis on “participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ”, and the Mariological theme “to Christ through Mary”. The Rosary (/ˈroʊzəri/; Latin: rosarium, in the sense of “crown of roses” or “garland of roses”), also known as the Dominican Rosary, refers to a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and to the physical string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers. When referring to the prayer, the word is usually capitalized (“the Rosary”, as is customary for other names of prayers, such as “the Lord’s Prayer”, and “the Hail Mary”); when referring to the prayer beads as an object, it is written with a lower-case initial letter (e.g. “a rosary bead”). Audio recordings of the Rosary help with aspects of prayer such as pacing, memorization, and by providing inspirational meditations in the form of commentary. Some are sponsored by various groups such as the Knights of Columbus, and religious congregations. In 2008, Vatican Radio released a 4-CD set of Pope Benedict XVI praying the Rosary in Latin. Ecclesiastical Latin was used because “we have received requests not only from Italy but from places such as Germany and other countries. So we have used this language for the Rosary which everyone understands easily and because it is the universal language of the Church.”The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond. These are traditionally grouped by fives into themed sets known as the Joyful (or Joyous) Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. Pope John Paul II recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries (or the “Mysteries of Light”) in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (October 2002).

Leonard Foley said that although Mary’s giving the Rosary to Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the Order of Preachers.The Congregation for Divine Worship’s directory of popular piety and the liturgy emphasizes the Christian meditation/meditative aspects of the rosary, and states that the Rosary is essentially a contemplative prayer which requires “tranquility of rhythm or even a mental lingering which encourages the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life.” The Congregation for Divine Worship points out the role the Rosary can have as a formative component of spiritual life.

The theologian Romano Guardini described the Catholic emphasis on the Rosary as “participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ.” This opinion was expressed earlier by Leo XIII who considered the rosary a way to accompany Mary in her contemplation of Christ.Praying the Rosary may be prescribed by priests as a type of penance after the Sacrament of Penance. Penance is not generally intended as a “punishment”; rather, it is meant to encourage meditation upon and spiritual growth from past sins.

Pope John Paul II issued the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae which emphasized the Christocentric nature of the Rosary as a meditation on the life of Christ. He said: “Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as by the hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.”The Wreath of Christ is used in the Lutheran Church of Sweden. While an official order and rubric for its use exists, it is often used as a tool for reflection and meditation rather than recitation of specific prayers or devotions, often as part of Confirmation classes. Some members of the Church of Sweden of high-church or evangelical catholic churchmanship will pray the traditional rosary, sometimes in an ecumenical setting with Roman Catholics.

The beads can be made from any materials, including wood, bone, glass, crushed flowers, semi-precious stones such as agate, jet, amber, or jasper, or precious materials including coral, crystal, silver, and gold. Beads may be made to include enclosed sacred relics or drops of holy water. Rosaries are sometimes made from the seeds of the “rosary pea” or “bead tree.” Today, the vast majority of rosary beads are made of glass, plastic, or wood. It is common for beads to be made of material with some special significance, such as jet from the shrine of Saint James the Greater at Santiago de Compostela, or olive seeds from the Garden of Gethsemane. In rare cases, beads are made of expensive materials, from gold and silver, to mother of pearl and Swarovski black diamonds. Early rosaries were strung on thread, often silk, but modern ones are more often made as a series of chain-linked beads. Most rosaries used in the world today have simple and inexpensive plastic or wooden beads connected by cords or strings. Italy has a strong manufacturing presence in medium- and high-cost rosaries.A rosary ring is a finger ring with eleven knobs on it, ten round ones and one crucifix, representing one decade of a rosary. These and other kinds of religious rings were especially popular during the 15th and the 16th centuries. Rosary rings are sometimes given to Catholic nuns at the time of their solemn profession. Ring rosaries have also been used in cases of religious persecutions against Catholics, as they are small and can be easily hidden. An example is the Irish penal rosary also with 10 beads. However, they were also sometimes worn for protection and adornment at times when Catholicism was not persecuted, as it would be more difficult to break or wear down a rosary ring, rather than a traditional rosary threaded onto a string.

Some Catholics piously add the Fatima Prayer after the Gloria Patri, still on the large bead. Some add the Miraculous Medal prayer which begins “O Mary, conceived without sin…”, while others add the Eucharistic prayer “O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine” in honour of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In the practice of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, there is a sixth decade for the intentions of the students, or the Virgin Mary.My fiancé loved this, surprised her with it and now she uses it and prays the rosary everyday going to work! Always love buying from small business, gorgeous handmade rosary, wont dissapoint!

I had two rosary beads that needed work: one needed repair and the other needed to be restrung and spiffed up. For $10 RR did both rosary beads. They came back perfect and beautiful. I mailed them on a Monday and they were back to me in NJ by the following Monday. Wow! These guys are just great. God bless them.Yes we make them! We can make you a 15 or 20 decade rosary just like our standard Original Paracord Rosaries… One continuous length of very long paracord – about 18 feet, goes into a 20 decade Rugged Rosary. Prices vary, but generally, the 10 decade size is $49.99, 15 decade size is 59.99, and the 20 decade size is 69.99. You can also request options, such as rosary clips or rings to attach to a cincture, and optional Saint medallions. To order a 15 or 20 decade rosary, email us your design idea to [email protected].

I have ordered several of the beautiful rosaries and decades for gifts. They have all been received with great enthusiasm. They are rugged and durable even in my pocket daily. Thanks so much for a wonderful product. I will be back if we need more. Thanks again. Quality and service is outstanding and quick.

I loved my Divine Mercy rosary so much I was back on the site to order a second as a gift for my father. While getting the second DM rosary for him I saw the King of Kings and decided to give it a try as well. So glad I did! Very nice rosary. It has substantial weight but not too heavy. It’s a beautiful and inspiring spiritual weapon. My second purchase from RR and both times was a great experience. I will likely be back for another purchase as I have been so pleased with the first two.I had a custom Chaplet made and gave it away to someone in need. I re-ordered this time two because I’m sure there will be someone in the future who needs it. So what can I say? It was a beautiful execution of my design, so well crafted, and brings me joy to use and give away. I’m on my third!

The “Hail Mary” as we know it wasn’t even around at that time. The Hail Mary owes its origin to the rosary. When people said the rosary in the twelfth century, Gabrielle’s greeting “Hail Mary, full or grace, the Lord is with thee” was often said along with the Our Father. Later, Elizabeth’s greeting” blessed are you among women” was added.

One set is prayed on a rosary that has five decades. Each set is prayed on designated days of the week. There are variations however, and in some countries the rosary may even have different mysteries. Despite all the additions and changes, the important core of the rosary has always remained the same.

Evidence again that the rosary is a living prayer that grows with the church. We usually break the rosary into four sets. The four sets are The Joyful Mysteries, The Sorrowful Mysteries, The Glorious Mysteries, and the Luminous Mysteries.The “Divine Office”; the official prayer of the church; is the recitation of the psalms over a four week period, and is still prayed today. This first rosary was prayed as we do today, a person would pass their fingers over each bead and say a prayer, usually the “Our Father”. It is quite true that Dominic was quite devoted to the Blessed Mother, but no one knows for sure if Our Lady herself gave Dominic the rosary. If she did, it is quite certain that she did not give him a rosary that looks like the one we have today. Originally the rosary had 150 beads, the same number of psalms in the Bible. It was not until the sixteenth century that the words “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” were added. Various people have added other things to the rosary over the centuries.

In the fifteenth century, a Carthusian monk divided the rosary into fifteen brackets (or decades) and a Dominican assigned mysteries to each of the decades. These mysteries were events in the life of Jesus as written in the gospels. By meditating on these events even the illiterate could know the stories in the Bible.The Pope added and defined 5 new mysteries that concerned events in the public life of Jesus. These new mysteries were called the “Luminous Mysteries” or “Mysteries of Light”

It is a way for God’s people to make holy the day, and to remember the life of Jesus and his mother. May these humble origins always be with us each time we pray the rosary.On October 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II, declared that the following year would be the “Year of the Rosary”. For the first time in centuries a change was made in the rosary.These promises are promoted by the Rosary Confraternity, an association of people around the world who strive to pray 15 decades of the rosary each week (the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries). Also, they encourage (but do not require) the members to pray the Luminous Mysteries. There are certain plenary and partial indulgences associated with being part of the Confraternity. Finally, since the members of the Confraternity pray for the intentions of the rest of the society, this means that each member receives a share of hundreds of thousands of prayers every day.In order to give you the best experience, we use cookies and similar technologies for performance, analytics, personalization, advertising, and to help our site function. Want to know more? Read our Cookie Policy. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings.

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The rosary is an incredibly rewarding spiritual practice for the men and women of any age, and all ages. It is like an ancient treasure map that has led countless men and women from all walks of life to the treasures of peace, joy, clarity, and contentment. But don’t take our word for it. Try it for yourself.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.

Mary told the children to pray for world peace by reciting the rosary every day. On July 13, 1917, Mary asked the children to add a short prayer to the end of each decade of the rosary:The earliest form of the rosary developed when Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) popularized an earlier version of the Hail Mary prayer by asking it to be prayed on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Many individuals began praying the Hail Mary in a repetitive fashion using a string of beads to keep track of the prayers.

Around 1050 AD, the words Elizabeth used to greet Mary during the Visitation were added: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42). In 1261, Pope Urban IV added the name of Jesus to the end of Elizabeth’s words.Catholics were not the first to pray with beads. And while the exact origin of prayer beads is unknown, men and women of many faiths and cultures (Hindus, Greeks, Buddhists, and more) have (and do) use beads to pray. In fact, the word bead in English is actually derived from an Old English word bede that means prayer.

The mysteries of the rosary were introduced by Dominic of Prussia sometime between 1410 and 1439. This gave each decade of the rosary a unique quality. Each mystery leads us to ponder very specific events in the lives of Jesus and Mary and the lessons they hold for our own lives today.Eleven years later, the Catechism of the Council of Trent (a work that Canisius was instrumental in creating) included, for the first time, the entire final petition, concluding with the words “now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”