"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary."  Sr. Lucia of Fatima

The Rosary is a sequence of prayers. As St. John Paul II said, "it's a compendium of the Gospel" and is intended to help us grow in our faith as we come to an ever deeper understanding of the life, death, resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ.  It is not, as some non-Catholics have misunderstood it to be, a prayer to Mary but rather a prayer asking for Our Lady's intercession.  

The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond. Pope Pius V established a standard 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, grouped into three sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added the five Luminous Mysteries. Each set of mysteries is prayed on specific days of the week. They serve as a backdrop to the decades of the rosary, invite us to reflect on how these significant moments in Jesus' life hold valuable lessons for our own lives, and reinforces our belief that God is always with us and holds us in the palm of His hand.

Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation of the Lord
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity of the Lord
4. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries (prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord

Glorious Mysteries (prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays)

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption of Mary
5. The Coronation of the Virgin

Luminous Mysteries (prayed on Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
2. The Wedding at Cana
3.  Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Although the praying of the Rosary follows a standard practice, there are common variations. Some recite the Fatima Prayer (O My Jesus, Forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell and bring all souls to heaven, especially those who most need thy mercy. Amen." at the end of each decade, preceding or following the Glory Be. Some add the Miraculous Medal prayer "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". Others add a praying of the pious Eucharistic prayer "O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine" at the end of each decade in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  For a simple tutorial on how to pray the rosary, visit: https://dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary.

VIRTUAL ROSARY

If you are unfamiliar with the practice of praying the rosary or if you more fully experience the beauty of the Rosary when joined by another prayer warrior, we offer this option of virtual rosary videos that can accompany your prayer at your convenience:
Joyful Mysteries Rosary
Luminous Mysteries Rosary
Glorious Mysteries Rosary
Sorrowful Mysteries Rosary

In Person and Zoom Rosary

Our parish Rosary Group meets at 8:30am every Wednesday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church.  All are welcome!