Rosary

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Roman Catholic Mariology A series of articles on Rosary

Blessed Virgin Mary Devotions & spirituality Our Lady of the Rosary Battle of Lepanto History of the rosary Praying methods Rosary & Scapular Prayers & Promises The Mysteries Rosary based prayers Rosary of the Holy Wounds Three Hail Marys Fatima Prayer Fifteen rosary promises Power of the Rosary Writings Secret of the Rosary God Alone Ingruentium Malorum Marialis Cultus Rosarium Virginis Mariae The Power of the Rosary People & Societies Saint Dominic Bl. Alanus de Rupe Pope St. Pius V St. Louis de Montfort Rosary Pope (Leo XIII) Confraternity of the Rosary Our Lady's Rosary Makers

The rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden")^[1] or "garland of roses"^[2] is a Roman Catholic Sacramental and Marian devotion geared towards prayer and the commemoration ofJesus Christ's events during his lifetime. The term "Rosary" is used to describe both a sequence of prayers, and a string of prayer beads used to count the prayers. The word is sometimes, but not always, written with capital initial in a Catholic context.

Throughout centuries, the rosary has been promoted by several popes as part of the veneration of Mary.^[3] The rosary also represents the Roman Catholic emphasis on "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ", and the Mariological theme: "to Christ through Mary", taught by Saint Louis de Montfort.^[4]^[5]^[6]

The sequence of prayers consists of repeated sequences of the Lord's Prayer followed by ten prayings of the Hail Mary and a single praying of "Glory Be to the Father" and is sometimes accompanied by the Fatima Prayer; each of these sequences is known as a decade. The praying of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall the life of Jesus Christ.

The traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary were standardized based on the long-standing custom, by Pope St. Pius V in the 16th century. The mysteries are grouped into three sets: the Joyful mysteries, the Sorrowful mysteries, and the Glorious mysteries. In 2002, Pope John Paul II announced a set of five new optional mysteries called the Luminous mysteries, bringing the total number of mysteries to 20.

The type of rosary and number of beads may vary between religious communities, depending on a particular Catholic devotion.

Mechanically similar strings of beads are used in other cultures; for example the Greek kombolói, sometimes called worry beads, appear similar and are sometimes manipulated in a mechanically similar way, as if counting, but have no religious or cultural significance.

Theological significance

A traditional five decade rosary in sterling silver

The rosary is part of the Catholic veneration of Mary, which has been promoted by numerous popes. In the 16th century, Pope Pius V introduced the rosary into the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7.

Pope Leo XIII, known as "The Rosary Pope", issued twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters on the rosary and added the invocation Queen of the most Holy Rosary to the Litany of Loreto. Pope Pius XII and his successors actively promoted the veneration of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima, which is credited with a new resurgence of the rosary within the Catholic Church.^[7] Pope John Paul II (whose pontificate had major Marian themes) issued the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae^[8] which built on the "total Marian devotion" pioneered by Saint Louis de Montfort.

On May 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI stated that the Rosary was experiencing a new springtime: "It is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother."^[9] To Benedict XVI, the rosary is a meditation on all important moments of salvation history.^[9]

The Congregation for Divine Worship's directory of popular piety and the liturgy emphasizes the meditative aspects of the rosary, and states:^[10]

The Rosary is essentially a contemplative prayer, which requires "tranquillity 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 also emphasizes the importance of the rosary as a formative component of spiritual life.^[10]

The theologian Romano Guardini thus defined the Roman Catholic emphasis on the rosary as "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ".^[4] His statement echoed the view that in Roman Catholic Mariology the path to Christ is through Mary, with Mariology being inherent in Christology; a sentiment also expressed by saints such as Louis de Montfort who was a strong rosary advocate.^[11]^[12] This view had been endorsed by Leo XIII who viewed the rosary as a vital means to participate in the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ.^[5]

Devotions and spirituality

Main article: Rosary devotions and spirituality

The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary and the Virgin of the Rosary

Devotion to the rosary is one of the most notable features of popular Catholic spirituality.^[13] 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."^[14]^[15]

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.^[16]

From the sixteenth century onwards, rosary recitations often involved "picture texts" that assisted meditation. Such imagery continues to be used to depict the mysteries of the rosary. Saints have stressed the importance of meditation and contemplation. Scriptural meditations on the rosary build on the Christian tradition of Lectio Divina, (literally divine reading) as a way of using the Gospel to start a conversation between the soul and Christ. Padre Pio, who was devoted to the rosary, said: "Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds him."^[17]

References to the rosary have been part of a number of reported Marian Apparitions spanning two centuries. The reported messages from these apparitions have influenced the spread of rosary devotions worldwide.^[18]^[19] In Quamquam Pluries Pope Leo XIII related rosary devotions to Saint Joseph and granted indulgences for adding a prayer to St. Joseph to the Rosary during the month of October.^[20]

Penance or reparation

Praying the rosary may be prescribed by priests as a form of penance after confession. Penance in this form is not generally intended as a "punishment"; rather, it is meant to encourage reflection upon and spiritual growth from past sins.^[21]

Some forms of the Roman Catholic rosary are aimed at reparation including the sins of others. An example is the Rosary of the Holy Wounds first introduced at the beginning of the 20th century by the Venerable Sister Mary Martha Chambon, a Roman Catholic nun of the Monastery of the Visitation Order in Chambéry, France.^[22] This rosary is somewhat similar in structure to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, is said on the usual rosary beads and is intended as an Act of Reparation to Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.^[23]

History

Main article: History of the rosary

There are differing views on the history of the rosary. According to tradition, the concept^[24] of the rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition by the Virgin Mary in the year 1214 in the church of Prouille. This Marian apparition received the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.^[25] In the 15th century it was promoted by Alanus de Rupe (aka Alain de la Roche or Saint Alan of the Rock), a learned Dominican priest and theologian, who established the "15 rosary promises" and started many rosary confraternities. However, most scholarly research suggests a more gradual and organic development of the rosary.^[26]

The practice of meditation during the praying of the Hail Marys is attributed to Dominic of Prussia (1382–1460), a Carthusian monk, who called it "Life of Jesus Rosary".^[7] The German monk from Trier added a sentence to each of the 50 Hail Marys, using quotes from scriptures.^[7]^[27] In 1569, the papal bull Consueverunt Romani Pontifices by the Dominican Pope Pius V officially established the devotion to the rosary in the Catholic Church.^[28]^[29]

From the 16th to the early 20th century, the structure of the rosary remained essentially unchanged.^[26] There were 15 mysteries, one for each of the 15 decades. In the 20th century the addition of the Fatima Prayer to the end of each decade became more common. There were no other changes until 2002 when John Paul II instituted five optional new Luminous Mysteries.

Devotional growth

Rosary Novena

The use of Novenas which include a rosary is popular among Catholics.^[40]^[41] As in other Novenas, the traditional method consists of praying the rosary on nine consecutive days, and submitting a petition along with each prayer.^[42] Indulgences are provided for rosary Novenas that include specific prayers, e.g. a prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Dominic.^[42]

The longer "54-day Rosary Novena" consists of two parts, 27 days each, i.e. three repetitions of the 9 day Novena cycle. It is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of the Virgin Mary, reported as a private revelation by Fortuna Agrelli in Naples, Italy in 1884.^[41]^[43] The Novena is performed by praying five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition. The second phase which immediately follows it consists of five decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, and is prayed whether or not the petition has been granted. During the novena, the meditations rotate among the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries.^[43]

Approved form

The crucifix on a rosary.

The structure of the Catholic rosary devotion is as follows:^[44]

A sign of the cross on the Crucifix and then the Apostles' Creed;
An Our Father prayer on the first large bead;
A Hail Mary prayer on each of the three small beads with the following intentions (the theological virtues):
1. For the increase of faith
2. For the increase of hope
3. For the increase of charity
A Glory Be to the Father prayer;
Announce the mystery
An "Our Father" on the large bead
A "Hail Mary" on each of the adjacent ten small beads;
A "Glory Be to the Father";
(The Fatima Prayer is commonly added here, as a pious addition: "O My Jesus, Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven. Especially those most in need of thy mercy.")
Announce the next mystery, again an Our Father on the next large bead, followed by ten Hail Marys on the small beads, the Glory Be to the Father, (and Fatima Prayer, cf. below) for each of the following decades;
In conclusion, Hail Holy Queen and a sign of the cross.

Variations and common pious additions

Mysteries of the Rosary

The Mysteries of the rosary follow the life of Christ from the Annunciation to the Ascension. They are meant as meditations on the life of Christ.^[44] The meditations are known as the Joyful(sometimes Joyous) Mysteries; the Sorrowful Mysteries; and the Glorious Mysteries. Each of these Mysteries has within it five different stages of Christ's life to be contemplated.^[44] Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (October 2002), recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries (or the "Mysteries of Light").^[47]

Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: Humility
The Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbors
The Nativity. Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty (poor in spirit), Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the Poor
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Purity, Obedience
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: True Wisdom and True Conversion, Piety, Joy of Finding Jesus

Luminous Mysteries

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

Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the will of God
The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification, Purity
The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the world, Courage
The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
The Crucifixion. Fruit of the Mystery: Salvation, Forgiveness

Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Faith
The Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: Hope and desire for ascension to Heaven
The Descent of the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Mystery: Holy Wisdom to know the truth and share with everyone, Divine Charity, Worship of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death and True Devotion towards Mary
The Coronation of the Virgin. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance and Crown of Glory, Trust in Mary's Intercession

Days of praying

The full rosary consists of praying either all 3 traditional sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious) or the 3 traditional sets of mysteries plus the Luminous mysteries. One can pray the complete rosary (i.e. all 15 or 20 mysteries) each day. When praying just one set of mysteries per day, traditionally the prayers take the following format:

Day of praying	With the Luminous Mysteries	Without the Luminous Mysteries
Sunday	The Glorious Mysteries	Advent and Christmas: The Joyful Mysteries Lent to Palm Sunday: The Sorrowful Mysteries Ordinary Time, Easter to Sunday before Advent: The Glorious Mysteries
Monday	The Joyful Mysteries	The Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday	The Sorrowful Mysteries	The Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday	The Glorious Mysteries	The Glorious Mysteries
Thursday	The Luminous Mysteries	The Joyful Mysteries
Friday	The Sorrowful Mysteries	The Sorrowful Mysteries
Saturday	The Joyful Mysteries	The Glorious Mysteries

Rosary beads

A 16th century rosary found on board the carrack Mary Rose

The rosary beads provide a physical method of keeping count of the number of Hail Marys said as the mysteries are contemplated.^[44] The fingers are moved along the beads as the prayers are recited. By not having to keep track of the count mentally, the mind is supposed to be freed to meditate on the mysteries. A five decade rosary contains five groups of ten beads (a decade), with additional large beads before each decade.^[48] The Hail Mary is said on the ten beads within a decade, while the Our Father is said on the large bead before each decade. A new mystery is meditated upon at each of the large beads. Some rosaries, particularly those used by religious orders, contain 15 decades, corresponding to the traditional 15 mysteries of the rosary. Both five and 15 decade rosaries are attached to a shorter strand, which starts with a crucifix followed by one large, three small, and one large beads before connecting to the rest of the rosary.^[44]

The praying of the rosary is started on the short strand, reciting the Apostle's Creed at the crucifix, an Our Father at the first large bead, three Hail Marys on the next three beads (forfaith, hope and charity), then a Glory be to the Father on the next large bead. The praying of the decades then follows. Although counting the prayers on a string of beads is customary, the prayers of the rosary do not actually require a set of beads, but can be said using any type of counting device, by counting on the fingers, or by counting without any device at all.^[44]

Single-decade rosaries

A Single-decadering rosary

Single-decade rosaries, also referred to as chaplets, can also be used to pray the Rosary; 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 practicing Roman Catholics. Small, easily hidden rosaries were thus used to avoid identification and became known as Irish penal rosaries.^[49] Sometimes rather than a cross, other symbols of specific meanings were used, such as 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 resurrection.

A rosary ring is a ring worn around the finger with 10 indentations and a cross on the surface, representing one decade of a rosary.^[50] These rosary rings were given to some Catholic nuns at the time of their solemn profession.^[50] Some ring rosaries have a small bearing on the inside of the ring to facilitate turning. A finger rosary is similar to a ring, but is somewhat larger. Rosaries like these are used by either rotating or just holding them between a finger and thumb while praying. A hand rosary is a decade in a complete loop, with one bead separated from ten other beads, this is meant to be carried while walking or running, so as not to entangle the larger type. Smaller ring rosaries became known as soldiers' rosaries, because they were often taken into battle by soldiers, most notably during World War I.

In addition to a string of beads, single-decade rosaries are made in other physical forms. A ring rosary is a finger ring with eleven knobs on it, ten round ones and one crucifix. A rosary bracelet is one with ten beads and often a cross or medal as well. The most modern 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.

Materials and distribution

The beads can be made from a wide variety of 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. 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. In rare cases they are made of expensive materials from gold andsilver to mother of pearl and Swarovski black diamond designs. Early rosaries were strung on strong thread, often silk, but modern ones are more often made as a series of chain-linked beads. Catholic missionaries in Africa have reported that rosaries made of tree bark have been used there for praying for the lack of conventional rosaries. It is widely reported that the demand for rosaries in third world countries far outweighs the supply.^{[citation needed]} Our Lady's Rosary Makers produce some 7 million rosaries annually that are distributed to those in economic and spiritual need.^[51]

A Saint Michael Rosary

Most rosaries used in the world today for praying are made of simple and inexpensive plastic or wooden beads connected by cords or strings.The major cost is labour for assembly. A large number of inexpensive rosary beads are manufactured in Asia, especially in China and Taiwan. Italy has a strong manufacturing presence in medium- and high-cost rosaries.

Assembled rosaries are often purchased as retail religious items. Hundreds of millions have been made and distributed free of charge by Roman Catholic lay and religious apostolatesworldwide. There are a number of rosary-making clubs around the world that make and distribute rosaries to missions, hospitals, prisons, etc. free of charge, distributing tens of millions of rosaries every year.

It is especially common for beads to be made of material with some special significance, such as jet from the shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela, or olive seeds from the Garden of Gethsemane.

Rosary beads are at times used to say rosary based prayers which do not primarily involve the Hail Mary and the mysteries of the rosary. Examples include the Chaplet of Divine Mercyintroduced by Saint Faustina Kowalska and the Rosary of the Holy Wounds introduced by Sister Mary Martha Chambon.^[22] These prayers often use rosary beads, but their words and format do not correspond to the usual mysteries. Both Kowalska and Chambon attributed these prayers to Jesus as part of their visions of Jesus Christ.^[52]

Sacramental Use

Wearing the rosary

A set of blessed rosary beads is considered to be a sacramental. Beads may be made to include enclosed sacred relics or drops of holy water. One Catholic catechism instructs the faithful to wear the rosary as "it will help them to love Jesus more" and serve as a "protection from Satan."^[53] Many households that cannot afford Christian artwork or a crucifix hang up a rosary.^[54]

Many religious orders wear the rosary as part of their habit. A rosary hanging from the belt often forms part of the Carthusian habit.^[55] A person may be wearing a rosary as a statement of faith, to keep it handy for praying throughout the day, or to avoid losing it.^[56] Canon 1171 requires individuals to treat all sacred objects reverently.^[57]

Rosary and Scapular

Main article: Rosary and scapular

Rosary and Scapular

"The Rosary and the Scapular are inseparable" were words attributed to the Virgin Mary by Lucia Santos, one of the three children who reported the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917 and later the Pontevedra apparitions in 1925, Fátima, Portugal and Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain.^[58] In these apparitions, the Virgin Mary reportedly called herselfThe Lady of the Rosary and in one of the final Fátima appearances on October 13, 1917 had a Brown Scapular in one hand and a Rosary in the other. The Lady of the Rosary, reportedly encouraged the praying of the Rosary and the wearing of the Brown scapular.^[59]^[60]

Throughout history, the Rosary and the Scapular as Catholic Sacramentals for devotions and prayers have been supported, encouraged and linked by a number of Catholic figures such as popes, saints and cardinals and specific promises and indulgences have been associated with them.^[61]^[62]^[63]

Following their joint growth in the 18th and 19th centuries, by the early 20th century the Rosary and the devotional Scapular had gained such a strong following among Catholics worldwide that the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914 stated: "Like the Rosary, the Brown Scapular has become the badge of the devout Catholic."^[64] In the mid 20th century, the United States "Scapular Magazine" helped enroll one million Americans to pray the Rosary based on the Our Lady of Fatima messages.^[65] The Rosary and the devotional scapular continue to be linked in the 21st century.^[66]

Rosary outside the Latin Church

Many similar prayer practices exist in other Christian communities, each with its own set of prescribed prayers and its own form of prayer beads, such as the prayer rope in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. These other devotions and their associated beads are usually referred to as "chaplets". The rosary is sometimes used by other Christians, especially in Lutheranism, the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Church.^[67]^[68] OtherProtestants, however, such as Baptists and Presbyterians, do not use it and actively discourage their members from using this method of prayer.

Anglicanism

Main article: Anglican prayer beads

The use of the Roman Catholic Rosary is also fairly common among Anglicans of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship.^[69] Many Anglo-Catholic prayer books and manuals of devotion contain the Roman 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, and the thirty-nine Articles of Religion reject the practice of praying to saints, but many Anglo-Catholics feel free to do so in their private devotions. Anglicans who pray the Roman Catholic Rosary tend not to use the Luminous Mysteries or the Fatima decade prayer.^[67]

Anglican prayer beads, also known informally as the "Anglican Rosary", are a recent innovation created in the 1980s.^[70] 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.

No "power and promises" are associated with the Anglican Prayer Beads by those who pray on them. The 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 Holy Rosary of Our Lady as prayed by Catholics, Anglicans, and other Western Christians.^[69]

Lutheranism

The Lutheran Church encourages its members to pray the Rosary.^[71] However, though the Lutherans follow the same format of the Rosary as the Roman Catholics, each "Hail Mary" is replaced with the "Jesus Prayer".^[68]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").^[68] 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".^[68]

Churches named for the Rosary

For a larger gallery of church images, please see: Rosary church gallery.

Main article: Roman Catholic Marian churches

A number of churches around the world are named after the Rosary. These range from small churches in Poland, Brasil or Hong Kong to key basilicas at Lourdes and Fatima with millions of pilgrims per year.

Rosary Basilica, Fatima,Portugal, 1953.
Rosary Basilica,Lourdes, France, 1899.
Our Lady of the Rosary,Drawień, Poland, 1695.
Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, Ohio, 1931.

Gallery of Rosary in Marian art

Since the 17th century, the Rosary began to appear as an element in key pieces of Roman Catholic Marian art, often in art that depicts the Virgin Mary. Key examples include Murrillo's Madonna with the Rosary at theMuseo del Prado in Spain, and the statute of Madonna with Rosary at the church of San Nazaro Maggiore in Milan. Several Roman Catholic Marian churches around the world have also been named after the rosary, e.g.Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica, in Rosario Argentina, the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes and Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Madonna and rosary by Nicola Porta
Madonna with rosary, by Guido Reni, 1596
Madonna offering Saint Dominic rosary by August Palme, 1860
Madonna with the Rosary by Murillo, 1650
Madonna of the Rosary statute, Naples, Italy
Rosary Madonna, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Madonna with Rosary, Italy
Madonna with Rosary by Josef Mersa, Italy
Crucifixion and rosary
Saint Anthony with a rosary

References

^ "Rosary." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper. 03 May. 2008.
^ "Rosary". Wedgewood, Hensleigh. A Dictionary of English Etymology. 2nd ed. London: Trubner & Co., 1872. pg 544.
^ Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 197The Rosary, or Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the most excellent prayers to the Mother of God
- Popular PietyBesides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, processions, the stations of the cross, religious dances, the rosary, medals, etc.
^ ^a ^b A Heinz, Rosenkranz, Marienlexikon, Eos, St.Ottilien, 1993, 555
^ ^a ^b ^c Encyclical Jucunda Semper 8.9.1894 quoted in Marienlexikon,Eos St. Ottilien, 1988 42
^ Jenny Schroede, 2006 The Everything Mary Book ISBN 1-59337-713-4 page 219
^ ^a ^b ^c Heinz, 555
^ Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae
^ ^a ^b ihmhermitage.stblogs.com/2008/05/15/benedict-xvi-on-the-rosary/
^ ^a ^b Directory of popular piety and the liturgy, Congregation of Divine Worship, 2001, at the Vatican website
^ Mariology Is Christology in Vittorio Messori, "The Mary Hypothesis" Rome, 2005
^ Louis de Montfort, in God Alone
^ Christian Spirituality: An Introduction by Alister E. McGrath 1995 ISBN 0-631-21281-7 page 16
^ The Rosary with John Paul II by George Madore, 2004, Alba House, ISBN 2-89420-545-7 page 18
^ Rosarium Virginis Mariae #5 at the Vatican website [1]
^ Stories of the rose: the making of the rosary in the Middle Ages by Anne Winston-Allen, 1997 ISBN 0-271-01631-0 pages 32-34
^ The Rosary: A Path Into Prayer by Liz Kelly 2004 ISBN 0-8294-2024-X page 79
^ Rev. Albert J. M. Shamon, The Power of the Rosary, CMJ Publishers, 2003. ISBN 1-891280-10-4 page 5
^ Beads and prayers: the rosary in history and devotion by John D. Miller 2002 ISBN 0-86012-320-0 page 151
^ Vatican website: Quamquam Pluries
^ No penance is meant as punishment, according to the Catechism: Catechism, the Sacrament of Penance
^ ^a ^b Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X pp. 121, 245.
^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 087973454X
^ Catholic Encyclopedia]
^ Catherine Beebe, St. Dominic and the Rosary ISBN 0-89870-518-5
^ ^a ^b "New Advent CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Rosary". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ McNicholas, J.T. "Alanus de Rupe". The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907.
^ The Seeker's Guide to Mary by María Ruiz Scaperlanda 2002 ISBN 0-8294-1489-4 page 151
^ Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7, page 134
^ Dominican Fathers on the Rosary http://www.rosary-center.org/nconobl.htm
^ Holyrosary.org http://www.theholyrosary.org/power.html
^ Rosary promises http://www.catholic.org/clife/mary/promises.php
^ Saint Louis de Montfort http://www.themontfortacademy.org/Pages/BioStLouisdeMontfort1.html
^ De Montfort, St. Louis-Marie. Secret of the Rosary, Forty-Fourth Rose (paragraph 127)
^ Writings of Saint Louis de Montfort http://www.montfort.org.uk/Writings/MontWork.html
^ in Lauretanische Litanei, Marienlexikon, Eos, St. Ottilien, 1988, p.41
^ At the center of this mystery, in the midst of this wonderment of faith, stands Mary. As the loving Mother of the Redeemer, she was the first to experience it: "To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator"! Pope John Paul II, in Redemptoris Mater, 51
^ See Pius XII Mystici corporis Christi; John Henry Newman: Mariology is always christocentric, in Michael Testa, Mary: The Virgin Mary in the Life and Writings of John Henry Newman 2001; Mariology Is Christology in Vittorio Messori, "The Mary Hypothesis" Rome, 2005
^ Ingruentium Malorum 13
^ Catholic encycllopedia Novena
^ ^a ^b The Church's Most Powerful Novenas by Michael Dubruiel 2006 ISBN 1-59276-097-X pages 171-174
^ ^a ^b The Raccolta or A Manual of Indulgences by Joseph P. Christopher, Charles E. Spence and John F. Rowan 2003 ISBN 0-9706526-6-6 pages 294-296
^ ^a ^b Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 394
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X pages 485-487
^ The pattern of the Dominican opening prayers can be found at The Dominican form of praying the Rosary
^ How to Say the DOMINICAN ROSARY
^ "Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae". Retrieved 2007-02-10.
^ Garry Wills, The Rosary, Viking Press 2005, ISBN 0-670-03449-5 page 13
^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X pages 485-487
^ ^a ^b Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 483
^ "Our Lady's Rosary Makers" website. <www.olrm.org>. Access date: 15 May 2008.
^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 0-87973-454-X
^ Marlene C. Crouch. Whose Voice Are You Listening To?. Retrieved 2011-06-28. ""Daily Rosary" Wearing Rosary & Scapular for protection from Satan: Do not worry, my children who are living the sign of my protection. Wear it always. It will help you to do good because it is a sign of my love and will remind you of me often. This is the purpose of all sacramentals, to remind you of the person behind them and help you to imitate their virtues. The scapular and rosary are the greatest of these and will afford you the most protection. I want all my children to wear one. It will help them to love Jesus more. This is a simple means by which God helps His children. Wear it always., emphasis added The Thunder of Justice, P. 396"
^ Claudia Kinmonth. Irish Rural Interiors in Art. Yale University Press. Retrieved 2011-06-28. "Such icons were displayed in homes which sometimes seemed to possess few other material things: in some of the poorest houses, where people could not afford religious pictures, prints, or even a crucifix, a rosary could be hung up in their place. Brownlow is unusual in that he provides us with views of some of the most basic homes, where people had virtually nothing in the way of furniture (see fig. 105). In some pictures he includes a woman wearing a rosary around her neck (fig. 137)."
^ Encyclopedia of monasticism, Volume 1 by William M. Johnston, 2000 ISBN 1-57958-090-4 page 246
^ "Quick Questions". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 31 Jan 2011.
^ Code of Canon Law. Holy See. Retrieved 2011-06-28. "Can. 1171 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."
^ Lynette Marie Ordaz, 2008, The Real Mary, Authorhouse Books, ISBN 978-1-4343-4332-1 page 88
^ Thomas W. Petrisk, 1998, The Fatima Prophecies, St. Andrews Press, ISBN 978-1-891903-30-4 page 345
^ Lucia Santos, 1976, Fatima in Lucia's Own Words, Ravengate Press ISBN 0-911218-10-6
^ Vatican website for Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum Doctrina [2]
^ Thomas Petrisko, 2000, Inside Heaven and Hell, St. Andrews Press ISBN 978-1-891903-23-6 page 105
^ Pope John Paul II, 1996, Gift And Mystery, Doubleday Books ISBN 978-0-385-40966-7 page 28
^ Catholic Encyclopedia
^ Eli Lederhendler, 2006 Jews, Catholics, and the Burden of History Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-530491-8 page 98
^ Zenit News 2008 Cardinal Urges Devotion to Rosary and Scapular
^ ^a ^b The Rosary for Episcopalians/Anglicans by Thomas Schultz 2003 ISBN 1-58790-055-6
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d A Lutheran Rosary. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
^ ^a ^b Mary: The Imagination of Her Heart by Penelope Duckworth 2004 ISBN 1-56101-260-2 page 118
^ http://kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htm
^ Personal Prayer Book, 1522

External links

"Rosary of the Virgin Mary" from the Vatican website, in Englishand in Latin.
"Rosary" from the Catholic Encyclopedia
Handy PDF Downloadable Rosary PamphletsThe Traditional 15 Mysteries.
How to recite the Holy RosaryPrinter-friendly PDF document (includes prayers, bead use, mysteries) -
PDF Rosary Downloads with MeditationsTraditional 15 plus 5 Luminous Mysteries. -
Rosary Prayer Guide: How to Pray the Rosary-
Instructions on how to join the Rosary Confraternity, how to pray the Rosary, history-
Guide to Making a Knot Rosary-
Perpetual Web RosaryA continuing and interactive online Rosary -
Come Pray the RosaryA perpetual, interactive online Rosary with video
Ecumenical Miracle Rosary

The Rosary Diaries

Pages

The Story of the Rosary

Rosary

Contents

Theological significance

Devotions and spirituality

Penance or reparation

History

Devotional growth

Rosary Novena

Approved form

Variations and common pious additions

Mysteries of the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries

Luminous Mysteries

Sorrowful Mysteries

Glorious Mysteries

Days of praying

Rosary beads

Single-decade rosaries

Materials and distribution

Sacramental Use

Wearing the rosary

Rosary and Scapular

Rosary outside the Latin Church

Anglicanism

Lutheranism

Churches named for the Rosary

Gallery of Rosary in Marian art

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Roman Catholic Mariology A series of articles on Marian Prayers

Alma Redemptoris Mater Angelus As a Child I Loved You Ave Maris Stella Ave Regina Caelorum Fatima Prayers Flos Carmeli Hail Mary Hail Mary of Gold Immaculata prayer Immaculate Mary Magnificat Mary Our Queen Memorare Regina Coeli Rosary Salve Regina Stabat Mater Sub tuum praesidium Three Hail Marys