ROSARY INTRODUCTION The rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden")[1] or "garland of roses"[2] is a traditional Catholic devotion.

. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary. 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 five new optional mysteries, the luminous mysteries, bringing the total number of mysteries to 20. Pope Pius V introduced the rosary into theRoman Catholic liturgical calendar as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7. Most recently, on May 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI stated that the Rosary is experiencing a new springtime: "It is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother."[4] To Benedict XVI, the rosary is a meditation on all important moments of salvation history. HISTORY There are differing views on the history of the rosary. According to tradition, the rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1214 in the church of Prouille. This Marian apparition received the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.[19] In the 15th century it was promoted by Blessed 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.[20] The practice of meditation during the praying of the Hail Marys is attributed to Dominic of Prussia (13821460), a Carthusian monk, who called it "Life of Jesus Rosary" [6] The German monk from Trier added a sentence to each of the 50 Hail Marys, using quotes from scriptures.[6][21] In 1569, the papal bullConsueverunt Romani Pontifices by the Dominican Pope Pius V officially established the devotion to the rosary in the Catholic Church.[22][23] From the 16th to the early 20th century, the structure of the rosary remained essentially unchanged.[20] 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. APPROVED FORM A sign of the cross on the Crucifix and then the Apostles' Creed; An Our Father on the first large bead; A Hail Mary 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; 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.") 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. 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. 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. 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").[29] Moreover, traditional Catholics sometimes do not pray the Luminous Mysteries of John Paul II because they assert that the Holy Rosary with its fifteen mysteries was instituted directly by the Mother of God.[31] Various other "mysteries" exist; in the German-speaking countries a fifth set of mysteries had become more common before the 1920s, the so-called "Comforting Mysteries", which have an eschatological dimension, meditating Christ as Universal King. Joyful Mysteries 1. The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: Humility 2. The Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbors 3. The Nativity. Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty (poor in spirit), Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the Poor 4. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Purity, Obedience 5. 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 1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit, the Healer. 2. The Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary. The understanding of the ability to manifest-through faith. 3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in God (Call of Conversion to Messiah) 4. The Transfiguration. Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness 5. The Institution of the Eucharist. Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration Sorrowful Mysteries 1. The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the will of God 2. The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification, Purity 3. The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the world, Courage

4. The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience 5. The Crucifixion. Fruit of the Mystery: Salvation, Forgiveness Glorious Mysteries 1. The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Faith 2. The Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: Hope and desire for ascension to Heaven 3. 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 4. The Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death and True Devotion towards Mary 5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 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: ROSARY BEADS The rosary provides a physical method of keeping count of the number of Hail Marys said. 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 more able to meditate on the mysteries. A five decade rosary contains five groups of ten beads (a decade), with additional large beads before each decade. 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 one's fingers, or by counting by oneself without any device at all. Since the beginning of the 21st century, some people have begun to pray the rosary on their iPods or by watching rosary meditations on YouTube or other websites. ROSARY PROMISES The rosary has been featured in the writings of Roman Catholic figures from saints to popes and continues to be mentioned in reported Marian apparitions, with a number of promises attributed to the power of the rosary. As early as the 15th century, through Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de Rupe the Blessed Virgin Mary made 15 specific promises to Christians who pray the rosary.[51] TheFifteen rosary promises range from protection from misfortune to meriting a high degree of glory in heaven.[52] In support of this statement Cardinal Patrick Joseph Hayes of New York provided his imprimatur to this effect. WEARING THE ROSARY 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."[59] Many households who cannot afford Christian artwork or a crucifix often hang up a rosary in their place.