THE HOLY ROSARY

The Holy Rosary is composed of twenty decades, each decades consisting of the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and the Glory be to the Father, and each being recited in honour of some mystery in the life of our Lord and of the Blessed Mother. During each decade we should call to mind the mystery which it is intended to honour, and we pray that we may learn to practise the virtue specially taught us by that mystery. A plenary indulgence may be gained for the recitation of the Rosary (five decades are sufficient), in a church or public oratory or in the family. If the Rosary is said privately a partial indulgence may be gained

I. THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

  1. The Annunciation.
  2. The Visitation.
  3. The Nativity.
  4. The presentation in the Temple.
  5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

II. THE FIVE LUMINOUS (LIGHT) MYSTERIES

  1. The Baptism of Jesus Christ at Jordan (Matthew 3:16-17)
  2. The self-manifestation of Jesus Christ at the Wedding at Cana (John 2:11)
  3. The proclamation of the kingdom of God with his call to Conversion. (Mark 1:14-15)
  4. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ at Mount Tabor (Luke 9:28-29)
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist as the Sacramental Ex- pression of the Pascal Mystery. (LUKE 22:19-20)

III. THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

  1. The Prayer and 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.

IV. THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

  1. The Resurrection.
  2. The Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.
  4. The Assumption.
  5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven and the glory of Saints.

Then is said:
Hail, body Queen mother of mercy, hail our life sweetness and hope! To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve to you do we send up our sight,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turns then the most gracious advocate your eyes of mercy towards us, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O Clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
RV. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death and resurrection, his purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant we beseech you, that meditating on these mysteries in the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain, and what they promise through the same our Lord.
RV. Amen.