Resurrection Parish-Pray the Rosary

Resurrection Parish
Diocese of Yakima
Catholic Church of the Resurrection
Zillah, Washington

The Holy Rosary

The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are fifteen mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary. When Our Lady appeared to the children at Fatima, she told them that she would like each and every one of us to pray the Rosary, each and every day, for the conversion of sinners and peace in the world.

A plenary indulgences is granted, if the Rosary is recited in a church or public oratory or in a family group, a religious Community or pious Association: a partial indulgence is granted in other circumstances. To earn the plenary indulgence, it is required that at least 5 decades of the Rosary are vocally recited continuously and that the recitation is accompanied by fervent meditation on the mysteries.

In public recitation the mysteries must be announced in the manner customary in the place; for private recitation, however, it suffices if the recitation is accompanied by meditation on the mysteries.

The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary

(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan)

Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.

I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.

The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

The soul which recommend itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.

Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.

The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.

All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

All who recite the rosary are my children, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ

Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.

How to Pray the Holy Rosary

1. Make the Sign of The Cross & Preparatory Prayer
2. Apostles Creed
3. Our Father
4. Hail Mary on next three beads
5. Glory Be
6. Announce the 1st (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous) Mystery & Our Father
7. 10 Hail Mary's
8. Glory Be & the Fatima Prayer
9. Announce the 2nd (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous) Mystery & Our Father etc.
10. Hail Holy Queen & Rosary Prayer

1. Beginning with the Rosary's Crucifix: Begin by making the Sign of the Cross (Personal Blessing) while reciting

"In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen."

2. Next pray The Apostles Creed while holding the crucifix:

"I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand the Father. He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen."

3. On the single bead just above the cross, pray the Our Father.

"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."

4. The next is a cluster of 3 beads. The Hail Mary is prayed for these three beads. The 3 beads remind us to meditate on the three divine virtues of faith, hope, and charity (love).

"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."

5. Next on the space between beads, pray the Glory be to the Father:

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

6. The next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the first divine mystery of contemplation.

The Joyful Mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday;

The Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday;

The Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday, and Sunday;\

The Luminous (of Light) Mysteries on Thursday.

Exceptions: Sundays of Christmas season of Advent and just until Lent the Joyful Mysteries are said and the Sundays of Lent the Sorrowful Mysteries are said.

++++++(Note: STEP 7 can be found following the mysteries which are described below.)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES:
(Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. The girl's name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, "Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!" Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will have no end. "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary; "may it happen to me as you have said." And the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-33,38) Application in Daily Life: Humility

2. The Visitation: Mary goes to help her aged cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist.

Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and said in a loud voice, "You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message will come true!" (Luke 1:39-45) Application in Daily Life: Love of Neighbor

3. The Nativity: The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

.. and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger - there was no room for them to stay in the inn. There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:6-12) Application in Daily Life: Spirit of Poverty

4. The Presentation: Jesus is presented in the Temple.

The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: "Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord." They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord. (Luke 2:22-24) Application in Daily Life: Obedience to God's Will

5. Jesus is Found Teaching in the Temple: Jesus is found teaching the elders, in the Temple, when he is twelve years old.

Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; they thought that he was with the group, so they traveled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you." He answered them, "Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand his answer. So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:41-51) Application in Daily Life: Fidelity to Vocation

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES:
(Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden: Jesus spends and agonized night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the eve of his crucifixion.

Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed. "Father," he said, "if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will however, but your will be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation." (Luke 22:39-46) Application in Daily Life: Spirit of Prayer

2. The Scourging: Jesus is tied to a pillar and whipped.

Pilate spoke again to the crowd, "What, then, do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" "But what crime has he committed?" Pilate asked. They shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:12-15) Application in Daily Life: Modesty and Purity

3. The Crowning with Thorns: The soldiers make a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus head to mock him.

The soldiers made a crown out of thorny branches and put it on his head; then they put a purple robe on him and came to him and said, "Long live the King of the Jews!" And they went up and slapped him. (John 19:2-3) Application in Daily Life: Courage

4. The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus is made to carry the cross of his crucifixion to the place of his execution.

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took charge of Jesus. He went out, carrying his cross, and came to "The Place of the Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Golgotha.") There they crucified him; and the also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them. Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross. "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," is what he wrote. Many people read it, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. The chief priests said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am the King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written stays written." (John 19:16-22) Application in Daily Life: Patience in Suffering

5. The Crucifixion: Jesus is crucified and dies for our sins.

Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "He is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "She is your mother." From that time the disciple took her to live in his home. Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, "I am thirsty." A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. Jesus drank the wine and said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:25-30) Application in Daily Life: Self-denial

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES:
(Prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays)

1. The Resurrection: After three days Jesus rises from death.

After the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus. Very early on Sunday morning, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they said to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" (It was a very large stone.) Then they looked up and saw that the stone had already been rolled back. So they entered the tomb, where they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe - and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here - he has been raised! Look, here is the place where he was placed. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: 'He is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him, just as he told you.'" (Mark 16:1-7) Application in Daily Life: Faith

2. The Ascension: Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you." Then he led them out of the city as far as Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven. They worshipped him and went back into Jerusalem, filled with great joy, and spent all their time in the Temple giving thanks to God. (Luke24:45-53) Application in Daily Life: Hope

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit: After the ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descends on Mary and the Apostles, gathered in the upper room.

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious men who had come from every country in the world. When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because each one of them heard the believers talking in his own language. In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, "These people who are talking like this are all Galileans! How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages?..." (Acts 2:1-8) Application in Daily Life: Wisdom, Love, Zeal, Fortitude

4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven: After her death, Mary is taken, body and soul into heaven.

Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (Revelations 12:1) Application in Daily Life: Grace of a Happy Death

5. The Crowning of Mary Queen of Heaven: Mary is crowned the Queen of Heaven by her Son Jesus.

You are Jerusalem's crowning glory, the heroine of Israel, the pride and joy of our people!... God, the Almighty, is pleased with what you have done. (Judith 15:9-10) Application in Daily Life: Devotion to Mary and Final Perseverance


The Luminous Mysteries (of Light)
(Prayed on Thursdays)
(declared by Pope John Paul II 10/16/02)

The "Mysteries of Light" are significant events in the life of Jesus as they are clearly described in the New Testament. Now, the Holy Father would like to focus more attention on the actual events that took place after Jesus began his public ministry. The Holy Father invites those praying to reflect on these powerful moments in the life of the Savior

1. Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River
Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who became “sin” for our sake (cf. 2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17 and parallels), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is to carry out.
2. Christ’s Self Manifestation at the Marriage Feast of Cana
Christ changes water into wine (cf. Jn 2:1- 12) and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers.
3. Christ’s Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion, (beganining his preaching ministry)
Jesus calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48): the inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he has entrusted to his Church (cf. Jn 20:22-23).
4. Christ’s Transfiguration
Traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to “listen to him” (cf. Lk 9:35 and parallels) and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.
5. Christ’s Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
The institution of the Eucharist, in which Christ offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies “to the end” his love for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer himself in sacrifice.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

7. On the space pray the "Our Father"

8. This brings us to the first set of 10 beads, called the first decade of the Rosary. Pray 10 "Hail Mary's" while contemplating the first mystery.

9. After the 10th Hail Mary bead there will be a space. On That space pray the "Glory be to the Father." and next the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."

10. The next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the second mystery of contemplation.

There is now a space between another decade of beads. On the space pray the "Our Father"

This brings us to a second set (decade) of 10 beads. Pray 10 "Hail Mary's" while contemplating the second mystery.

After the 10th Hail Mary bead there will be a space. On That space pray the "Glory be to the Father."

and the Fatima Prayer

11. The next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the third mystery of contemplation.

There is now a space between another decade of beads. On the space pray the "Our Father"

This brings us to a third decade of beads. Pray 10 "Hail Mary's" while contemplating the third mystery.

After the 10th Hail Mary bead there will be a space. On That space pray the "Glory be to the Father."

and the Fatima Prayer

12. The next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the fourth mystery of contemplation.

There is now a space between another decade of beads. On the space pray the "Our Father"

This brings us to a fourth decade beads. Pray 10 "Hail Mary's" while contemplating the fourth mystery.

After the 10th Hail Mary bead there will be a space. On That space pray the "Glory be to the Father."

and the Fatima Prayer

13. The next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the fifth and final mystery of contemplation.

There is now a space between another decade of beads. On the space pray the "Our Father"

This brings us to the final 5th decade beads. Pray 10 "Hail Mary's" while contemplating the fifth mystery.

After the 10th Hail Mary bead there will be a space before the "joiner piece" On That space pray the "Glory be to the Father."

and the Fatima Prayer

14. As the five decades of the Rosary are completed, pray the "Hail Holy Queen":

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; 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 the vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

(Optional) The following prayer may be added after the "Hail Holy Queen":

"Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle and be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Rebuke him, O God, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power drive into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls."

Let us pray.

O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen."

V: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

R: Have mercy on us. (Repeat the Versicle and the Response three times.)

Finally, bless yourself making the sign of the cross, and then kiss the crucifix on the Rosary.

MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to Your protection, implored Your help, or sought Your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To You we come; before You we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in Your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen.

The History of the Rosary

"One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world" These were the words spoken to Saint Dominic by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1208 when she appeared to him. The Rosary as we know it today was in a different form in it's beginnings. Now let us look at the times before St. Dominic, at the earlier history of prayer that gave birth to the Rosary.

At an early date among the monastic orders the practice of counting prayers established itself not only of offering Masses, but of saying vocal prayers as a suffrage for their deceased brethren. For this purpose the private recitation of the 150 psalms, or of 50 psalms, the third part, was constantly enjoined. Already in A.D. 800 we learn from the compact between St. Gall and Reichenau ("Mon. Germ. Hist.: Confrat." Piper, 140) that for each deceased brother all the priests should say one Mass and also fifty psalms.

"Ancient Customs of Cluny", collected by Udalrio in 1096, that when the death of any brother at a distance was announced, every priest was to offer Mass, and every non-priest was either to say fifty psalms or to repeat fifty times the Paternoster (The Lord's Prayer).

To count these accurately there is every reason to believe that already in the eleventh and twelfth centuries a practice had come in of using pebbles, berries, or discs of bone threaded on a string. It is in any case certain that the Countess Godiva of Coventry (c 1075) left by will to the statue of Our Lady in a certain monastery "the circlet of precious stones which she had threaded on a cord in order that by fingering them one after another she might count her prayers exactly" (Malmesbury, "Gesta Pont.", Rolls Series 311). Another example seems to occur in the case of St. Rosalia (A. D. 1160), in whose tomb similar strings of beads were discovered. Even more important is the fact that such strings of beads were known throughout the Middle Ages - and in some Continental tongues are known to his day - as "Paternosters" which are Our Fathers. The evidence for this is overwhelming and comes from every part of Europe.

In the times before St. Dominic we can see that the, Paternosters, (The Lord's Prayer) was prayed, and we know from history that during St. Dominic's time The Lord's Prayer and Our Lady's Psalter, (The Hail Mary) were prayed on pebbles, or a string of beads.

St. Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse where he prayed unceasingly for three days and three nights. During this time he did nothing but weep and do harsh penance's in order to appease the anger of Almighty God.
Tradition tells that our Lady appeared to him while he prayed. The story is told that she spoke to him gently that day in the forest.

"My son," the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls. Pray my Psalter and teach it to your people. That prayer, will never fail."
"Our Lady's Psalter? The Hail Mary one hundred and fifty times? That is not a new prayer," Brother Dominic said to himself.

He frequently prayed the Psalter as he walked along the road. Many people did. Those who could not read Holy Scripture and those who could not understand it often said a Hail Mary for each of the Psalms. Their simple prayer took the place of the one hundred and fifty Psalms of David that the learned ones could read.

Counting prayers was not new either before the birth of Jesus, the people who belonged to ancient religions had counted on knotted cords the prayers they said to their gods. After the coming of our Lord, the hermits who lived in the desert in the early centuries counted their prayers to God by means of pebbles.

Even in his own time, the thirteenth century, Brother Dominic knew that people were using a string of beads called "paternosters." On these they counted the number of times they repeated the Lord's Prayer. What did our Lady mean?

The Blessed Mother knew that Brother Dominic was puzzled. Tradition tells that it was then that she taught him the way she wanted the Psalter said, the prayer that was to become her Rosary.

Then a sadness came over the Blessed Mother as she recalled the sorrows she had shared with her Son. Brother Dominic thought of the Garden of Gethsemane. He wept as he pictured the drops of blood and the sweat on the Savior's face when He beheld the sins of the world.

Brother Dominic had often meditated on the Scourging at the Pillar, for he had chosen the lash of the whip as his own frequent penance. He thought of the crown of thorns which the mocking soldiers had placed upon the head of Christ the King, the heavy Cross which He carried wearily up the long hill to Calvary. Brother Dominic saw them all as Mary had.

He raised his tear-filled eyes to the Blessed Mother. How had she stood so bravely beneath the Cross of her crucified Son? She had shared with Him all of His joys, sorrows, and pain, and the glory of His triumph over death. How well had God prepared her to be the understanding Mother of all mankind!

No one knows the words she spoke to Brother Dominic when he saw her in his vision. It is not exactly known how long it took to arrange our Lady's Psalter into the Hail Mary's separated by the Our Fathers that make up each decade of the Rosary. It is not known how long it took to gather together the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries into the fifteen decades of the entire Rosary. But it is known that Brother Dominic began at once to preach and teach the Incarnation and the Redemption as he had been directed to by the Blessed Mother.

Filled with new zeal, Brother Dominic began to teach his listeners to picture the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as they prayed the Rosary. They recited our Lord's own prayer, the Our Father. Then they repeated over and over again the Angel Gabriel's words to the Virgin when he announced that she was to be the Mother of God's Son. As they said the Our Fathers and Hail Mary's, they learned to see in their own minds the mystery they named as they began each decade.

The simple words of the prayer kept their thoughts on heavenly matters for as long as their beads slipped through their fingers. The Rosary then became a prayer that everyone could understand. Those with little learning or scholars with profound knowledge could now picture the divine life, each in his own way.

The Petition "Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" had been included by the common man as "Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners, and forms similar to this long before it was made official by the Church. The prayer book for the dying, by St. Anselm of Canterbury, a native Italian (died 1109),contains a Latin prayer in verse in which the last line is a petition to Mary for assistance at the hour of death. Very much like the "Holy Mary," it runs as follows: "Mary, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, protect us against the Evil Sprit and take us to heaven at the hour of our death."

In 1568 the Hail Mary was added to the Our Father to become the prescribed form exactly as we pray it today. The Glory-Be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost and the O my Jesus portion of the Rosary have been added and approved by the Church through the years to arrive at it's present form as it is prayed today. Each prayer having it's own history of Praise, Glory, and Worship of God.

The Story of Fatima

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared six times to three shepherd children ("The Three Seers") near the town of Fatima, Portugal between May 13th and October 13th 1917. Appearing to the children, the Blessed Virgin told them that She had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child living in our century. Coming at a time when civilization was torn asunder by war and bloody violence, She promised that Heaven would grant peace to all the world if Her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed.

Our Lady of Fatima explained to the children that war is a punishment for sin and warned that God would further castigate the world for its disobedience to His Will by means of war, hunger and the persecution of the Church, the Holy Father and the Catholic Faithful. God's Mother prophesized that Russia would be God's chosen "instrument of chastisement," spreading the "errors" of atheism and materialism across the earth, fomenting wars, annihilating nations and persecuting the Faithful everywhere.

In all Her appearances at Fatima, the Blessed Mother repeatedly emphasized the necessity of praying the Rosary daily, of wearing the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel and of performing acts of reparation and sacrifice. To prevent the terrible chastisement at the hands of Russia and to convert "that poor nation", Our Lady requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world. She also asked that the Faithful practice a new devotion of reparation on the first Saturday of five consecutive months ("the Five First Saturdays")

Music: "Hail Holy Queen"