In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordiae tuae maxime indigent.
SALVE REGINA, Mater misericordiae. Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae. Ad te Suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. Oremus:
Deus, cujus Unigenitus per vitam mortem et resurrectionem suam nobis salutis aeterne praemia comparavit: concede, quaesumus; ut, haec mysteria sanctissimo beatae Mariae Virginis Rosario recolentes, et imitemur quor continent, et quod promittunt, assequamur. Per eumdem Dominum. Amen.
It comes from the 12th Century. At the time the Church was being attacked by the Albigensian heresy, St. Dominic was inspired by Our Lady to take a previously unknown approach. When he preached from village to village on the mysteries of salvation such as the Incarnation, the Redemption, Eternal Life and the Holy Trinity, Dominic had ten Hail Mary's recited after each instruction. Thus, the Rosary became a Bible "on our knees".
The prayers used in composing the Rosary come directly from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Gloria was dictated by the Heavenly Father to the angels when He sent them to sing it for His newborn Son. It is a hymn to the Blessed Trinity.
The Our Father was dictated by Jesus and is directed to the Father.
The Ave was dictated in its opening words, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with You' by the Father, through the Angel Gabriel.
Moved by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth pronounced Jesus "the Fruit of Thy Womb" And Our Lady Herself as "Blessed Among women."
The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, added "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."
Whether in a group or alone, we should pray the Rosary "from the heart." The repetition of the ten AVES provides a suppliant background to our meditation on each mystery, and helps to silence our mind from thoughts and distractions. If you tend to pray the Rosary hurriedly, you will miss its beauty and power, and your prayer may be lost. But when you pray the Rosary from your heart to the heart of Mary, with love, your prayer will last an eternity!
The Rosary has a power of its own. Unlike any other devotion, it will bring you closer to the Holy Eucharist because the Heart of Mary is united to the Heart of Her Son, Jesus. Try it, and you will see this happen in your life; because essentially, the Rosary is an adoration of Jesus through His Mother's Heart.
Sources:
Pope John Paul II, "Rosarium Virginia Mariae," (Apostolic Letter:
October 16, 2002).
Rev. Gerard McGinnity and Christian Gallagher, "Out of the Ecstasy and
Onto the Cross" (Helpers of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Allson Park, PA:
1996).
Written by the Legion of Mary, St. Francis Church, Blairsville, Fr. Richard Wise, Spiritual Director. And contributed by Maria Kadala Urreiztieta St. Francis parishoner. ©2004
As we see the rise of the “Culture of Death” in our society today, Christ’s request for reparation seems to be more urgent NOW.