“In meditation a fire breaks out” (Ps. 38.4): The Efficacious Nature of Praying The Rosary + A Basic Overview
- The Benefits of Praying the Rosary include the special protection of the Mother of God, the intercession of the entire Celestial Heavenly Court. Receiving various plenary and partial indulgences.
The word “efficacious” is derived from the 16th century Latin word efficax, efficac- (which from efficere and it means ‘accomplish’).
The Rosary is fruitful, potent, and it accomplishes something.
Those who devoutly pray the Rosary on a regular & daily basis should review the 15 promises attached to the prayer.
Blessed Alan de la Roche (d. 1475) communicates the Blessed Mother’s explanation of this efficacious nature of the Rosary prayer:
“When people say 150 Angelic Salutations this prayer is very helpful to them and is a very pleasing tribute to me. But they will do better still and will please me even more if they say these salutations while meditating on the life, death and passion of Jesus Christ — for this meditation is the soul of this prayer.” (The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis Marie de Monfort)
FAITHFUL PROMISES MADE BY MARY TO THOSE WHO PRAY THE ROSARY
(As given by Our Lady to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche)
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 armour 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 hearts 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 recommends 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 mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish 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 sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus Christ.
Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
A Quick Beginners Outline:
O God come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. 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.
How to Pray the Holy Rosary (solo)
MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS:
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
THE PENDANT:
ON THE HOLY CROSS: Kiss the Cross & Say the Creed,
“I Believe”
ON THE FIRST BEAD:
Say the “Our Father”
ON THE NEXT THREE BEADS:
Say three Hail Mary’s with 3 separate invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary (1) to increase our Faith; (2) to strengthen our hope; (3) to increase our Love.”
ON THE LAST BEAD: Say the “Glory Be”
THE DECADE: THE LOOP OF THE ROSARY
HOLD THE CENTERPIECE TO BEGIN DECADE 1 on the LOOP
At the beginning of each decade:
announce the "mystery" to be contemplated. For example, the first Joyful Mystery is "The Annunciation" (read the scriptural passage)
list the fruit of the mystery to request of Heaven. For example, the fruit of this mystery is love of humility.
After a short pause for reflection:
recite the "Our Father"
recite ten "Hail Marys" and
recite the "Glory be to the Father".
These invocations are added after each decade:
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.”
“Come Holy Spirit. Come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, thy well-beloved spouse.”
“Oh, Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Move on to the next decade until all the decades are complete.
At the end of the Rosary, recite “The Litany of Loreto” & the ensuing prayer:
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, 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 this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
Let Us Pray
O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Add intercessory prayers to the Heavenly Court of Angels and Saints, i.e. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Have Mercy on Us); Immaculate Heart of Mary (Pray for Us); St. Joseph (Pray for Us); St. Martin de Porres (Pray for Us); St. Maximillian Kolbe (Pray for Us); St. Jacinta & St. Francisco Marto (Pray for Us); St. Benedict (Pray for Us); St. Michael the Archangel (Pray for us); St. Gabriel the Archangel (Pray for Us); St. Raphael the Archangel (Pray for Us); Our Guardian Angel (Pray for Us).
Then pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Francis and for a plenary indulgence:
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.
Hail Mary, 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.
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..
Prayer to St. Michael: St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou oh, Prince, of the Heavenly Host, cast into hell, Satan, and all the wicked spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Finally, recite “An Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”
QUICK OVERVIEW:
MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY:
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Mondays & Sundays
First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation (St. Luke 1:28) Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation (St. Luke 1:41-42) Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity (St. Luke 2:7) Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation (St. Luke 2:22) Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (St. Luke 2:46)
THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
Thursdays
First Luminous Mystery
The Baptism in the Jordan.
"And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased"' (Mt 3:16-17).
Second Mystery of Light:The wedding feast of Cana.
"On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you"' (Jn 2:1-5).
Third Mystery of Light: The proclamation of the kingdom of God.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mk 1:15).
Fourth Mystery of Light: The Transfiguration.
"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light" (Mt 17:1-2).
Fifth Mystery of Light: The institution of the Eucharist.
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body"' (Mt 26:26).
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
Tuesdays and Fridays
First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden (St. Luke 22:44-45) Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar (St. John 19:1) Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns (St. Matthew 27:28-29) Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross (St. John 19:17) Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion (St. Luke 23:46)
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection (St. Mark 16:6) Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension (St. Mark 16:19) Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts of the Apostles 2:2) Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption (Judith 15:10-11) Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation (Apoc. 12:1)
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