The Catholic's pocket prayer-book/The Rosary
THE ROSARY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
The Rosary is one of the most beautiful, most profitable and most popular of all devotions. It is a combination of mental prayer, or meditation, with vocal prayer. The meditation is made by the consideration of the most memorable and touching events, or mysteries, in the life, suffering, death and glory, of our most holy Redeemer and His blessed Mother. The vocal prayer consists of the recitation, on the beads, of the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary and the Glory be to the Father, etc. The mysteries to be meditated on are fifteen in number; they are divided into three parts, which are named the joyful, the sorrowful, and the glorious mysteries.
The mysteries on which we are to meditate while we say
THE ROSARY.
1. The Joyful Mysteries.
In the first joyful mystery we consider how the Archangel Gabriel announced to the most holy Mary that she was to conceive and bring forth our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father once, Hail Mary ten times, and Glory be to the Father once. These same prayers are to be said in each mystery.
In the second joyful mystery we consider how, when Mary heard that Elisabeth was to become the mother of St. John the Baptist, she went to her house, and stayed with her three months.
In the third joyful mystery we consider how our Saviour was born in a stable, at Bethlehem, and laid in a manger between two brute beasts.
In the fourth joyful mystery we consider how the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purification, presented our Lord in the temple.
In the fifth joyful mystery we consider how the Virgin Mary lost her Son, sought for Him three days, and at the end of the third day found Him in the temple, He being then twelve years old.
2. The Sorrowful Mysteries.
In the first sorrowful mystery we consider how our Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the garden of Olivet, and sweated blood.
In the second sorrowful mystery we consider how our Lord Jesus Christ was cruelly scourged in Pilate's house, and had countless blows laid on Him.
In the third sorrowful mystery we consider how our Lord Jesus Christ was crowned with sharp thorns.
In the fourth sorrowful mystery we consider how Jesus was condemned to die, and carried the heavy cross on His shoulders.
In the fifth sorrowful mystery we consider how, when Jesus came to Calvary, He was stripped of His garments and nailed to the cross, whereon He died before His sorrowing Mother's eyes.
3. The Glorious Mysteries.
In the first glorious mystery we consider how Jesus rose glorious the third day after His death, never more to die.
In the second glorious mystery we consider how Jesus, the fortieth day after His resurrection, ascended into heaven, in the presence of His Mother and of His disciples.
In the third glorious mystery we consider how Jesus, sitting at the right hand of His Father, sent the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin.
In the fourth glorious mystery we consider how the Blessed Virgin Mary passed from this life, and was carried into heaven by the angels.
In the fifth glorious mystery we consider how, in heaven, Mary was crowned by Her Son, and is now the Queen of Angels and Saints.