THE ROSARY
I.
Historical Development of the Rosary
Most historians trace the origin of the ROSARY as we know it today back to
the so-called Dark Ages of the 9th century Ireland. In those days, as is still true
today the 150 Psalms of David were one of the most important forms of monastic
prayer. Only the educated people, those who could read could pray this prayer-since most of the psalms were too long to memorize.
So one day in about 800AD one of the Irish monks suggested to the
neighboring people that they might like to pray a series of 150 OUR FATHERS in
the place of the 150 Psalms. Little did he know that his simple suggestion was the
first step in the development of what would one day become the most popular nonliturgical prayer form of Christianity.
At first in order to count their 150 OUR FATHERS, people carried around
leather pouches which held 150 pebbles. Soon they advanced to ropes with 150 or
50 knots; and eventually they began to use string with 50 knotes.
In the 11th century a saint by the name of Peter Damian introduced the
“Angelic Salutation” (1st part of the HAIL MARY) to replace the OUR
FATHERS.
In the 15th century another monk wrote a book containing 50 thoughts about
the lives of Jesus and Mary to be used with the 50 HAIL MARYS of the Rosary.
Eventually the 50 HAIL MARYS were divided into groups of 10 with an OUR
FATHER in between.
In the 16th century it became popular to reproduce woodcut picture prints
inexpensively for the first time. Since the majority of people could still not read,
these picture Rosaries became immediately popular. But since it was difficult and
expensive to draw and paint 150 different pictures for each HAIL MARY thought,
the new picture Rosaries usually showed only 15 pictures--one for each OUR
FATHER bead.
And thus came to be what we know as the ROSARY which is recited in our
present day. For the many people who use the ROSARY, the repetition of the
HAIL MARYS serves as an aid to meditation, as sort of “mantra” that holds one’s
attention on God, while one’s specific attention is not usually concentrated on the
particular words of the prayer.
II.
Mysteries of the Rosary
The “mysteries” of the Rosary refer to meditations on the important events
in the life of Jesus and Mary’s connection with her son.
It is traditional to say all 5 decades of one of the mysteries of the
ROSARY. According to custom, the JOYFUL mysteries are used on Mondays
and Thursdays and on the Sundays of Advent; the SORROWFUL mysteries are
used on Tuesdays and Fridays on the Sunday of Lent; the GLORIOUS mysteries
are used on Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the remaining Sundays of the
year.
The following are the MYSTERIES of the ROSARY and their scriptural
reference:
JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel -- Luke 1:26-28
Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth -- Luke 1:39-47
Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ -- Luke 2:1-7
Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple -- Luke 2:22-32
Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph -- Luke 2:41-52
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Agony of Christ in the Garden -- Mark 14:32-36
Scourging of Jesus at the pillar -- John 18:28-38; 19:1
Placing of the crown of thorns on the head of Jesus -- Mark 15:16-20
Carrying of the Cross by Jesus - John 19:12-16
Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ -- Luke 23: 33-34; 39-46
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Resurrection our Lord from the dead -- Luke 24:1-6
Ascension of our Lord into heaven -- Luke 24: 50-53
Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost -- Acts 2: 1-4
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven -- Songs of Songs 2: 8-14
Coronation of the Virgin Mary -- Revelation 12: 1-6
THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT
1. The Baptism in the Jordan -- Matthew 3:17
2. The Wedding at Cana.—John 2:1-12
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:15
4. The Transfiguration – Luke 9:35
5. The Institution of the Eucharist – John 13:1