Praying the Rosary- A Meditative Act

I admit I used to dread praying the rosary when I was younger. I thought it was the most boring act to repeat the same thing over and over. I just saw rosaries as nothing more than pretty beads with a crucifix. I just didn't get it.

Now I know that praying the rosary means so much more. It is a meditative act of praying. Not only do we honor our Virgin Mother Mary, we also honor the mysteries of Our Father and the Life of His Holy Son.

There are twenty mysteries in the rosary:

• The Joyful Mysteries:
• The Annunciation
• The Visitation
• The Nativity
• The Presentation
• The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
  
• The Luminous Mysteries:
• The Baptism of the Lord
• The Wedding of Cana
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom
• The Transfiguration
• The Instution of the Eucharist
  
• The Sorrowful Mysteries:
• The Agony in the Garden
• The Scourging At the Pillar
• The Crowning With Thorns
• The Carrying of the Cross
• The Crucifixication
• The Glorious Mysteries:
• The Resurrection
• The Ascension
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit
• The Assumption
• The Coronation

To Pray the Rosary:

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
6. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
8. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father." Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.

After the Rosary:

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 this valley 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.

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.

After each decade say 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."

As suggested by the Pope John Paul II, the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - The Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful)

(Source: http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm)

**Rosary picture from Handmaid For The Lord – www.handmaid-jewelry.com.