Rosary

Rosary is a form of prayer used in the Catholic Church named for the string of prayer beads used to count the component prayers. The Rosary prayer focuses on the life of Christ from the Annunciation to the Resurrection, with particular emphasis on the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries.

History

The Rosary has roots in several early Christian prayer traditions. They share similar formats to the rosary with repetitive structures and prayers. By the 16th century, the structure of the five decade rosary was standardized.

Structure

The structure of the Rosary is a series of prayers. The prayers are the Apostles' Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and, if desired, the Fatima Prayer. Each of these prayers are said on specific beads in the rosary.

Mysteries

The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond. These are traditionally grouped by fives into themed sets known as the Joyful (or Joyous) Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries.

See also

• Prayer beads
• Hail Mary
• Apostles' Creed
• Catholic Church

External links

• The Mysteries of the Rosary - Vatican website

Rosary Resources
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