Praying the Rosary

To prepare your child for the sacrament of First Holy Communion and First Penance, it is important that you pray together as a family.  We would encourage your child to set up a sacred space in the home.   We recommend for the months of May and October to have an altar in honour of Our Lady.  The Rosary is a beautiful and simple prayer and the whole family can pray it together and it can be prayed every day all year round.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Monday and Saturday)

The Joyful mysteries reflect on the incarnation.  The word incarnate is Latin and means in the flesh. God became man in Jesus Christ.  Mary first had to say YES to God and agree to God’s plan.  Mary is a model for us on how we should respond to God’s call in our own lives.

The Mysteries of Light (Prayed on Thursday)

The Mysteries of Light are a new addition and a gift from St. Pope John Paul II.  In these mysteries we reflect on the ministry of Jesus, in other words his work.

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Prayed on Tuesday and Friday)

The Sorrowful mysteries reflect on the suffering, passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Glorious Mysteries (Prayed on Wednesday and Sunday)

The Glorious mysteries reflect on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and His Glorious Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  In these mysteries Mary is assumed into heaven and is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy

Once we have prayed all five decades of the Rosary, we pray the following prayer to end the Rosary.

Hail Holy Queen

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, morning and weeping in the valley of tears.

Turn then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile,

show on to us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.  Amen.

The Glorious Mysteries

1st Mystery - The Resurrection (Luke 24:1, 4-6 ICB)

Very early on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. They brought the spices they had prepared.

While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them.  The women were very afraid; they bowed their heads to the ground. The men said to the women, “Why are you looking for a living person here? This is a place for the dead.  Jesus is not here. He has risen from death! Do you remember what he said in Galilee?

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

2nd Mystery The Visitation (Luke 1:40-42 ICB)

Mary’s Visit

She went to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside Elizabeth jumped. Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby which you will give birth to.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

3rd Mystery The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:6-7 ICB)

While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby.  She gave birth to her first son. There were no rooms left in the inn. So, she wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where animals are fed.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

4th Mystery The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22, 34, 35 ICB)

The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses taught about being made pure.  They took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Many in Israel will fall and many will rise because of this child. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept.  The things they think in secret will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

5th Mystery The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:42-43, 46 ICB)

When Jesus was 12 years old, they went to the feast as they always did.  When the feast days were over, they went home.  The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the Temple with the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

2nd Mystery - The Ascension (Acts 1:9-11 ICB)

After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up. A cloud hid him from their sight.  As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus taken away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

3rd Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to speak these languages.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

4th Mystery - The Assumption of Mary (John 14:3 ICB)

After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

5th Mystery - The Crowning of Mary (Rev 12:1 ICB)

And then a great wonder appeared in heaven: There was a woman who was clothed with the sun. The moon was under her feet. She had a crown of 12 stars on her head.

Our Father…….

Hail Mary x 10

Glory Be to…...

O My Jesus……

Note:  The biblical text is taken from the International Children’s bible and the inspiration for the specific biblical references comes from the “Mysteries of Light”, Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary with John Paul II.  I would encourage you to source this little book as it has beautiful reflections on each mystery and biblical reference.