The History of the Rosary

According to Catholic traditions, the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic in a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary sometime in the 13th century, and it was then promoted by Alan de la Roche. It was during that vision when The Blessed Virgin Mary gave The Fiftneen Promises of the Holy Rosary which are listed below:

The 15 Promises of the Holy Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

How The Rosary is divided and how it is Prayed

The Rosary is divided into five decades.
Each decade represents a mystery or event in the life of Jesus. For centuries, the Church has used three sets of mysteries; (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious).

It was until 2002 when Pope John Paul II, guided by the Holy Ghost, proposed a fourth set of mysteries called The Mysteries of Light, or Luminous Mysteries, making it four sets of Mysteries (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious).

These four "Mysteries of the Rosary" contain a total of twenty mysteries and are prayed on specific days of the week as shown below:

The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on the Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Advent:

1. The Annunciation "Luke 1:26 & Isaiah 7:14"

Mary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

2. The Visitation "Luke 1:39"

Mary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be remembered.

3. The Nativity "Luke 2:1"

Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.

4. The Presentation "Luke 2:22"

Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.

5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple "Luke 2:41"

Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.

The Mysteries of Light, also called The Luminous Mysteries, are prayed on Thursdays and it starts with:

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan "Matthew 3:17"

God proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana "John 2:11"

At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God "Mark 1:15">

Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom.

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus "Matthew 17:2"

Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.

5. The Institution of the Eucharist "Matthew 26:26"

Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on the Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays of Lent:

1. The Agony in the Garden "Matthew 26:36"

Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies.

2. The Scourging at the Pillar "Matthew 27:26"

Jesus is lashed with whips.

3. The Crowning With Thorns "Matthew 27:27"

Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.

4. The Carrying of the Cross "Matthew 27:32"

Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him.

5. The Crucifixion "Matthew 27:33"

Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies.

The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on the Wednesday and Sundays outside of Lent and Advent:

1. The Resurrection "John 20:1"

God the Father raises Jesus from the dead.

2. The Ascension "Luke 24:36"

Jesus returns to his Father in heaven.

3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit "Acts 2:1"

The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples.

4. The Assumption of Mary "Revelation 12:1"

At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.

5. The Coronation of Mary "Judith 15: 9-11" & "Revelation 12:1"

Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

And now, since most of us don’t understand the Blessed Virgin Mary’s unique connection to Jesus and her role in the Incarnation and the salvation of souls, let us ask God the Father, by reciting the following prayer:

Father God in heaven, we come before you now with a humble heart to beg you that with your grace and mercy through your Son - our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to please open our mind and give us a discerning heart so we can see and understand the real meaning of The Rosary, Amen.