What is the Rosary, and Why do Catholics Pray with it?
Adapted from Archdiocese of New Orleans: https://nolacatholic.org/octobermonthoftheRosary
Each year, the month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, with the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated annually on October 7. This tradition was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to those who faithfully pray the Rosary.
Praying the Rosary is simple, yet beautiful and powerful. Each part of the Rosary has a purpose to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation:
The traditional fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary were finalized by the sixteenth century. The mysteries are grouped into sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, and, in 2002, Pope John Paul II announced the new Luminous Mysteries.
Each year, the month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, with the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated annually on October 7. This tradition was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to those who faithfully pray the Rosary.
Praying the Rosary is simple, yet beautiful and powerful. Each part of the Rosary has a purpose to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation:
- Every time we pray the Our Father, we are reminded that Jesus’ Father is the initiator of salvation.
- Every time we pray the Hail Mary, we join Mary in contemplating the Mysteries of the Rosary. We are also reminded that she is intimately joined with her son, Jesus, in all these earthly and heavenly mysteries.
- The constant repetition of prayer creates an atmosphere of contemplation.
The traditional fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary were finalized by the sixteenth century. The mysteries are grouped into sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, and, in 2002, Pope John Paul II announced the new Luminous Mysteries.