Lady of the Rosary by Nicola Porta

The Divine Word + Sacred Art Rosary:
Praying the Rosary with Sacred Scripture and Art

by John P. Gross

Travel writer and co-author with wife, Donna, of
Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation

Author of

Divine Intimacy Rosary

Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child

Achieving Weight Loss through the Prayers
of the Divine Office of the Virgin Mary

Rosary Poetry: Poems on the Life of Jesus Christ

Rosary Meditations: A Bouquet of Roses for Our Lady

Beads of Salvation: Praying the Rosary to Reach Heaven

100 Prayers of Purity for the Mission of Our Lady of America

Remember me in your prayers!

At a loss to come up with a meditation for each bead of the rosary? Does sacred art inspire you to more fervent prayer?  In The Divine Word + Sacred Art Rosary each "Mystery" (section of the rosary pertaining to particular events in our Lord's life: birth, public life, death and resurrection) is based on excerpts of sacred scripture and accompanied by beautiful examples of religious art. Each bead or "Hail Mary" is accompanied by a brief relevant scripture quote that is easily memorized. Art masterpieces by Caravaggio, Bellini, Bosch, Masaccio, Tisi, Coypel, Restout, Vecelli, Matteis, Champaigne, Giorgione, Holbein, Ribera, Albani, Bloch, Urbino, Veneziano and Ponte help recreate each scene in stunning detail.

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FREE TO READ OR DOWNLOAD

This book is free to read or download. All I require is that you reproduce it in its entirety with the copyright notice intact.

To read or download the mysteries for each day, click on the appropriate link:
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

As you'll see below, each mystery is divided into five sections of ten Hail Marys. To decrease download time and make it possible to print each Mystery, you'll find each one on a separate page. Just follow the links.

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Donna and I are fortunate to live near Emmitsburg, Maryland which is the home of the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Mary's Seminary, and the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes. The Grotto, known affectionately as "Mary's Mountain," is a replica of the shrine in Lourdes, France and draws thousands of visitors from around the world who come to pay homage annually to our Blessed Mother. They are in much need of funds to build a Visitors Welcome Center. If you feel that our prayer book has been of value to you and would like to show your appreciation, we invite you to make a donation to their wonderful cause securely online. Choose "Grotto Fund" as your gift purpose. Thanks and may God bless you!

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Dedicated to Richard and Sara Miller, loving and faithful friends whom our Heavenly Father chose to accompany Donna and me on our journey home. "Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity." {Sirach 6:15}

TABLE OF CONTENTS What is a rosary? Why do we say the rosary? Prayers of the rosary How to use the rosary beads Joyful Mysteries Luminous Mysteries Sorrowful Mysteries Glorious Mysteries

What is a rosary?

Merriam-Webster defines the word "rosary" as rose garden. The Hail Marys of the rosary are like spiritual roses gathered together from our garden of prayers into a bouquet for Our Lady.

A rosary contains twenty decades and five Mysteries. Each Mystery has five parts or scenes from the life of Christ related to its type. For example, the Sorrowful Mysteries have five scenes drawn from the passion and death of Christ. Each Mystery has five decades of ten Hail Marys. Each decade is preceded by one Our Father and followed by one Glory Be and the Fátima Prayer. The chart below illustrates the structure of the rosary.

Joyful Mysteries: * The Annunciation - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Visitation - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Nativity - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Presentation - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Finding of Jesus in the Temple - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer		Luminous Mysteries: * The Baptism of Jesus - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Wedding at Cana - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Proclamation of the Kingdom - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Transfiguration - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Institution of the Eucharist - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer
Sorrowful Mysteries: * The Agony in the Garden - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Scourging at the Pillar - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Crowning with Thorns - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Carrying of the Cross - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Crucifixion - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer		Glorious Mysteries: * The Resurrection - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Ascension - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Descent of the Holy Spirit - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Assumption - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer * The Coronation - (1) Our Father - (10) Hail Marys - (1) Glory Be - Fátima Prayer

All twenty decades can be said in one day, if you have the time. Most people pray five decades per day. Here is the recommended schedule for praying the Mysteries of the rosary:

* Monday: Joyful Mysteries
* Tuesday: Sorrowful  Mysteries
* Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries
* Thursday: Luminous Mysteries
* Friday: Sorrowful Mysteries
* Saturday: Joyful Mysteries
* Sunday: Glorious Mysteries

Why do we say the rosary?

Here are the 15 Promises of the Virgin Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary:

1. To all those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.

2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some signal grace.

3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin, and dispel heresy.

4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it will substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, and elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal good. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!

5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.

6. Those who shall recite my Rosary piously, considering its mysteries, will not be overwhelmed by misfortune, nor die a bad death. The sinner will be converted; the just will grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary will not die without the consolations of the Church, or without grace.

8. Those who shall recite my Rosary will find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His grace, and will share in the merits of the blessed.

9. I will deliver very promptly from Purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.

10. The true children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in Heaven.

11. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.

12. Those who propagate my Rosary will obtain through me aid in all their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Son that all confreres of the Rosary shall have for their brethren in life and death the saints of Heaven.

14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are all my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination (to heaven).

Need I say more? Now go pray the rosary!

PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY

+Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Apostles Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended among the dead; the third day He rose again;
He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from where He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Sprit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

Glory Be:

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fátima Prayer:

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.

HOW TO USE THE ROSARY BEADS

NOTE:

Before beginning the rosary, state your intentions for saying the rosary. Some examples of intentions include:

• for the end of abortion and embryonic stem cell research

• for the well-being and protection of loved ones

• for the healing of family and friends

• in reparation for personal sins and the sins of the whole world

• for those who have passed on who might be in Purgatory

If convenient, I say the prayers of the rosary outloud, except for my intentions, while I read the text to myself.

Introduction:

• (1) Sign of the Cross - bless yourself with the cross, mentally state your intentions for saying the rosary, and then pray the Apostles Creed

• (2) One Our Father on the large bead

• (3) Three Hail Marys - one on each of the small beads

• Conclude with the Glory Be and Fátima Prayer before entering the circle of beads

First Decade:

• (4) One Our Father - proceed counterclockwise

• (5) Ten Hail Marys

• Conclude the decade with the Glory Be and Fátima Prayer

Follow the same pattern through all the decades of the rosary.

Conclusion: finish the rosary with the following prayers:

Hail Holy Queen:

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 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 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 salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating on 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.

+Sign of the Cross

To decrease download time and make it possible to print each Mystery, you'll find each one on a separate page. Just follow the links.

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