- The Rosary Prayer
- Alma Redemptoris mater
- Angelus
- Ave Maris Stella
- Ave Regina Cælorum
- Ave Regina Cælorum
- Hail Mary
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Magnificat
- Mystery of the Passion, Arnoul Gréban
- Ballade of Prayer to Our Lady, François Villon
- Prayer Commemorating the Desecrations of 1793, Cardinal François Richard
- Prayer of Pope John Paul II at Notre-Dame
- Regina Cæli
- Salve Regina
- Supplication of the Sinner, Rutebeuf
- The Porch of the Mystery of the Second Virtue, Charles Péguy
- Vow of Louis XIII
What is the Rosary?
The term ‘rosary’ means ‘crown of roses’. In the Middle Ages, it was customary to crown statues of the Virgin Mary with roses: each rose symbolised a prayer.
The rosary consists of four sets of beads meditated upon with the help of the mysteries of the rosary. Each of these mysteries allows the faithful to ‘be introduced into the contemplation of the beauty of Christ in the experience of the depth of his love.’ St John Paul II. They thus invite us to meditate on twenty mysteries of the life of Christ, lived with Mary:
- The Joyful Mysteries: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple
- In 2002, St John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries to the original 15 mysteries: the Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with the call to conversion, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.
- The sorrowful mysteries: the Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives, the Scourging of Jesus, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus on the Cross.
- The glorious mysteries: the Resurrection of Jesus, the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, Pentecost, the Assumption of Mary into heaven, the Coronation of Mary in heaven.
Where does the Rosary come from?
This prayer has its roots in monastic life: while monks recited 150 psalms, the faithful who could not read recited 150 ‘Hail Marys’ instead.
In the 15th century, Alain de la Roche structured this prayer, which was then called the ‘Psalter of the Virgin’.
In 1571, before the Battle of Lepanto, Pope Pius V called on all Christians to pray the rosary and attributed the victory to Mary’s intercession. Thus was born the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated every 7 October.
Over the centuries, the Rosary prayer spread throughout the world, thanks in particular to the support of great figures of faith such as Saint Bernadette and Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.
Le Rosaire à Notre-Dame de Paris
Every day at 3 p.m., the rosary is meditated upon at Notre-Dame de Paris. You can join in this prayer to entrust your intentions, your families and the world to Mary.
‘The Rosary accompanies me every day. It is the prayer of the humble, of the saints… It is the prayer of my heart.’ Pope Francis
Comment prier le Rosaire ?
- Begin with the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Recite the Creed.
- Say one ‘Our Father’.
- Three ‘Hail Marys’ (for faith, hope, and charity).
- Say a Glory Be
- Announce the mystery
- Recite an ‘Our Father’ followed by 10 ‘Hail Marys’ and a ‘Glory Be’ while meditating on the mystery. Thus, with each decade of ‘Hail Marys’ we meditate on a mystery.
