“Rosarium … Signifying Properly A Collection Or Garland Of Roses

Why is this popular devotion called the “Rosary”?

                                                                   By Philip kosloski

 Here's what the name Rosary comes from and why it is used in reference to a well-known devotion.

Most Catholics and many Christians know what the Rosary is. However, has anyone ever asked why it is called a “rosary”?

After initially looking at the English word, there is nothing immediately evident that would point to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or prayer in general. However, looking at the Latin roots of the word reveals a beautiful symbolism that isn’t widely known.

According to the Dictionary of English Etymology, from the Latin “Rosarium … signifying properly a collection or garland of roses, was a title of many works … consisting of compendiums of flowers as it were culled from preceding authors … In the course of time the name was specially appropriated to a string of Paternosters and Ave Marias to be recited in a certain order in honour of the fifteen mysteries of our Lord in which the Virgin was a partaker, and from the collection of prayers the name was transferred to the string of beads used for the purpose of keeping count in the recitation.”

Initially the Rosary was called “Our Lady’s Psalter,” referring to the 150 Psalms that monks would pray and from which the tradition of the Rosary originated. The Latin word rosarium became associated with the devotion over time, especially after the spreading of a particular legend.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “An early legend which after travelling all over Europe penetrated even to Abyssinia connected this name with a story of Our Lady, who was seen to take rosebuds from the lips of a young monk when he was reciting Hail Marys and to weave them into a garland which she placed upon her head.”

Thus, the rosary became viewed spiritually and in art as a way to present a garland of roses to the Blessed Mother in a similar way that roses would be picked for a person’s earthly mother.

The name has stuck ever since, and the Rosary is the most popular Catholic devotion around the world.

A beginner’s guide to praying the Rosary

 Philip Kosloski | Oct 24, 2017

For those unsure about how to pray this staple of Catholic prayer

Pope Pius XI is famous for saying, “If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.”

The Rosary is a powerful prayer, but a surprising number of Catholics are not familiar with it. Older generations are often seen praying it in church or at home, but young people are not always taught how to use the holy beads.

The good news is that it is a simple prayer, one that is easy to pick up on after praying a few decades.

Below is a short beginner’s guide for those interested in the Rosary, but who were never taught how to pray it by their parents, grandparents or religious educators.

Each rosary (the string of beads) has a crucifix at the end of a short extension below the loop. Begin by holding the crucifix and making the sign of the cross.

The very first prayer of the Rosary is the Apostles’ Creed. It is a short profession of faith, affirming your beliefs in the Catholic Church. Recite this prayer while holding the crucifix.

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 into hell;

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting.

Amen.

A large bead follows after the crucifix. On this bead recite the 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.

Pray three Hail Marys on the following three beads. There is at least one tradition that suggests a person should pray for the theological gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity on these beads.

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 our death. Amen.

Before the next bead, holding onto the chain of the Rosary, pray the Glory Be.

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

At the next large bead, meditate on the first mystery of the Rosaryand pray the Our Father.

The Rosary is divided up into five sections known as “decades,” called so because each decade contains ten small beads. During these decades it is customary to mediate on a “mystery” from the life of Christ. Tradition assigns different mysteries of the Rosary to each day of the week, but individual piety is not bound to it.

Mondays and Saturdays

The Joyful Mysteries surrounding Christ’s birth: The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38); The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56); The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1–21); The Presentation of Jesus (Luke 2:22–38); The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

Tuesdays and Fridays

The Sorrowful Mysteries center on Jesus’ passion and death: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–56); The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26); The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27–31); The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32); The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–56).

Wednesdays and Sundays

The Glorious Mysteries reflect on the Resurrection and other heavenly episodes: The Resurrection (John 20:1–29); The Ascension (Luke 24:36–53); The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1–41); The Assumption of Mary into Heaven; The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Thursdays

St. John Paul II made the most recent addition to the Rosary with the Mysteries of Light, also called the Luminous Mysteries. They fill a gap in the life of Jesus that wasn’t covered by the traditional mysteries of the Rosary: The Baptism in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13–16); The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1–11); The Preaching of the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15); The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8); The Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26).

After meditating on the first mystery, pray a Hail Mary on the ten beadsthat follow. At the end of each decade pray the Glory Be. Some Catholics add the Fatima Prayer at the end of each decade, reciting the words taught by Our Lady of Fatima.

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 Thy mercy.

Repeat the above instructions for each mystery until reaching the end of the five decades.

At the end of the Rosary the next prayer is the Hail, Holy Queen. You may pray this prayer while holding the medal that joins the crucifix extension to the loop of the rosary.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your 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.

To conclude the Rosary some pray the St. Michael Prayer, and then end with the following invocation.

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 upon 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.

End by making the Sign of the Cross.

How to learn to love the Rosary 

(even if you hate it)

 Katrina Fernandez | Aug 10, 2017

Don't feel guilty if you think it's boring, but do give it another chance.

Katrina,

I feel like the worst Catholic ever admitting this, but I hate the Rosary. The Rosary is supposed to be the quintessential Catholic prayer and I find it just the absolute worst. It’s so long, boring, and repetitive. I feel like I can’t be the only one who feels this way about the Rosary. I know as a husband I should be setting the example at home, especially if I want my kids to pray the Rosary, so I’ve been trying to force myself to love it. It hasn’t been working out for me. I thought I’d see what kind of advice you can give me on gaining a better appreciation of the Rosary.

Mark

You’re not the worst Catholic ever, trust me. A worse Catholic wouldn’t care one way or the other about the Rosary, let alone persevere in trying to appreciate it for the sake of his children.  

Yes, the Rosary is quintessentially Catholic but that doesn’t mean you’re going to love the devotion by default of your Catholicism, anymore than you’d love haggis simply because you’re Scottish. I can’t make you love haggis or the Rosary, but what I can do is offer some advice that may help you gain a greater appreciation of the Rosary (and this appreciation could over time develop into a respect for the devotion, and later love).

Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II’s 2002 letter on the Rosary, could be a good place to start.

I can also make some practical suggestions on how to deal with the length and “boring repetitive” nature of the Rosary.

Simply, praying the Rosary is akin to praying the New Testament. It’s a meditation on the entire life of Christ. That why it’s considered one of the most powerful prayers. I’ve heard it described as a chain, a life line, that links heaven to earth. One end is in our hands and the other end is in Mary’s. I’ve also heard it referred to as the greatest weapon of the Church.

The best way to develop an appreciation for a thing is to learn as much as you can about it. So my first recommendation is for you to learn more about the devotion — where it came from, how it’s evolved over the centuries, its role in history, its Scriptural meanings, and the virtues to be fostered through it.

It can typically take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to pray the Rosary. It takes quite a disciplined mind to spend that many minutes in contemplative prayer. Even the best of us struggle staying focused while praying the Rosary. That’s just a fact. You can accept that fact or let it frustrate you as a perceived failure.

Instead of trying to run a triathlon, just settle for a quick sprint around the block — meaning, pray a decade here and another decade there. Do what you can. I pray two decades on my way to work and two decades on my way home, saving the last decade to pray with my son in the evening.

Find what works with your schedule and save that last decade for your own family. If you get bored, try an audio version of the Rosary or pray along using an app on your phone. If you’re a visual person, find a Rosary booklet with pictures for each decade’s mystery. So-called scriptural rosaries have a Bible verse to say after each Hail Mary.

Try any one of these different ways to pray the Rosary, or try them all. Find one that works for you, then when/if you get bored with that method try another.

Whatever you decide, just keep praying. Even if that prayer is imperfect or absent-minded, just keep praying.  It’ll come.