The Mysteries of the Rosary

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by Father Mark Pavlik, St Olaf's Parish, Minneapolis

October is traditionally the month of the rosary and October 7th is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. What a wonderful opportunity for us this month to reexamine the role that the rosary plays in our own lives. A 2001 poll by the Center for Applied Research for the Apostolate at Georgetown University said that only 27% of Catholics in the United States pray the rosary several times a month.

For many people, especially those of my generation, the rosary is seen as a prayer of bygone days that is now reserved for wakes. But, alas, it is not so! The rosary is a timeless prayer that leads us not only into contemplation of our Lord and his Blessed Mother, but more importantly to the Christian virtues that are seen in the mysteries. It is generally thought the rosary began as a prayer form which enabled lay people to imitate the Liturgy of the Hours prayed by the monks in the monastery. In their praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, the monks would pray all 150 Psalms in the course of a week.

During the Middle Ages, most people could not read and did not have access to Bibles, so lay people would imitate the prayer life of the monasteries by praying 150 Hail Marys. Eventually these 150 were divided into sets of 10 bead ‘decades,’ and over time developed into the rosary that is known today. The spread of the rosary is attributed to St. Dominic, who lived in the thirteenth century and preached about the importance of the rosary throughout France.

Over the past 800 years, the spread of the devotion has continued for the faithful around the world. The rosary is a powerful prayer that is beautifully simplistic. The repetition of the Hail Marys serves as a mantra against which the meditations on the lives of Jesus and Mary are set. In addition to contemplating the events of each mystery, we can concentrate on the virtue or fruit that can be attained for ourselves by imitating the actions of Jesus and Mary in our own lives. In a world that is in perpetual motion, the rosary is a perfect prayer to slow your life down and spend 15 minutes focusing on the our Lord’s life, death and resurrection.

Best of all, it is a prayer that can be aken on the road. It is perfect for time spent on the us or walking. (I hesitate to recommend praying it while driving, as I do not want to be responsible for what might result in your not giving your full attention to the road.) If your doctor says you should walk 15 minutes a day, take your rosary and hit the pavement. If you feel your world is chaotic and spinning, take your rosary and find a quiet place to regroup.

If you are one of the 73% of people who do not pray the rosary on a regular basis, why not make use of this month dedicated to the rosary to pick it up again and pray. The rosary is still a powerful prayer that bears much fruit – not only for the one who prays it, but for the whole Church.

Fruits or Virtues of the Rosary Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation (Humility)
2. The Visitation (Charity)
3. The Nativity (Love of God)
4. The Presentation (Obedience)
5. The Finding in the Temple (Joy in finding Jesus)

The Luminous Mysteries

1. Baptism of our Jesus (Transformation)
2. Wedding at Cana (Intercession of Mary)
3. Proclamation of the Gospel (Conversions)
4. Transfiguration (Pure Vision)
5. Institution of the Eucharist (Love of the Eucharist)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony in the Garden (Repentance)
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Mortification)
3. Crowning with Thorns (Courage)
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience)
5. The Crucifixion (Final Perseverance)

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection (Faith)
2. The Ascension (Hope)
3. The Descent (Love of God)
4. The Assumption (Happy Death)
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Love for Mary)

Saturday, October 14, 2006 "Praying the Rosary" by Fr. Mark Pavlik

8:00 am - Mass in Chapel
8:30 am - Coffee and donuts in the Education Room (lower level)
8:45 am - Speaker
9:45 am - Questions & discussion
10:00 am - Conclusion with Holy Name pledge
Questions? Call Vince Fahnlander at 763-593-5685. Spread the Word!