Catholic Mother’s Lent Scriptural Rosary E-Book – Sorrowful Mysteries

Description

How to Pray the Rosary, A Catholic Mother’s Guide The Rosary is the weapon that will bring peace! This gift is the most powerful prayer of the Church, second only to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Handed to us by the Blessed Mother herself, every Catholic mother should be striving to Pray the Rosary! “Where the Rosary is recited there will be days of peace and tranquillity” -St. John Bosco

What are the Prayers of the Rosary?

You start holding the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross. If you would like to start with offering an intention you can place that here. For example, you could say something like, “Lord Jesus, I offer this Rosary for the the intentions of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts”. Next you say the Apostles Creed while still holding the crucifix. On the first large bead you say an Our Father for the Pope’s Intentions that are pleasing to God. The next three beads are Hail Mary prayers for the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity or love. On the chain between the last Hail Mary and the next large bead you say a Glory Be. Then you introduce a mystery! There are 15 original mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, given to us by the Blessed Mother. This is so beautiful, because the 150 Hail Mary’s represent the 150 Pslams! We will go into each set of the original 3 mysteries in separate posts! For the purpose of this post they are listed below. After you state the mystery for the decade (set of 10 Hail Mary’s) you pray an Our Father on each large bead followed by 10 Hail Mary’s while meditating on that mystery. On the chain at the end of each mystery you say a Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. You continue all 5 decades in this manner. When you get back to the center of the Rosary you recite the Hail Holy Queen and enter into the next mystery. Continue with the other mysteries as you work your way around the chain!

The Joyful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

Our family prays these every day in Advent and on Monday’s and Thursday’s throughout the year. We announce them as follows:

• The first Joyful Mystery is The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I desire the virtue of humility.
• The Second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. I desire the virtue of charity toward my neighbor.
• The Third Joyful Mystery is the Nativity, the Birth of Our Lord. I desire detachment from the world.
• The Fourth Joyful Mystery is the Presentation of the Lord. I desire the virtue of purity.
• The Fifth Joyful Mystery is the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. I desire the joy in finding Jesus.

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

Our family prays these every Tuesday, Friday and during Lent everyday. We announce them as follows:

• The First Sorrowful Mystery is the Agony of Our Lord Jesus in the Garden. I desire true repentance for my sins.
• The Second Sorrowful Mystery is the Scouring at the Pillar. I desire a spirit of mortification.
• The Third Sorrowful Mystery is the Crowing of our Lord Jesus with Thorns. I desire moral courage.
• The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery is The Carrying of the Cross. I desire patience in adversity.
• The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I desire final perseverance.

The Glorious Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

Our family prays these every Wednesday, Sunday and during the Easter Season. We announce them as follows:

• The First Glorious Mystery is the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I desire the virtue of faith.
• The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I desire the virtue of hope.
• The Third Glorious Mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. I desire the zeal for the glory of God.
• The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. I desire the grace of a holy death.
• The Fifth Glorious Mystery is the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Making Time and Being Intentional When Praying!

Make time for God. When I am so busy with worldly tasks I may get things the things I need to do done, but when I set aside time for God He blesses me with “more time”. I have found time and time again that when we put God first everything else falls into place. We need to pray and listen to God in the silence of our hearts to build our relationship with Him. If it is during nap time, at the beginning, or end of the day, I believe you can find time for prayer, and you too might be surprised at how when you dedicate time to God, He blesses you with more time in your schedule then you thought you had! The Blessed Mother has told us time and time again to say the Rosary! She gives it to us. It incorporates everything we need to help us pray! Let us be intentional in our praying and unite our prayers to hers. In the Holy Rosary, there is the use of Scripture, meditative prayer on Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection, and we can add our intentions! Our Lady of Fatima told us to pray the Rosary everyday to obtain peace in the world! 20 minuets of my time thinking about a God who loves me?! Yes please!

Alright! How Do I Focus?

To intentionally meditate on God, silence is very important. In 1 Kings 19, God was not in the wind, the earthquake, the fire, but in the whistling of gentle air. When we lift our mind to Him, He comes to us most clearly. Through meditating on His word, and speaking to Him in prayer, we open our hearts to an abundance of graces that have real effects in our daily lives! We do not need to spend hours in silence, especially if it means abandoning our duties, however making time daily for intentional time with God is essential to growing closer to Him, and growing in holiness. This will look different for everyone, and will change through different seasons of life. Again, we can not have a relationship with someone we do not speak with or listen to! God loves our effort to draw near to Him! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you! – James 4:8 If a distraction enters in, either physically or mentally, remain calm, if it is a physical interruption handle it, and continue on. If it is a mental interruption shut the door on that thought and continue on! Distractions happen, don’t let them detract from your prayer. While you are saying the prayers it can help to have scripture or holy images in front of you. This keeps us focused! If you get distracted, once you realize you are distracted close the door on that thought and keep going!