HOW TO SAY THE ROSARY

ST. LOUIS-MARIE DE MONTFORT

IMPRIMI POTEST:
Roger M. Charest, S.M.M.
Superior Provincialis

NIHIL OBSTAT:
Joseph D. Brokhage, S.T.D.
Censor Liborum

IMPRIMATUR:
Paul C. Schulte, D.D.
Archbishop of Indianapolis

The following information was compiled and submitted by Dr. James J. Ripley. For more information about how to say the Rosary or if you would like to ask any questions, please contact Dr. James J. Ripley or Pamela Ripley at JRipley575@aol.com.

FOREWORD

Most Catholics love the Rosary, yet they have often felt a certain helplessness while saying this beautiful prayer. They have known forceful distractions even in sincere attempts to reach the very perfection of the mysteries proposed.

How replace monotonous repetition with prayerful, powerful, pleasing Rosary meditations? This is the challenge! The need has long been felt for a method, based on sound psychology, that would take into account the sensitiveness of the human mind and its partiality toward the sense image.

Such a need was filled in the 18th century through a priest respected by the Church as an "eminent preacher of the Rosary." This alert student of human nature, St. Louis De Montfort, lived with the ordinary people of his time, preached extensively to them, and was loved and trusted by them.

Drawing on the richness of his experience and the sanctity of his own life, De Montfort devised two appealing methods for reciting the Rosary. Through them, he succeeded in getting the people to pray with attention and devotion; to recite each Rosary as if it were to be the last of their lives.

The history of his methods is simple--the results--startling! During the course of his many parish missions, St. Louis De Montfort used to carry fifteen banners, each representing a particular mystery of the Rosary. Displaying these simple works of art before his varied congregations, the Saint would explain each mystery from his pulpit. Then he would announce in a loud voice the particular mystery that was to provide the meditation. At once he would lead the people in prayer, while they gazed at the banner he had just explained to them in his powerful, magnetic style.

In this little booklet, it is our desire to imitate, through the use of practical illustrations, the psychology of De Montfort's Rosary. This we have done by uniting the two methods left us by our Holy Founder.

THE FIRST METHOD has been entitled by De Montfort, "A method of saying the Most Holy Rosary, so as to draw upon our souls the grace of the mysteries of the Life, Passion, Death, and Glory of Jesus and Mary." In this booklet, you will find this method on the left hand side of the page, beneath each picture. Each decade is preceded by a short offering, announcing the mystery under consideration. Then a virtue is proposed for imitation, and this virtue is sought through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The Our Father and ten Hail Marys are recited, while thinking on the mystery proposed.

THE SECOND METHOD was called by St. Louis, "A compendium of the Life, Passion, Death, and Glory of Jesus and Mary." We have placed this method on the right hand side of each page. Actually, it consists in meditating on and honoring an attribute of God at each Our Father, while at each Hail Mary is proposed a special aspect of the mystery under consideration.

The Montfort Fathers are proud and happy to offer all lovers of Our Lady's Rosary, the combined methods of De Montfort. Through fidelity to his practical form of meditation, it is our hope that souls will acquire a genuine facility for meditating on the heavenly mysteries. Thus will be derived in greater abundance and with burning delight, the true fruit of Mary's Rosary, namely, THE LOVE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

(1) Sign yourself with the Rosary's crucifix,

saying at the same time: "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

(2) Recite the following prayer:

I unite with all the saints in Heaven, with all the just on earth and with all the faithful here present. I unite with Thee, O my Jesus, in order to praise worthily Thy holy Mother and to praise Thee in her and through her. I renounce all the distractions I may have during this rosary which I wish to say with modesty, attention, and devotion, just as if it were to be the last of my life.

We offer Thee, O Most Holy Trinity, this Creed in honor of all the mysteries of our Faith; this Our Father and these three Hail Marys in honor of the unity of Thy Essence and the Trinity of Thy Persons. We ask of Thee a lively faith, a firm hope and an ardent charity. Amen.

(3) Recite the 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

(4) Recite one Our Father and Three Hail Marys:

Our Father, Who are 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, 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. (Three times)

(5) Recite the Lesser Doxology:

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

Romans 16:27, Ephesians 3:21, and Jude 25; they are known as biblical doxologies. The lesser and greater doxologies are two responsive forms that originated in the 4th century and are now used in the liturgy. Doxology, hymn or formula of praise to God. Many doxologies are found in the Bible. The lesser doxology is named Gloria Patri: "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." It is a popular prayer among Roman Catholics. The greater doxology, Gloria in excelsis Deo, is an early church expansion of the song of the angels in Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." It is used in the Roman Catholic Mass, except during Advent and Lent and in certain Masses throughout the year, and in many Protestant services. In the liturgy of the Church of England, the lesser doxology occurs at the end of psalms and canticles, and the greater doxology is used in certain seasons in the communion service. A special doxology, known as the Trinitarian doxology, concludes the canon of the Mass by emphasizing Christ's mediatorship: "Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever." The greater, lesser, and Trinitarian doxologies are known as liturgical doxologies.

The last stanza of a hymn by the English bishop Thomas Ken (1637-1711), beginning "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," is commonly called "The Doxology" in Protestant churches. In Jewish worship, several psalms and the Eighteen Benedictions close with doxologies.

"Doxology," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation

(6) Recite the Fatima Prayer:

O Sweet Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy mercy.

(7) Now begin the actual Rosary,

which consists of fifteen decades.
Each decade is composed of the following:

THE LIFE DEATH AND GLORY OF JESUS AND MARY IN THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

The Joyful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

I BELIEVE IN GOD

1. Faith in the presence of God.
2. Faith in the Gospel.
3. Faith and obedience to the Pope, as Vicar of Jesus Christ.

OUR FATHER

God is present everywhere, One, Living, and True.

HAIL MARY

1. To honor the Eternal Father, Who, in contemplating Himself, brings forth his Son.
2. To honor the Eternal Word, equal to His Father, Who together with Him, in mutual Love, brings forth the Holy Ghost.
3. To honor the Holy Ghost, Who proceeds from the mutual love of the Father and the Son of Love.

REFERENCE

(USE AS NEEDED)

GLORIFIED BODIES--MATERIAL QUALITIES of the BODY identity, integrity, quality (soul one with body, whole, perfect bodies)

GLORIFIED BODIES--FORMAL QUALITIES of the SOUL impassibility, subtlety, agility, clarity (no suffering or death, spiritual body is completely subject to the spirit of man, to tap the dimentionless point obviating space and time, the radiant presence of divine grace objectively observable as radiance--the beauty of the soul observable in the body)

SEVEN LAST WORDS

Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
Woman behold they son; son behold thy Mother.
My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.
I thirst.
It is finished.
Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.

THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

Residing in the Intellect:

Understanding, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Counsel (ready intuitive grasp of God's truth, ability to readily grasp the relation between created effects and their Ultimate Cause, helps us to judge Divine things helps us to use Understanding, Knowledge, and Wisdom when we Act)

Residing in the Will:

Piety, Fortitude, and Fear (disposes the will to do good to all men for love of God, divinely strengthens our will against fear of danger, facilitates true compunction of the will relative to the inordinate desires of our concupisible and irascible appetites)

THE TWELVE FRUITS OF THE HOLY GHOST

Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Longanimity, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continency, and Chastity

PRAYER

Hail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father, admirable Mother of the Son, faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost, august Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail, sovereign Princess to whom all owe subjection in heaven and on earth! Hail, sure Refuge of Sinners, Mother of Sorrows, Our Lady of Mercy, who hast never refused any request. All sinful though I am, I cast myself at thy feet and beseech thee to obtain from Jesus, thy beloved Son, contrition and pardon for all my sins, as well as the gift of Divine Wisdom. I consecrate myself entirely to thee with all that I have. I choose thee today for my Mother and Mistress. Treat me, then, as the least of thy children and the most obedient of thy servants. Listen, my Princess, listen to the sighs of a heart that desires to love and serve thee faithfully. Let it never be said that of all those who have had recourse to thee, I was the first to be abandoned. O my hope, O my life, O my faithful and Immaculate Virgin Mary, defend me, nourish me, hear me, teach me and save me. Amen.

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 sent up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of they womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

LET US PRAY

O God, Who by the life, death and resurrection of Thy only-begotten Son, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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