October Devotion: Our Lady of the Rosary

During this month of October, the Church turns her attention in a particular way to Our Lady of the Rosary.  In last weekend’s bulletin we discussed this title of the Blessed Virgin Mary and both this weekend and next weekend you will find devotions which can be used in your own prayer life as we honor Our Lady of the Rosary.  The most obvious devotion for the month of Our Lady of the Rosary is the Rosary itself!  Here is how one prays the Rosary:
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On the crucifix, make the sign of the cross and then pray 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, sits 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 Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
 
On the next large bead, say 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.
 
On the following three small beads, pray three Hail Marys.
 
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.
 
On the chain, pray the Glory Be.
 
Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
 
Many now add the prayer of Our Lady of Fatima also on the chain.
 
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.
 
Pray the first of the mysteries that you are meditating on (Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation; The Visitation; The Nativity; The Presentation; The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple; Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony in the Garden, The Scouraging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord; The Glorious Mysteries: The Ressurection, the Ascension, Pentecost, the Assumption, the Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen; The Luminous Mysteries: The Baptism of the Lord, The Wedding at Cana, The Proclamation of the Kingdom, The Transfigurationon, the Institution of the Eucharist) and pray the Our Father followed by ten Hail Mary’s on the small beeds.  The a Glory be, etc. until all five decades have been prayed.  At the end of your Rosary, say the 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 send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy 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.
 
(This article is part of a series that will appear over the course of this year on the Monthly Devotions of the Church’s year).