Praying the Rosary in Hebrew

There is a parallel between the prayer of the rosary in the life of Catholics and the reading of the Book of Psalms in the life of Jews, two ways to praise God and to remember his acts of love.

Beads are used in this prayer (each bead often being in the shape of a rose). A series of ten beads begins and ends with a single bead (often different from the others). Fifty beads are divided into five groups of ten beads each. Each bead constitutes the prayer: "Hail Mary" and the separate bead constitutes the prayer: "Our Father".

There are twenty mysteries divided into four groups:

The joyful mysteries

The luminous mysteries

The sorrowful mysteries

The glorious mysteries

This means that each group of fifty beads includes one group of five mysteries. In order to pray all the mysteries, we must pray the rosary four times.

Pope John Paul II, who added an entire series of mysteries, the luminous mysteries, proposed the following order to pray the rosary:

The joyful mysteries: Mondays and Saturdays

The luminous mysteries: Thursdays

The sorrowful mysteries: Tuesdays and Fridays

The glorious mysteries: Sundays and Wednesdays

To begin praying the rosary, there are a few extra beads.

One begins with the sign of the cross:

In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then the Credo is recited:

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; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated 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.

Then the "Our Father" is prayed:

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.

Then the "Hail Mary" is prayed three times:

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.

Then the "Glory be" is said:

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.

After this, one can begin to pray the rosary with the beads in a circle.

After the proclamation of the mystery, one prays the "Our Father" (the single bead)

Then the "Hail Mary" ten times (the similar beads). At the end one ends with "Glory be" before continuing on to the next mystery.

The joyful mysteries

1. The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary

The Blessed Virgin when the Angel Gabriel greeted her with these words: "Hail full of grace".

(Luke 1:26-38)

2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

The Blessed Virgin visits her cousin Elizabeth and blesses her.

(Luke 1:39-56)

3. The Birth of Jesus

Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

(Luke 2:1-21)

4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Mary and Joseph go up to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the Temple according to the Law of the Lord.

(Luke 2:22-40)

5. Finding Jesus in the Temple

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple in the midst of the Teachers, listening to them and asking them.

(Luke 2:41-52)

LISTEN

The luminous mysteries

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan

John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan and a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

(Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22)

2. The Wedding at Cana, Christ Manifested

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

(John 2:1-12)

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

(Mark 1:15)

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus

And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

(Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36)

5. The Last Supper, the Holy Eucharist

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins".

(Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:15-20)

LISTEN

The sorrowful mysteries

1. Agony of Jesus in the Garden

Our Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

(Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:46-49)

2. Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar

The cruel scourging at the pillar that our Lord suffered; the heavy blows that tore His flesh.

(Matthew 27:24-26, Mark 15:6-15, John 19:1)

3. Jesus is Crowned With Thorns

The crown of sharp thorns that was forced upon our Lord's Head.

(Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2-3)

4. Jesus Carries His Cross to Golgotha

The heavy Cross, so willingly carried by our Lord to Golgotha.

(Matthew 27:32-44, Mark 15:21-32, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:16-27)

5. Jesus dies on the Cross

Christ during His three hours' agony on the Cross.

(Matthew 27:45-56, Mark 15:33-41, Luke 23:44-49, John 19:28-37)

LISTEN

The glorious mysteries

1. The Resurrection of Jesus

Christ's glorious triumph when, on the third day after His death, He arose from the tomb and for forty days appeared to His Blessed Mother and to His disciples.

(Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10)

2. The Ascension of Jesus

The Ascension of Jesus Christ, forty days after His glorious Resurrection, in the presence of Mary and His disciples.

(Luke 24:50-53)

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles, under the form of tongues of fire, in fulfillment of Christ's promise.

(Acts 2:1-13)

4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

The glorious Assumption of Mary into Heaven, when she was united with her Divine Son.

5. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

The glorious crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven by her Divine Son, to the great joy of all the Saints.

(Revelation 12:1)

LISTEN