Catholic Rosary

All about the Catholic Rosary

The rosary is an emblematic symbol of the Catholic faith, used for prayer and meditation. We offer a wide range of high-quality Catholic rosaries, specially designed to enrich your prayers.

Let's take a look at all the aspects of the rosary, how to practice this prayer, how to use the object, its meaning, and other common questions about it. Then you'll know everything there is to know about the rosary!

How do I recite the Catholic rosary?

A rosary is not complicated to recite. It simply consists of a series of prayers to be recited quietly, while meditating on the mysteries. You may need a few notes if you're just starting to pray the rosary. But you'll soon get the hang of it by repeating it over and over again.

The rosary is a powerful prayer that allows you to ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
Let's get to the heart of the matter and learn how to recite the rosary. To do this, you'll need a rosary. We have an extensive collection on our website (below). So you're sure to find the one you need!

The rosary should be made up of 5 sorrows (5 groups of 10 beads each). Each bead represents a prayer.
In a nutshell:

• Clasp the cross, make the sign of the cross and recite 'I believe in God',
  
• On the first bead, pray the “Our Father”, then on the next 3 beads the “Hail Mary”, and finally a “Glory be to the Father” on the last bead of the falling part of the rosary,
  
• Meditate on each ten-bead mystery, with an “Our Father”, 10 “Hail Marys” and a “Glory be to the Father”.
  
• Repeat this for each mystery
  

To sum up, here are the 4 prayers you need to know to recite the Catholic rosary properly:

• The “I believe in God” (or Credo), also called “The Apostles' Creed”, because it's considered the summary of our apostles' faith.
  
• The “Our Father” (or Pater Noster), which you certainly need to know. This prayer was taught by Our Lord Jesus Christ himself to his 12 apostles.
  
• The “Hail Mary” (or Ave Maria), which reminds us of the Annunciation and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Jesus' life.
  
• The “Glory be to the Father”, which glorifies the Holy Trinity of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
  

What are the 5 mysteries of the rosary?

There are 4 great mysteries to be meditated on during the rosary. These mysteries are linked to the life of Christ. They are each divided into 5 parts, the famous 5 mysteries of the rosary, which refer to a moment in the life of Jesus, our Lord.

The 5 Joyful Mysteries

These 5 Joyful Mysteries are linked to Mary. Indeed, we cannot contemplate the Son, follow in the Son's footsteps, without encountering the Mother.

So we must begin by getting to know Mary, the Mother, who, as in every family, shows us the way. She shows us the way to her Son, Jesus. These are the mysteries that tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth's arrival on earth.

We'll meditate on each of these 5 mysteries with our rosary, usually on Mondays and Saturdays (as well as on the Sundays of Advent).
Here they are

• The Annunciation: when the angel Gabriel came to announce to Mary that she would bear the Son of God.
  
• The Visitation: when Mary visited her relative Elizabeth
  
• The Birth of Jesus: in a stable in Bethlehem
  
• The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple: Mary presented the Son of Man to Simeon
  
• Jesus' Recovering in the Temple: when Jesus went alone and listened to the doctors of the Law
  

The 5 Luminous Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries help us to contemplate the public life of Jesus. Our Lord 's whole life was light. However, this light is strongly present during the years of his public life.

We usually pray this rosary on Thursdays!
Here are the 5 mysteries:

• The Baptism of Jesus: by John in the Jordan River
  
• The Wedding Feast at Cana: when Jesus of Nazareth turned water into wine for the first time
  
• The Annunciation of the Kingdom: when Christ performed his miracles
  
• The Transfiguration: the moment when Christ changed his appearance to reveal God's divine radiance
  
• The institution of the Eucharist: when the Son of God offered us his body and blood
  

The 5 Sorrowful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are of immense importance in the Catholic faith. They show us God's love for mankind. They are mysteries that help us, thanks to Jesus, to bear our sufferings.

They are prayed during the Rosary on Tuesdays and Fridays (and on the Sundays of Lent).
There are also five of them:

• The Agony of Jesus: this is where Christ experienced the greatest temptation, and where he repelled it by making “the fight of prayer” face-to-face with the Father.
  
• The Flagellation: Jesus was beaten by the Romans
  
• The Crowning with Thorns: when He was led away by the soldiers
  
• The Carrying of the Cross: when Our Lord made the Way of the Cross to Mount Golgotha
  
• The Crucifixion: when He was executed on the cross
  

The 5 Glorious Mysteries

As we pray the Rosary, we meditate on the Glorious Mysteries. They help us to contemplate Jesus in Glory. They celebrate victory over death and Satan.

We pray them, generally speaking, during the rosary on Wednesdays and Sundays.
These mysteries are

• The Resurrection: when Christ rose from his tomb
  
• Ascension: the Son ascended back into Heaven
  
• Pentecost: when Mary and Jesus' disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit
  
• The Assumption: when Mary ascended into heaven
  
• The Coronation of Mary: Jesus crowned his Mother in the Kingdom of Heaven
  

Now you're ready to pray the rosary. Congratulations! If you don't have one, we have a vast collection available in our online store. Visit our collection!

Why use a rosary?

The rosary, in the sense of an object, did not have the shape we know today. In the Middle Ages, Christian families would place a crown of flowers on the head of a statue of the Virgin Mary. This flowery headdress gave rise to the word “chapeau”, which was then “chapel” in Old French.

Every evening, they prayed over each rose in the crown of flowers. With these roses came the name rosary. One day, for practical reasons, it was decided to thread the beads with olive wood, boxwood or silver.

It was St. Bridget of Ireland, in the 6th century, who began to place prayers of the Our Father and Hail Marys around her beads. It wasn't until the 11th century that the rosary took on a more Marian meaning.
The rosary is a tool to help us pray and meditate on the various mysteries of Jesus' life. It encourages us to concentrate and stay on track. The rosary is a very useful way of working on your spiritual life and your heart, offering God a few minutes of your time to meditate on passages from the life of Christ, and entrusting your intentions to him.

It's a prayer that's been around for centuries. The rosary is extremely simple (you only need to know 4 prayers), accessible and profound. It must be at the service of meditation, otherwise the recitation is long and boring.

What is a real rosary like?

The traditional rosary has five tens of beads, each separated by a larger bead. Then there's a medal on which the Virgin Mary or a saint may be depicted. Then under the medal are more beads, and finally the cross that completes this magnificent object.

It can be made in a variety of metals, including wood, metal, glass and many others. Visit our store to discover them all! A real rosary is designed to be durable and to withstand regular use.

Can the rosary be worn?

Yes, you can wear your rosary. There are two ways of wearing it. For women, it's often worn around the neck. For men, it's worn around the waist, in a belt buckle for example.

There are no ecclesiastical rules for wearing the rosary, but it's important to do so with respect, and remembering its primary function as a prayer.

Why is the rosary so powerful?

The rosary is renowned for its power and spiritual benefits. It is even said to be the favorite prayer of the Virgin Mary herself.

The rosary is recited by repeating simple prayers, helping to structure the prayer and focus the mind on meditating on the mysteries of the faith.

The rhythm induced by this prayer, thanks to the repetition of the “Hail Mary”, is soothing, again promoting concentration and a state of meditation. This makes it easier to connect with God.
The rosary is a Marian prayer. We ask for the Virgin Mary's intercession, and we know that she has a special influence with God. Mary is like a mediatrix who can present our prayers to God with particular force.

As Catholics, we firmly believe that the Virgin Mary intercedes powerfully for those who pray the rosary with faith.

Does praying the rosary work?

Many believers testify to the graces received and prayers answered by praying the rosary. What's more, there are many accounts of miracles attributed to praying the rosary. What are you waiting for?

Can I bless my own rosary?

Of course you can! Ask your priest and he'll be delighted to bless your rosary. The priest will use special prayers and holy water to bless the rosary.

Can I use a rosary before it's blessed?

Of course you can use the rosary before it is blessed. The prayer is far more powerful than the object itself. However, we still recommend that you have your rosary blessed for greater spiritual significance.

Does the rosary protect?

Yes, the rosary protects! It's a powerful symbol of faith and devotion. By wearing the rosary, but especially by using it to pray, you ward off the devil and his demons.

If you like our Catholic Rosary collection, take a look at our following categories:

• Cross Necklace
• Cross Pendant
• Cross Earrings
• Cross Bracelet
• Cross Rings
• Crucifix