Principal Catholic Practices - Chapter 13 - The Rosary

Chapter 13 - The Thermometer of Christianity

Origin of the Rosary. Its Nature and Beauty.

If you would gauge the quality of any Catholic's religious convictions, inquire about his attitude toward the Rosary. For although there is no obligation to say the Rosary, this wonderful prayer has, in truth, become a thermometer whereby we can know if a man's religion is warm and active, or cold and sluggish. You may be sure that the home in which the Rosary is loved and frequently recited is a home which bears the unmistakable signs of God's benediction. And, conversely, where the Rosary is despised, you will discover unhappiness, religious indifference, and sinful discord.

What, then, is this wonderful prayer that exercises such potent influence in the life of a Christian? Every Catholic knows that the Rosary is made up of our most common prayers. But not every Catholic knows its full beauty and value. Accordingly, we will strive to learn more about the Rosary so that it may be as dear to us as it has been to the saints, as also it was to the beloved devotee of the Mother of God, Pope Pius IX.

Saint Dominic is given credit for its origin. It is said that in olden times the hermits, who could not recite the psalms of the Holy Office, instead said one Our Father and Hail Mary for each psalm. In order to note the number, they made use of little pebbles or other small objects like seeds. One hundred and fifty Our Fathers and Hail Marys were substituted for the one hundred and fifty psalms. Naturally enough, some one, probably Saint Dominic, conceived the idea of stringing the beads on a cord. And thus our Rosary came into existence.

Now Saint Dominic, about the year 1200, was commissioned by the Pope to preach against the heresies of the Albigenses, who had created much havoc in Christian circles in southern France and northern Italy. Meeting with little success, the saint appealed to the Helper of Christians. She commanded him to use the Rosary and to spread the devotion. From that day to the present the Rosary has grown in popularity, so that today every genuine Catholic carries his beads with him, and finds in this prayer a most powerful weapon against sin and a sweet consolation in distress.

Why should the Rosary be so pleasing to God and so beneficial to us? Because it contains the best and most beautiful prayers, and because it is most admirably suited to Christian needs, for in it we have, in reality, a compendium of the Gospel truths.

We begin with the sign of the cross - the cross, so dear to every true Christian, the emblem of our salvation, the Christian's badge, of which it is said, "in this sign thou wilt conquer." After you have kissed the crucifix and blessed yourself with it, you proceed to the profession of faith, the Apostles' Creed, The Rosary is a garland of most beautiful roses which we weave together of our repeated Aves. But the roses must bloom on the tree of faith. If your faith is lost, or if it is weak and anemic, the roses that you try to pluck will be devoid of beauty and fragrance. Roses cannot thrive on withered and worm-eaten branches. And oh, how necessary it is in our days that we frequently renew our profession of faith! In a hundred different ways the arch-fiend approaches us in order to rob us of our birth-right. Let him hear his condemnation: Credo, I believe; my holy Faith above all things on earth. Indeed, a more fitting opening prayer for the Rosary could not be found. After reciting the Glory Be to the Father, the Our Father, and three Hail Marys for an increase of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, we come to the body of the Rosary. We are to say one Glory Be to the Father, one Our Father and ten Hail Marys for every decade of the Rosary, meditating the while upon the sublime mysteries of the religion of God. The ordinary beads used by Catholics have five decades. But there are three sets of mysteries upon which we meditate, accordingly as we wish to say the Rosary of the joyful, sorrowful, or glorious mysteries.

Let us begin with the joyful mysteries. While reciting the Hail Marys of the first decade, we meditate upon the mystery called the Annunciation. Our mind takes us back to that humble little home in Nazareth, where the archangel Gabriel found the Virgin Mary in prayer, and announced to her the glad tidings that she was chosen by God to be the mother of the Redeemer. We fancy we see the chaste young maiden as she protests against anything that might violate her vow of chastity. And as the wonderful plans of God are unfolded to her, we see her humbly acquiesce in the will of the Lord.

In the next mystery, the Visitation, we accompany her on the hazardous journey over the mountains to her cousin Elizabeth. Our knowledge of God's ways assures us that the Virgin is protected against the roving bands of brigands that infested the hills. And as she arrives at the house of Zachary and Elizabeth, we see her hasten to meet her cousin and confide to her the glorious news. In turn we note the look of exultation that comes over the countenance of Elizabeth as she realizes that the child which she bears has been sanctified by the presence of the Mother of God with her precious burden. We hear Elizabeth's salutation, "Blessed art thou among women," and the prophetic response, the Magnificat from the lips of the Blessed Virgin.

As we pass on to the third decade, the sweet mystery of the Nativity is thrown on the screen of our heart. How gladly the true Christian welcomes the joyous sounds of Christmas bells! And with what happiness he hurries to church to live over again the happiness and sweetness of this great mystery! Truly the third decade of the Rosary of the Joyful mysteries will be replete with beautiful and wholesome thoughts. In spirit we are carried to the fields of Bethlehem. We watch with the shepherds by their flocks; we, too, see the splendor of the angels and hear their message. And with the humble shepherds we hurry to the grotto to prostrate ourselves before the crib which holds the heavenly Infant.

Our ten Hail Marys finished, we begin another decade and the meditation of the Presentation in the Temple. The scenes of Bethlehem vanish. In their stead we find ourselves in the spacious vestibule of the one-time magnificent temple of Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary have made the journey to comply with the law. Poor though they are, they have brought with them a pair of doves as an offering. Then from somewhere in or about the temple come two old persons - ^the one Anna, a prophetess; the other Simeon, a good and holy man. Tears of joy are streaming down the cheeks of the silver-haired man of God. For the Holy Ghost had promised him that he would see the Redeemer; and now it was made known to him that the happy hour had arrived. Lovingly and gently he takes the Divine Infant in his arms, and inspired by the Holy Ghost, prophesies His future greatness, as also Mary's sorrows.

The fifth decade, the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, takes us to a later period in Our Lord's life. He is twelve years old and accompanies His parents to Jerusalem. And alas, when the festivities are over, and the visitors have already covered a considerable part of the journey from Jerusalem to their homes, it is discovered that the child Jesus neither is to be found among the relatives and friends, nor does any one remember to have seen Him among the travelers. What anguish fills the hearts of Mary and Joseph! Can we imagine their feverish haste as they go hither and thither, searching everywhere and not finding Him? Finally, worn and tired, they return to the temple, and behold, there the boy is seated among the doctors and learned men, teaching and explaining the Scriptures. And with the Blessed Virgin we recall again the message of the archangel at the Annunciation: "He shall be the Son of God."

The second series of meditations is called that of the sorrowful mysteries. Quite another set of scenes passes before us. You pray through the Blessed Virgin to Christ in order that you might obtain strength and assistance to travel your way of the cross, and before the vision of your soul there passes another Man of Sorrows, the Blessed Redeemer. You follow Him to Gethsemani, where you witness the Agony in the Garden, which is the first mystery. With the eyes of His omniscience you too see the sufferings that await Him - the cruel scourge, the crown of thorns, and the cross. And, like Him, you know that for thousands, yes, for millions, this suffering will be in vain. Present and future generations will despise the One who called Himself the King of the Jews. Only a small part of the world's inhabitants will rejoice and thank Him for redemption. You now realize the cause of the agony and bloody sweat. But also you are overwhelmed with the proof of His divine love.

You follow Him as He is taken prisoner, and you soon see Him fastened to the pillar to be scourged. This is the second mystery. Robbed of His garments and exposed to the vulgar gaze of drunken soldiers, He is to be crushed under the vicious lash of the scourge. First a few small streams of blood trickle down over His body; but soon that sacred body is covered with blood flowing from numberless gaping wounds. As we pray, this picture is indelibly imprinted upon our soul, to be our strength in the time of temptation.

And as you say the Our Father of the third decade, you are prepared for the scene that is to follow, the third sorrowful mystery, the Crowning with Thorns. What vain and sinful thoughts sometimes occupy the human mind! To atone for these a plaited crown of thorns is placed upon the Saviour's brow, the sharp points piercing His sacred head. As you pass from bead to bead devoutly reciting your Aves, this scene of your crowned Lord grips your heart and lends the greatest devotion to your prayer.

You pass on to the fourth mystery, the Carrying of the Cross. Devoutly you follow in the bloody imprints of His feet. And as you see Him plunge to the earth, borne down by the weight of the cross, you think of your frequent relapses into sin. Oh, if your prayer is fervent, and your meditation devout, will not the recital of the Rosary purify your soul and elevate you above the sordid things in life to the sublimity of the things of God?

You have arrived at Calvary, and you begin the meditation of the fifth of the sorrowful mysteries, the Crucifixion. In spirit you are taken back to the Calvary of old. You see the Blessed Mother standing near, though with eyes averted so as not to see the anguish suffered by her Son, as the iron nails are driven through His hands and feet. Anon you see the cross raised aloft bearing the Holy Redeemer. The tortures of those last hours are vividly pictured in your mind. You hear His final cry and see His head fall upon His breast in death. Never again will you crucify your Lord by your sins.

But the wealth of the Rosary is not yet exhausted. The glorious mysteries offer a most fruitful theme for meditation and prayer. We have beheld the wondrous workings of God's plans in the birth and childhood of Our Lord. We walked with Him to Gethsemani; accompanied Him to the pillar; and followed in His footsteps on the sad journey to Calvary, where we heard His last cry as He died on the cross.

Let us now view His and His Mother's exaltation in the glorious mysteries. Whatever sadness may linger in our hearts from a contemplation of the sorrowful mysteries is at once dispelled by the first glorious mystery, the Resurrection. As we pray our Aves there appears to us the risen Master, even as He appeared to Mary Magdalene and to the apostles. He has vanquished death, and has proven His divinity beyond all doubt. How consoling the thought that if I live according to His precepts, I too shall rise from the grave glorified and exceedingly happy! The thought of that resurrection gives me strength to shoulder the cross and joyfully assume His burdens.

In passing I see the fruitfulness of the great Forty Days after the Resurrection, and the second mystery presents to me the picture of the Ascension. With the apostles I accompany the Blessed Redeemer to the Mount of Olives. I hear His injunction to "teach all nations"; I see Him raise His hands in benediction, whilst He ascends into heaven. My heart is filled with yearning to go Home as He went Home, to the Father, to peace and to rest.

And again the scene is changed. The third mystery, the Descent of the Holy Ghost, recalls the wonderful things that transpired in Jerusalem on the first feast of Pentecost. I see the apostles filled with the fire of the Holy Ghost, as they throw off their cowardice as one would cast aside a cloak, and fearlessly go forth to establish the kingdom of God on earth. What wondrous power is given to those who receive the Holy Ghost.

And now my prayerful meditation leads me to a consideration of the glories that crowned the sorrowful life of my Mother, the Virgin Undefiled. The fourth glorious mystery recalls her Assumption into heaven. I do not see her die; for hers was a peaceful sleep from which she awoke with body and soul in heaven. I picture to myself the welcome she received in the celestial realms from the angels and saints, whose Queen she was. With what tender love her Son received her and led her to the Father and to the Holy Ghost.

Quite naturally I continue my meditations in the fifth glorious mystery, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven. I see her enthroned over the angels and saints. I hear the angelic choirs filling the heavens with marvelous melody, singing the praises of the eternal God and of the Queen of heaven.

And now, dear reader, do you understand why we say that the Rosary is the most beautiful form of prayer? Do you realize the potency of this prayer to cleanse and purify the soul? Then, let the Rosary be your dearest possession. Recite it daily if possible, and you may be assured that its sweet consolation and the many blessings attached to it will amply repay any loss of time. The saintly Pope Pius IX was so greatly devoted to this form of prayer that he once declared that, in the whole of the Vatican, there was no greater treasure than the Rosary. His last words to the Christian world were: "Let the Rosary, this simple, beautiful method of prayer, enriched with many indulgences, be habitually recited of an evening in every household. These are my last words to you; the memorial I leave behind me."

- from The Principal Catholic Practices: A Popular Explanation of the Sacraments and Catholic Devotions by Father George Thomas Schmidt, 1920

(The above article mentions three mysteries as it was written in 1920. The fourth mystery "Luminous Mystery" was added on October 16, 2002, the day marking the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of his pontificate of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II)



Chapter 1 - The first and most necessary Sacrament

Chapter 2 - Confirmation

Chapter 3 - Confession

Chapter 4 - Attending Mass

Chapter 5  - Eucharist

Chapter 6 - Matrimony

Chapter 7 - Extreme Unction

Chapter 8 - Priesthood

Chapter 9 - Sacramentals

Chapter 10 - Indulgences

Chapter 11 - Remembering the Dead

Chapter 12 - Our Mother