October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Today’s Feast was originally known as Our Lady of Victory because
“On October 7, 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces primarily from Spain, Venice, and Genoa under the command of Don Juan of Austria. It was the last battle at sea between “oared” ships, which featured the most powerful navy in the world, a Moslem force with between 12,000 to 15,000 Christian slaves as rowers. The patchwork team of Catholic ships was powered by the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (Fr Ladis J. Cizik, Blue Army National Executive Director).
Fr. Cizik explains, “the feast of October 7th was renamed ‘Our Lady of the Rosary’ and extended throughout the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716.”
In all Her appearances at Fatima, Portugal, the Blessed Mother repeatedly emphasized the importance of praying the Rosary daily and performing acts of reparation and sacrifice. Our Lady of Fatima requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world.
To pray the Rosary:
Make the +Sign of the Cross:
In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray the Apostle’s 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 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.
Pray 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.
Pray three Hail Mary’s (for faith, hope and charity):
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.
Pray the Glory Be:
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.
Each of the five decades begins with one Our Father, then ten Hail Mary’s, then one Glory Be.
Conclude each decade with the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
The five decades are followed by 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 towards 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. Amen.
Let us pray: O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
A full Rosary consists of 20 decades, 5 each of the Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious Mysteries. A Rosary may be prayed in full or in part.
Joyful Mysteries
- 1. The Annunciation
- 2. The Visitation
- 3. The Nativity of Jesus
- 4. The Presentation in the Temple
- 5. The Finding in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries
- 1. The Agony in the Garden
- 2. The Scourging at the Pillar
- 3. The Crowning with Thorns
- 4. The Carrying of the Cross
- 5. The Crucifixion
Luminous Mysteries
- 1. The Baptism in the Jordan
- 2. The Wedding at Cana
- 3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- 4. The Transfiguration
- 5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Glorious Mysteries
- 1. The Resurrection
- 2. The Ascension
- 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- 4. The Assumption of Mary
- 5. The Crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven
From Johnnette Benkovic’s Graceful Living: Meditations to Help You Grow Closer to God Day by Day
Say the Rosary every day. . . . Pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices for sinners. . . . I am Our Lady of the Rosary. Only I will be able to help you. . . . In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.
— Our Lady of Fátima
To what extent am I personally heeding Our Blessed Mother’s plea? In what one way can I be more diligent?
