Rosary Reflections on the Joyful Mysteries: Rosary Reflections, #1

By Mary Saltzmann

Are you looking for a way to make praying the Rosary more personal and meaningful? 

 

If you would like some ideas on how to focus better while you pray the Rosary instead of thinking about the laundry you forgot to put in the dryer that was washed four hours ago, trying to remember that one elusive thing you forgot to add to your grocery list, or doing your best to wrack your brain for the name of the person you saw at Mass that you promised to pray for, check out Rosary Reflections on the Joyful Mysteries.It might be just what you are looking for to help you stay focused on the life of Jesus as you pray the Catholic Rosary.

 

It contains an outline guide with many different ideas you can use to focus on as you pray the Rosary as well as personal reflections and thoughts by the author from her experience praying the Rosary.

 

The Rosary Reflections series:

Do you sometimes find your mind wandering while you pray the Rosary and want to focus better on the Rosary while you pray? The books in the Rosary Reflections series can help you to gain ideas and insights on how to focus better as you pray the Rosary.

 

The Rosary Reflections series is a set of books that will contain reflections on and inspiration from the Joyful Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. 

Rosary Reflections on the Joyful Mysteries is the first book in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Saltzmann
• Release date: Nov 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201312886

Mary Saltzmann

Mary and her husband have been married 25 years and have five kids on earth.  She is a cradle Catholic and runs the website Blessed Catholic Mom, which provides practical ideas and encouragement to help moms nurture their Catholic faith so they may live with more joy and peace.

Book preview

Why do we have the Rosary?

There are a few different histories about the origin of the Rosary as we know it today. In the Middle Ages, people used strings of beads to count the Our Fathers and Hail Marys that they prayed. One history is that Our Lady gave the format of the Rosary to St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican order, telling him to pray the Rosary for the success of converting those believing in and promoting the heresies of his day. 

Why do we pray the Rosary?

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We pray the Rosary to understand more about the life of Jesus, to draw closer to Him, and to pray for ourselves and for others.

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When we pray the Rosary, we think of specific events in the life of Jesus and Mary. Meditating on these events can bring us closer to God in our understanding of Him and our love for Him. We also call on Mary to pray for us and to pray for the intentions we share with her as we pray the Rosary. 

2. How to pray the Rosary

The order of the Rosary

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The Rosary has a particular order in which to pray specific prayers. As with most prayers, the Rosary begins with the Sign of the Cross. The next prayers are the Apostles’ Creed (1), the Our Father (2), and then the Hail Mary is prayed three times (3). Next, we pray the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer (4).

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Then, we announce the first Mystery (5). Pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and one Fatima Prayer. These last 13 prayers complete one decade of the Rosary. Then, announce the next Mystery (6), followed by praying one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and one Fatima Prayer.

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Announce each Mystery, one at a time (7, 8, 9), followed by praying one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and one Fatima Prayer until you finish all five decades of the Rosary.

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If you like, you can pray one more decade for the souls in Purgatory.

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After the last Fatima Prayer, pray the Hail Holy Queen and Let us Pray prayers (10). You may also pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer. Make the Sign of the Cross to complete your Rosary.

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You can find the Mysteries of the Rosary and the complete text of each prayer on the following pages.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

Any Mystery of the Rosary can be prayed on any day of the week, although there is a specific set of Mysteries assigned to each day of the week.

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Traditionally, there were three different sets of Mysteries for the Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. During his Pontificate, St. Pope John Paul II instituted the Luminous Mysteries.

Joyful Mysteries

Traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary and asks her to be the mother of the Savior.

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The Visitation: Mary visits Elizabeth, who the Archangel told her was expecting a