The Rosary
The rosary itself is composed of 60 beads laced together with a crucifix and a pendant of Mary where the 3 strands meet. We divide the Rosary into 6 segments. The 1st segment is composed of the introductory prayers and that is followed by 5 decades.
The Sign of the Cross and The Apostles’ Creed
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Intentions
After the introductory prayers and before the mystery is announced the leader of the group may announce an intention for this particular decade. The intention may be a person by name, a group of persons, a prayer for peace and justice, or some other worthy cause, or a prayer for the deceased.
Next, the leader will announce the mystery, for example, "The first sorrowful mystery is the agony in the garden." All twenty mysteries of the Rosary will follow the same three-step pattern, scripture, reflection and personal experience.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your 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.
