Questo articolo è disponibile anche in:
Italian
English
Dear Father Angelo,
I apologize for bothering you with this question, which may seem pedantic to you and maybe is.
I have been a member for e year now of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary (in which you inducted me); in my search for a form that is respectful of all the possible aspects of the Holy Rosary, I found on the Internet dozens of forms of prayers that are a corollary to the Holy Rosary, so much so that I no longer know that is the original one, and in my enthusiasm for not wanting leave out any prayers (this also because the Holy Rosary is the only prayer I recite, so it seems to me that the more orations I include the better I do), my recitations would last hours, and I would be glad of that if I had time and resilience enough for the intensity that prayer requires, but that is not my case.
Could you please tell me, step by step, which is the original arrangement of the Holy Rosary so that I can recite it in the most proper, coherent, and correct way possible, without overloading it with orations that are not originally part of it, and that are not indispensable for the purpose of the recitation of the Holy Rosary?
I thank you and I apologize again for taking your time with things that perhaps for most faithful have long been clear.
Praised be Jesus Christ.
Sandro
Answer from the priest
Dear Sandro,
1. You ask me what the original arrangement of the Rosary is.
Well, this prayer begins with the sign of the cross.
Then the several mysteries are announced, decade after decade.
They are followed by an Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and a Glory be to the Father.
After the last Glory be to the Father, the prayer of the Rosary ends.
2. The Litanies and the Salve Regina, although very useful and valuable, are not in themselves part of the Rosary.
3. The mysteries of the Rosary are 15, in order to form the Marian Psalter (150 Hail Marys), in analogy with the Psalter of David, which is composed of 150 Psalms.
The 15 mysteries are divided into three groups: joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries.
4. When one full string of Rosary beads is recited – which is made for counting the Hail Marys of 5 mysteries – in fact a third part of the Rosary is actually recited.
When Our Lady at Fatima asked to recite the Rosary every day, she meant a third part of it, that is, one string of beads.
5. John Paul II proposed to also introduce the five mysteries of light, also called the luminous ones.
They can replace a group of traditional mysteries.
This so that the whole Rosary always remains formed of 15 decades.
6. Here in his actual words: “This addition of these new mysteries, without prejudice to any essential aspect of the prayer’s traditional format, is meant to give it fresh life and to enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary’s place within Christian spirituality as a true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ, ocean of joy and of light, of suffering and of glory” (Rosarium Virginis Mariæ, 19).
Now the traditional format of this prayer is made up of 15 mysteries and not 20.
7. The Rosary therefore always remains the Marian Psalter, that is, made of 150 Hail Marys.
Those who want to recite the whole Rosary every day can be assured with complete confidence that they have said it entirely if they have recited 15 mysteries.
It is good to add the other five, but it is not required.
8. Similarly, for those who join the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, the recitation of 15 decades during the week is required, choosing the mysteries as they wish.
9. Over time, invocations have been added, which are recited after the Glory be to the Father and before the enunciation of the new mystery.
The most common are the following: Praised always be – the Most Holy name of Jesus, of Joseph, and of Mary.
Or: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in the most need of Your mercy.
Or also: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.
When the Rosary is recited for a deceased person, it is customary to say: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
10. In order not to be too heavy and to give a measure of agility to the recitation of the Rosary, especially when reciting together, it is not wrong to limit oneself to uttering just a short invocation.
St. Thomas says that prolixity dilutes devotion.
11. For the recitation of the Rosary performed in the family or in an oratory, the Church grants a plenary indulgence.
To acquire it, it is necessary to add a prayer for the Pope.
The Litany of Loreto or the Salve Regina – since they are not part of the Rosary – can fulfill this requirement as well.
And so while the benefit of our prayer extends to encompass the needs of the whole Church (the intentions of the Pope are very much about this!), our soul bursts forth “in praise of the Blessed Virgin, either in that splendid prayer the Salve Regina or in the Litany of Loreto” (RVM 37).
12. All this with regard to the vocal structure of the Rosary.
We must remember, however, that without the contemplation of the mysteries, that is, without an intimate union with the events of the life of the Lord, the Rosary is deprived of its essential aspect.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify what can be called the technical or material structure of this prayer, which for many embodies the most significant aspect of their daily partaking of the Lord.
I remember you in prayer and I bless you.
Father Angelo