The Rosary originally helped poor, illiterate persons in the Middle Ages pray in a simple way...

The essence of the Rosary – the “Hail Mary” – is found in St. Luke’s Gospel, where the Archangel Gabriel greets the Virgin Mary. There are now 20 Mysteries of the Rosary, and meditations follow.

From Father Jack Lombardi, Grotto Chaplain:

The Joyful Mysteries

• The Annunciation: Think of the purity – and imitate it – of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Embrace God’s angels, messages, mystical love and His Son in your heart.
• The Visitation: It is joyful when Christians gather together and the Mystical Body – the infants in Mary’s and Elizabeth’s wombs – is always present
• The Nativity: “God became man that man might become god” (Saints Augustine, Aquinas, Athanasius). Think of His holy humility, poverty, beauty!
• The Presentation of the Child Jesus: The priest knew He belonged to God – so make every thought, word and need a pure offering to God.
• The Finding of the Child Jesus: He was about His business. Pray especially for lost souls to find Jesus and God – ultimate life and light.

The Luminous Mysteries

• The Baptism of the Lord: Though sinless, Jesus showed us the path of the sacraments and showed He was the Messiah for the Jews and for all.
• The Miracle of Cana: He changed water into wine and so can change our sinful hearts into holy ones; He is the miracle maker.
• The Preaching of the Good News: He has the words of everlasting life. Read and meditate upon them.
• The Transfiguration: He went up the mountain to reveal His Sacred Divinity to the apostles. Make the journey yourself up the mountain of holiness and embrace His light and mercy.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: He gave Himself to us – in Holy Communion and the Most Blessed Sacrament. He will never leave us orphaned.

The Sorrowful Mysteries:

• The Agony in the Garden: He took on, saw and embraced all our sins and prayed to the Father as a priest should.
• The Scourging at the Pillar: By His stripes and sufferings we are healed. He took on our punishments.
• The Crowning with Thorns: The ultimate mockery – the King of Kings is humiliated and we alienate ourselves further.
• The Nailing to the Cross: He allows wounds for us to hide away in – He is bludgeoned further.
• Christ Dies on the Cross: This is the gateway to power over sin, Hell and death. It is ultimate and final.

The Glorious Mysteries

• The Resurrection: Jesus’ luminous Body is risen and shows us we need never despair, and that we need meditate upon the light, beauty, ethereality of the Glorious Body.
• The Ascension: Jesus shows us our true home is in Heaven, in the Blessed Trinity with all the angels, Mother Mary and the saints.
• The Coming of the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts take up thy rest. Come with Thy grace, and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.”
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mary’s body, because not corrupted by sin, is carried to heaven, showing us the beauty and integrity of the body and soul together in perfect union – how God planned it for all of us.
• The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Heaven: Mary, share with us, your children on earth, the treasures of heaven!

Pray the prayers, especially the repeated Hail Mary, with heartfelt devotion and contemplative love! It is a prayer of union, beauty and peace! As the Virgin of Lourdes said to St. Bernadette, “Pray the Rosary!”