08 October 2014

The Rosary with the Great Painters: the Glorious Mysteries

Madonna del Rosario, Caravaggio, c. 1607
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

'In this process of being conformed to Christ in the Rosary, we entrust ourselves in a special way to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. She who is both the Mother of Christ and a member of the Church, indeed her “pre-eminent and altogether singular member”, is at the same time the “Mother of the Church”. As such, she continually brings to birth children for the mystical Body of her Son. She does so through her intercession, imploring upon them the inexhaustible outpouring of the Spirit. Mary is the perfect icon of the motherhood of the Church.' [St John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, No 15.]

The Rosary here is the formula prayed by members of the Legion of Mary, the way I prefer. There are various ways of beginning and ending the Rosary but the Five Mysteries are the heart of the prayer. The most common formula of the Rosary is here.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let the Spirit continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

v. You, O Lord, will open my lips.

R. And my tongue shall announce Your praise.

v. Incline unto my aid, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

The Glorious Mysteries (Sunday and Wednesday)

First Mystery
The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ, Rembrandt, c.1639
Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Second Mystery
The Ascension
The Ascension of Christ, Rembrandt, c.1636
Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Third Mystery
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost, El Greco, 1596-1600
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fourth Mystery
The Assumption
The Assumption of the Virgin, El Greco, 1577
Art Institute, Chicago

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fifth Mystery
Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven
The Coronation of the VirginVelásquez, 1645
Museo del Prado, Madrid


Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be


Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

v. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us pray.

O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries in 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. 



v. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

R. Have mercy on us.
v. Immaculate Heart of Mary
R. Pray for us.
v. St Joseph
R. Pray for us.
v. St John the Evangelist
R. Pray for us.
v. St Louis-Marie deMontfort
R. Pray for us. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 


Regina Caeli

V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.


[V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.


Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.]

Queen of Heaven

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

[V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.]

The first part of Regina Caeli is sung at the end of Compline (Night Prayer) during the Easter Season. The complete prayer is recited instead of the Angelus during that period.


The Lord's Prayer

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.

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 to the Father

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.


All paintings from Web Gallery of Art




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