The Mysteries of the Rosary with the Great Painters

Madonna of the Rosary 

Lorenzo Lotto [Web Gallery of Art]

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers (Acts 1:12-14).

First Reading, Mass of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Still-Life with Symbols of the Virgin Mary 

Dirck de Bray [Web Gallery of Art]

In October 2014 I published here a series of posts on the Rosary under the general title The Rosary with the Great Painters, each post featuring five mysteries. Here I give links to each of those posts.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Virgin Mary 

El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Mysteries of Light

Virgin and Child with Rosary

Murillo [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Mater Dolorosa

Jusepe de Ribera [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Coronation of the Virgin 

El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Virgin in Prayer

Sassoferatto [Web Gallery of Art]

The Rosary with the Great Artists: the Glorious Mysteries

Madonna of the Rosary

Lorenzo Lotto [Web Gallery of Art]

'The Rosary belongs among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation. Developed in the West, it is a typically meditative prayer, corresponding in some way to the “prayer of the heart” or “Jesus prayer” which took root in the soil of the Christian East.' [St John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, No 5.]

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. 

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.

The Glorious Mysteries 

(Sunday and Wednesday)

First Mystery 
The Resurrection

The Resurrection of Christ

Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Second Mystery

The Ascension

The Ascension of Christ

Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Third Mystery

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost

Sir Anthony van Dyck [Web Gallery of Art]

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fourth Mystery

The Assumption

Assumption of the Virgin

Egid Quirin Asam [Web Gallery of Art]

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fifth Mystery

The Coronation of our Blessed Mother

Coronation of the Virgin (Cell 9)
Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art]

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 (Gregorian Chant)

St Peter's Basilica, Easter Vigil 2011

Regina Caeli is one of four seasonal Marian anthems sung or recited at the end of Compline (Night Prayer) in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours, Breviary). It is sung from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday.

Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia; 
quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia; 
resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; 
ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, whom thou wast worthy to bear. Alleluia.
Has risen as He said. Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.

Regina Caeli
Setting by Tomás Luis de Victoria, sung by Voces 8

Madonna del Rosario

Caravaggio [Web Gallery of Art]

The Joyful Mysteries

The Mysteries of Light

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Twenty Mysteries of the Rosary

Madonna of the Rosary, Lorenzo Lotto [Web Gallery of Art]

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers (Acts 1:12-14).

First Reading, Mass of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Still-Life with Symbols of the Virgin Mary, Dirck de Bray [Web Gallery of Art]

In October 2014 I published here a series of posts on the Rosary under the general title The Rosary with the Great Painters, each post featuring five mysteries. Here I give links to each of those posts.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Virgin Mary, El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Mysteries of Light

Virgin and Child with Rosary, Murillo [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Mater Dolorosa, Jusepe de Ribera [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Coronation of the Virgin, El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

Continue here.

The Virgin in Prayer, Sassoferatto [Web Gallery of Art]