The Novena

The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses". Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses.


The 54-day Rosary Novena

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of Our Lady, revelead to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favored her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments. They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvelous. Blessed Virgin said:

"Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favors from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favor thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said,

" Whoever desires to obtain favors from me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

How to do the Novena

The Novena consists of:

• five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition;
  
• then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted.

The meditations vary from day to day. Now with the new mysteries the table is changed. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the second day the sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the glorious Mysteries; and so on throughout the fifty-four days.

A laborious Novena, but a Novena of Love. You who are sincere will not find it too difficult, if you really wish to obtain your request.

Here a table to assist you in making the novena

Petition
Day 1 Joyful	Day 2 Sorrowful	Day 3 Glorious	Day 4 Joyful	Day 5 Sorrowful	Day 6 Glorious	Day 7 Joyful	Day 8 Sorrowful	Day 9 Glorious
Day 10 Joyful	Day 11 Sorrowful	Day 12 Glorious	Day 13 Joyful	Day 14 Sorrowful	Day 15 Glorious	Day 16 Joyful	Day 17 Sorrowful	Day 18 Glorious
Day 19 Joyful	Day 20 Sorrowful	Day 21 Glorious	Day 22 Joyful	Day 23 Sorrowful	Day 24 Glorious	Day 25 Joyful	Day 26 Sorrowful	Day 27 Glorious

Thanksgiving
Day 1 Joyful	Day 2 Sorrowful	Day 3 Glorious	Day 4 Joyful	Day 5 Sorrowful	Day 6 Glorious	Day 7 Joyful	Day 8 Sorrowful	Day 9 Glorious
Day 10 Joyful	Day 11 Sorrowful	Day 12 Glorious	Day 13 Joyful	Day 14 Sorrowful	Day 15 Glorious	Day 16 Joyful	Day 17 Sorrowful	Day 18 Glorious
Day 19 Joyful	Day 20 Sorrowful	Day 21 Glorious	Day 22 Joyful	Day 23 Sorrowful	Day 24 Glorious	Day 25 Joyful	Day 26 Sorrowful	Day 27 Glorious

What is the Rosary?

The word ROSARY originates from ROSE, flower of the rosebush, it has varied coloration (white, yellows and red, mainly), beautiful and delicate, besides a pleasant smell, always cheering the eyes and comforting the heart.

The Rosary refers to a series of prayers consisting of 150 Ave Marias (Hail Marys) and 15 Paternosters (Lord's Prayers) and Gloria Patris, or to a string of 165 beads for keeping count of these prayers; it is linked with the adoration of the Virgin Mary.

Mysteries of Rosary

Joyful Mysteries
First Decade : The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary
Second Decade: The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Third Decade: The Birth of Our Lord
Fourth Decade: The Presentation of Our Lord
Fifth Decade: The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries
First Decade: The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden
Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar
Third Decade: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns
Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary
Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion of Our Lord

Glorious Mysteries
First Decade: The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord
Second Decade: The Ascension of Our Lord
Third Decade: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
Fourth Decade: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Fifth Decade: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth


Say Joyful Mysteries on Mondays and Thusdays, say Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, say Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays.



Attention: When Pope John Paul II issued his apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary in October 2002 and introduced the new "Mysteries of Light". They focus on the public ministry of Jesus Christ.

Luminous Mysteries
First Decade: The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan
Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself
Third Decade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist


With the Luminous Mysteries you say Joyful Mysteries on Mondays, Saturdays, the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays, say Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, say Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sundays.

Prayers of Rosary

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

Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father
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 thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy 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.

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.

How to pray the rosary

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

2. Holding the Crucifix say The Apostles' Creed.

3. Holding the First Bead say Our Father.

4. Say three Hail Mary one for each next bead.

5. Say the Glory be to the Father.

6. Announce the First Mystery; then say the Our Father.

7. Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the Mystery.

8. Say the Glory be to the Father.

9. Following each Glory Be to the Father, has now been added the prayer requested by Our Lady of Fatima said at the end of each decade.

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those most in need of Thy mercy."

10. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the Our Father" Repeat 6, 7, 8 and 9 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.

11. Recite the concluding prayers, Hail Holy Queen.

12. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

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

13. Let us pray,

"Oh God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

14. Make the Sign of the Cross saying:

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen."

How to pray the entire rosary

The entire Rosary is divided into 3 sets of 50 Hail Mary’s, "the Rosary," in fact, the entire Rosary consists of saying all 3 sets. The rosary is a form of vocal and mental prayer on the Mysteries of our Redemption.

First set of 50 Hail Mary’s - Joyful Mysteries;
Second set of 50 Hail Mary’s - Sorrowful Mysteries;
Third set of 50 Hail Mary’s - Glorious Mysteries.

The Rosary is divided into five decades. Each decade represents a mystery. Each of these three sets of Mysteries has within it five different themes to be meditated on,


Attention: In October 2002, Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, announced the creation of a new set of Mysteries to be used in praying the Rosary, called "The Mysteries of Light", by the special apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.