The Hail Mary
Hail Mary,
full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou amongst 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.
The Memorare
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary,
that never was it known,
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word incarnate,
Do not reject my petition,
but graciously hear and answer me.
Amen.
The Magnificat
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
henceforth all nations will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
And the Word was made flesh;
and dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary, etc.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray;
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts that we,
to whom the incarnation of Christ,
thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel,
ay, by His Passion and Cross,
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Rosary
The four main divisions (known as Mysteries) of the Rosary are as follows:
The Joyful Mysteries (said on Mondays & Saturdays)
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of Our Lord
- The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
- The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries (said on Tuesdays & Fridays)
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross to Calvary
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
The Glorious Mysteries (said on Wednesdays & Saturdays)
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension into Heaven
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven
- The Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven
The Mysteries of Light (said on Thursdays)
- The Baptism in the Jordan
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
The Rosary begins with the Opening Responsory (V/ O God open my lips. R/ And my mouth shall declare your praise.) This is followed by the recitation of the Apostle’s Creed. Next comes one ‘Our Father,’ three ‘Hail Marys’ and one ‘Glory Be to the Father.’ After this are followed the five decades which consist of one ‘Our Father,’ ten ‘Hail Marys’ and one ‘Glory Be to the Father’ in each decade. Many Catholics pray the Rosary using a set of beads strung together to form a Rosary. The Rosary concludes with the ‘Hail Holy Queen.’
