OUR HOLY FATHER’S REQUEST FOR A ROSARY IN TIME OF WORLDWIDE NEED

Our Holy Father asks all us to join with others around the world spiritually as we pray a rosary today on this Feast of St. Joseph. We are to pray the Luminous Mystery. His own country has a national quarantine with Masses suspended in Rome. A total of 3,405 have now died in Italy, overtaking China’s 3,130. Vigilance, compassion, and prayers are much needed as many suffer all over the world from this pandemic.

Our Holy Father wrote:

Tomorrow we will celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. In life, work, family, joy and sorrow he always sought and loved the Lord, meriting the praise of Scripture as a just and wise man. Always invoke him with confidence, especially in difficult times, and entrust your lives to this great Saint.

I join in the appeal of the Italian bishops who in this health emergency have promoted a moment of prayer for the whole country. Every family, every faithful, every religious community: all united spiritually tomorrow at 9 p.m. in the recitation of the Rosary, with the Mysteries of Light. I will accompany you from here.

We are led to the luminous and transfigured face of Jesus Christ and His Heart by Mary, Mother of God, health of the sick, to whom we turn with the prayer of the Rosary, under the loving gaze of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family and of our families. And we ask him to take special care of our family, our families, especially the sick and the people who are taking care of them: doctors, nurses, and volunteers, who risk their lives in this service.

How to Pray the Rosary

If you are new to the rosary, here is a brief description on how to pray the Rosary:

Praying the Rosary

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
6. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery. 
7. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
8. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father." 
Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner. 

The 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, 

and 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.

After the Rosary: 

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy, 

our life, our sweetness and our hope! 

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; 

to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. 

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, 

and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy 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 life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of 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. 

After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima:
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy." 

As suggested by the Holy Father the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - The Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful) 

Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries:
(Monday; and the Sundays from 1st Sunday of Advent until Lent.)
1. The Annunciation to Mary
2. The Visitation of Mary
3. The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
4. The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries:
(Tuesday and Friday; and the Sundays of Lent.)
1. The Agony of Christ in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord on the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries:
(Wednesday and Saturday; and the Sundays from Easter until Advent.)
1. The Resurrection of Our Lord
2. The Ascension of Our Lord
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
5. The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth

 The Luminous Mysteries:
 (Thursday)
1. The baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan
2. The wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested himself
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord
5. The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist