The Holy Rosary (Dominican Style)
How do the Dominicans pray the Rosary? Much like every Catholic, with one difference: how it begins. The Rosary is Mary’s prayer, so the friars open it the way the Church opens the Hours, with verses and responses, as in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is simple, and it is meant to be prayed together.
How to pray it together
Everyone begins with the Sign of the Cross.
The leader says the first half of each opening verse, and everyone answers.
The leader announces each mystery. A short meditation may follow.
In the first, third, and fifth decades, the leader and one side begin each prayer, and the other side finishes it.
In the second and fourth decades, the sides switch.
In the concluding prayers, the leader and everyone alternate as marked.
The opening
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
All: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Leader: O Lord, open Thou my lips.
All: And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
Leader: O God, come to my assistance.
All: O Lord, make haste to help me.
Leader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
In Lent, in place of “Alleluia”: Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.
Which mysteries to pray
Joyful: Monday and Saturday, and the Sundays of Advent
Sorrowful: Tuesday and Friday, and the Sundays of Lent
Glorious: Wednesday and Sunday (except the Sundays of Advent and Lent)
Luminous: Thursday
The mysteries
The Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism in the Jordan
The Wedding at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Each decade
Our Father (once)
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 (ten times)
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 (once)
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.
O My Jesus (optional)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Concluding prayers
Leader: Let us pray.
All: 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.
Leader: Pray for us, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.
All: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Leader: Let us pray.
All: 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.
Leader: May the divine assistance remain always with us.
All: And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
If a priest is present, he gives the blessing: May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain with you forever. All: Amen.
Otherwise, the leader says: May Almighty God bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.
The order of prayers is adapted from “The Dominican Manner of Praying the Rosary,” St. Pius V Catholic Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Prayer texts are the traditional English forms. The days of the mysteries follow St. John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae 38.
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