DRE, Ibadan Archdiocese

Faith Series Episode 129

The Church has many devotions to Mary, but the most popular is the Rosary, called by Pope Paul VI the ‘epitome of the whole gospel’ (Marialis Cultus). The Rosary is a perfect blend of vocal prayers and meditation. The vocal prayers centre on the recitation of a number of decades of Hail Marys, each decade introduced by the Lord’s Prayer and concluded by a Glory Be. Introductory prayers to the Rosary include the Apostles’ Creed, an initial Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory be. During the recitation of these vocal prayers, we meditate on certain events, or mysteries, from the life of Christ and Mary.

The complete Rosary consists of twenty decades, though we customarily only recite five decade at a time. Rosary beads are used to help count the prayers. The repetition of the Hail Marys helps to keep our minds from distractions as we meditate on the mysteries.

Next to the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary is the most popular of all prayers among Catholics. The first part of the Hail Mary is rooted in the New Testament; it combines the greetings of the angel in Luke 1:28 and Mary’s cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1:42. The second part of this prayer requests Mary’s intercession for us:

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 death. Amen