THE GLORIOUS Mysteries of the Holy Rosary allow us to meditate on the early life of Jesus Christ. Let us remember that the Holy Rosary is Mary’s testimony of Jesus: her experiences of His life, His ministry, and the Gospel.
It is traditional to pray the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays and Sundays. Also, the Catholic Church has attached specific graces that we can receive through the meditation of the mysteries of the Rosary and applying them to our lives.
Below I provide the Glorious Mysteries following the method of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort, the Apostle of the Rosary. I also include passages of Scripture and images to help us meditate on each Mystery. I pray that this resource may be of great help to you along your Road to Righteousness.
Introductory Prayers
Make the Sign of the Cross while praying:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Pray:
I unite with all the saints in Heaven, with all the just on earth, and with all the faithful here present. I unite with Thee, O my Jesus, in order to praise worthily Thy holy Mother and to praise Thee in her and through her.
I renounce all the distractions I may have during this Rosary, which I wish to say with modesty, attention, and devotion, just as if it were to be the last of my life.
We offer Thee; O most Holy Trinity, this Creed in honor of all the mysteries of our Faith; this Our Father and these three Hail Mary in honor of the unity of Thy Essence and the Trinity of Thy Persons.
We ask of Thee a lively faith, a firm hope, and an ardent charity.
Amen
The First Glorious Mystery – The Resurrection of Our Lord
Spiritual Grace: Faith
Pray:
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of Thy glorious resurrection, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, love of God, and fervor in Thy service.
Amen
Contemplative Image
Scripture NRSV – John 20:1-18
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”, and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Pray ten Hail Mary
Pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
Pray:
May the grace of the Mystery of the Resurrection come down into our souls.
Amen
The Second Glorious Mystery – The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven
Spiritual Grace: Hope
Pray:
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of Thy triumphant ascension, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, love of God, and an ardent desire for Heaven, our true home.
Amen
Contemplative Image
Scripture NRSV – Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Scripture NRSV – Mark 16:19-20
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.
Pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
Pray:
May the grace of the Mystery of the Ascension come down into our souls.
Amen
The Third Glorious Mystery – The Descent of the Holy Spirit on Mary and the Apostles
Spiritual Grace: Love of God
Pray:
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of the Mystery of Pentecost, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the coming of the Holy Ghost into our souls.
Amen
Contemplative Image
Scripture NRSV – Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Pray the Our Father
Pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
Pray:
May the grace of the Mystery of Pentecost come down into our souls.
Amen
The Fourth Glorious Mystery – The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Spiritual Grace: Devotion to Mary
Pray:
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of the resurrection and triumphant assumption of Thy holy Mother into Heaven, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, a tender devotion for so good a Mother.
Amen
Contemplative Image
Scripture Regarding our Hope of Resurrection – NRSV – 1 Cor 15:51-57
51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Regarding the Apparence of Mary in Heaven and as Mother of the Church – NRSV – Revelation 11:15,19-12:2,5-6,13-14,17
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Messiah,
and he will reign forever and ever.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth… 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
13 So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time…17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
Scripture Regarding Jesus’ entrustment to us of Mary as our Mother – NRSV – John 19,25-27
25 … Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
Pray:
May the grace of the Mystery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary come down into our souls.
Amen
The Fifth Glorious Mystery – The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin
Spiritual Grace: Eternal Happiness
Pray:
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of the coronation of Thy holy Mother, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, perseverance in grace and a crown of glory thereafter.
Amen
Contemplative Image
Scripture Regarding our need for perseverance in grace – NRSV – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
Scripture Regarding our hope for a coronation in Heaven after our earthly death – NRSV – 2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Scripture Regarding the Father’s reservation of the seat at Jesus’ right hand – NRSV – Mark 10:40
40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Scripture Regarding Mary’s Coronation and Position in Heaven – NRSV – Revelation 12:1
1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Scripture to praise Mary and remind us of our hope in salvation – NRSV – Song of Solomon 4:7
7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
Pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
Pray:
May the grace of the Mystery of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin come down into our souls.
Amen
Concluding Prayer
Hail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father; admirable Mother of the Son; faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost; august Temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
Hail Sovereign Princess, to whom all owe subjection in Heaven and on Earth!
Hail sure refuge of sinners, Our Lady of Mercy, who hast never refused any request.
All sinful though I am, I cast myself at thy feet and beseech thee to obtain from Jesus, thy beloved Son, contrition, and pardon for all my sins, as well as the gift of divine wisdom.
I consecrate myself entirely to Jesus, through thee, with all that I have. I choose thee today for my Mother and Mistress. Treat me then, as the least of thy children, and the most obedient of thy servants.
Listen, my princess, listen to the sighs of a heart that desires to love and serve thee faithfully. Let it never be said that of all who have had recourse to thee, I was the first to be abandoned.
O my hope, O my life, O my faithful and Immaculate Virgin Mary, defend me, nourish me, hear me, teach me, and save me.
Amen
