THE STORY OF THE FAMILY ROSARY

 

This excellent booklet, THE STORY OF THE FAMILY ROSARY, written in 1944 by the Reverend Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., received the Imprimi potest from Thomas A. Steiner, C.S.C., Provincial Superior, the Nihil obstat from Henry J. Zolzer, Censor, and the Imprimatur from Thomas H. McLaughlin, Bishop of Paterson.

It's not copyrighted and so I am happy to be sharing it with you here.

THE FAMILY ROSARY

The Rosary from Life

This is a new story—the loveliest story that we know of—the story of the Family Rosary.  It begins in a little house at Nazareth: there, at the message of an Angel, Our Lady conceived her Divine Son and began to live the beautiful truths of the Family Rosary—the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.

Failure to Live Eternal Truths

For centuries men and women who were true Christians lived by these eternal truths.  But a time came in the thirteenth century when men forgot them.  Christian civilization seemed to be dying out.  All kinds of disorders had sprung up among peoples and nations.  Anti-Christian doctrines were openly offered as spiritual food for God's children.

Taught by a Mother

Then it was that God raised up one of His great saints, Dominic, a learned scholar and devoted child of Mary.  There seemed to be no hope of saving a sin-oppressed world.  Dominic did not lose courage.  He had a Mother who would not fail him.  With all the fervor of his soul he called upon her.  Then, according to tradition, the lovely Queen of Heaven and Earth appeared to him holding a Rosary in her hand, taught him how to pray it, and instructed him to preach it to the world.  These are her words telling the secret of its power: "Introduce the Rosary devotion everywhere; teach it to the people and tell them that this devotion is most pleasing to my Divine Son as well as to me.  By means of the Rosary devotion, virtue will flourish, vice will be destroyed, heresy will perish, and Divine graces will be obtained.  The Rosary will be an inexhaustible fountain of every kind of blessing.  I promise you that I will prove by many graces how pleasing this devotion is to me and how profitable to the faithful."

Preached by a Son

This was what Dominic had been waiting for.  He did introduce the Rosary to the people, as his Lady asked, but more than that, he made it his life's work.  The people must have been waiting for it, too, for they took it from the churches to their homes.  It became the prayer that conquered vice, caused virtue to flourish, and brought Divine graces and blessings to everyone.

The Plea of a Mother

For nearly two centuries the Rosary remained the great prayer of Christians.  Later, when the first ardor for the Rosary seemed to slacken, Our Lady appeared to Blessed Alan, another of her zealous sons.  She told him to revive the Rosary, adding that immense volumes would be needed to tell of all its miracles.  To him, too, she made certain promises.  Here are four of them:  "He who calls on me through the Rosary shall not perish.— The true children of the Rosary shall enjoy a great glory in heaven.— Whatever you ask through the Rosary shall be granted.— Those who propagate my Rosary shall be helped by me in all their necessities."

Salvation of the Christian World

The events of the succeeding years proved that she kept her promises.  The Mohammedans were ready to overrun Europe.  Mary's Rosary stopped them by two great victories, that broke their sea power and destroyed the last remnants of their land forces.  Pope Clement XI, to commemorate these victories, along with the even greater spiritual victory of St. Dominic and Blessed Alan, commanded the whole Church to celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary.

Recommended to the World

Coming closer to our own times, we have further evidence of the great value of the Rosary.  Eighteen times at Lourdes Our Immaculate Mother appeared to Bernadette, recited the Rosary with her, and recommended the practice to the world.  Again, on October 13 in 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, Our Lady summed up the greatness of the Rosary by calling herself the Lady of the Rosary.  These are her words:  "I am the Lady of the Rosary and I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  They must not continue to offend Our Lord, already so deeply offended.  They must say the Rosary."

The Family Rosary Today

The Rosary has had a glorious past.  Our Lady of the Rosary has kept all of her promises.  She has saved individuals, families, nations, and the whole world through its power.  Now the Rosary takes on a new glory.  It is the family that is threatened today.  It is the family that must be saved if the world is to be saved.  The Rosary has saved the world in the past.  It will save the world now by saving the family.  But it is no longer the Rosary alone—it is the Family Rosary.  It is the family saying the Rosary.  It is the Rosary saving the family through the family.

A Family Prayer of Power

The Rosary by itself has proved its power.  The Family Rosary has a new power all its own.  The family in itself is already a power: it is one of the units upon which society is founded.  Its bond of unity is mutual love.  When such a unit lifts its voice in the Family Rosary, the power of this prayer of the centuries increases as the family becomes one with Jesus Christ Who said, "...where two or three are gathered together for My sake, there am I in the midst of them."

"Where two or three are gathered together": how much more truly are they gathered together for His sake when it is the family already united by love that is so gathered!  How much more truly does the prayer of the Family Rosary ascend as one voice with that of Mary's Son!  Prayer is talking to God.  The Rosary is Mary's way for us to talk to Him, for she, His Mother, gave us this way, and a mother knows best.  When individuals so closely united in love as to form a family talk to God in Mary's way, the power of the prayer is increased.  The most powerful prayer said by the members of life's most powerful social unit, the family, becomes an irresistible plea to God and His Mother, Mary.

A Family Lesson in Living

The Family Rosary is a lesson in living.  A father and mother on their knees teach their children dependence upon God.  The simple prayer of the children brings back to their parents Christ's words, "...whoever does not accept the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter into it."  No husband and wife who learn well the lessons of the Family Rosary can be unfaithful to each other, or live very long in a state of mortal sin.  The petty quarrels of brothers and sisters will give way to true love for one another.  It is impossible to imagine a family dedicated to the daily recitation of the Family Rosary, living in enmity with one another or with God.

Builder of Family Unity

The Family Rosary, too, is a practical way to strengthen the unity of family life, so easily weakened by the modern way of living.  Father, away from home in the office or factory most of the day, sisters and brothers at work, school, or play, come home often to their own individual interests with little thought for one another.  The Family Rosary, for at least a few short moments of every day, will join them in a bond of loving prayer to God and His Mother.

Against Worldly Wickedness

Today more than ever there is need of a powerful weapon to protect family life.  Worldliness and worldly doctrines—the sworn enemies of the Christian life—strike first at the family.  These are stronger forces today than ever before.  What hope has any family life against the teachings of many college professors on planned parenthood, companionate marriage, divorce, and general immorality?  The radio, newspapers, comic sheets, and magazines bring these doctrines into the home itself, lay them on the table for all to see, leave them ringing in everyone's ears.  Moving pictures with color and sound attract even the wisest and wariest by scenes that make a joke of family life.

Protector of Family Life

Happily, God provides us with the weapon we need.  It is the Family Rosary.  The history of the Rosary has proved already how powerful it is against the forces of sin and evil, whatever these forces be.  It won the victories of Lepanto and Temesvar against the Turks, and saved nations when they took the Rosary into their hands.  Now it will all the more save the family if the family will only take it into its hands.  The Rosary has accomplished great things.  In the Providence of God the Family Rosary will do even greater things if families will only use it.

A Prayer of Perfect Parts

The power of the Family Rosary is not surprising to anyone who realizes the perfection of its very make-up.  It is a living organism, so to speak, with a perfect body and soul.  Its body (the vocal prayers) is perfect, since it is made up of the sign of our salvation and the three prayers of the Catholic Faith.  Its soul (the Mysteries) is perfect, too, since these Mysteries are Christ's life—the perfect life—relived again in the minds of the praying family.

The Sign of Salvation

The first act of the family is the sign of the cross.  They begin the perfect family prayer in the perfect way.  They sign themselves with the sign of Redemption and with united voice they offer their Rosary in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  As each member of the family tenderly holds the cross of salvation, from their lips comes forth a firm and united profession of faith for all that the cross stands for.  They recite the Apostles' Creed—a prayer that embraces all the Christian truths and mysteries of our Holy Faith.

Our Lord's Composition

The Our Father raises the family circle to a Divine level.  No longer as earthly father, mother, son, and daughter does the family pray but rather as children of God, united into a higher family circle where God is Father and Mary Immaculate is Mother.  No one but the Son of God Himself could have composed a prayer so full of meaning and power.  It is not merely a portion of the Gospel; it is a summary of the Gospel—that Gospel by which we must live to be true children of God.

A Divine Masterpiece

The Hail Mary is the beautiful prayer that for centuries has been lovingly spoken by old and young.  Still today it is on the lips of millions—in health, in sickness, in death.  It is so beautiful that it finds its way into music and into song.  If we ask ourselves what is the secret of its beauty, the answer is that it is God's word-picture of the loveliest of all creatures, His Mother and ours.  Never do we tire of repeating over and over again His beautiful description of Mary.  She is full of grace.  The Lord is with her.  She is blessed among all the women of the world.  She is the powerful Mother of God who can help us now and at the hour of our death.  Most blessed in the sight of God is the family that brings to life fifty-three times each day this masterpiece of Divine Wisdom.

The greatest mystery of our Catholic Faith is that of the Most Blessed Trinity: one God in three Divine Persons.  A family that says the Family Rosary daily gives glory six times a day to the Blessed Trinity as they raise their voices in the beautiful prayer of praise: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost."

The Soul of the Rosary

The most important part of the Family Rosary is its soul—the meditations on the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious events in the lives of Our Lord and of Our Lady.  This is the part of the Rosary which, according to tradition, Our Lady took such pains to explain to St. Dominic.  It is easy to see why she did this.  She wanted, and wants, the prayer of the Rosary to be more than a recitation of memorized sentences.  She wants it to be a way for the ordinary person of a busy workaday world to think over the things she and her Son have done for them.  She knows that no person with a human heart can ever be ungrateful, forgetful, or cruel once he has understood what pain sin has caused the hearts of the sweetest Mother and Son.  She knows that there is no surer way for a person to grow up to be worthy to be called a son of God than to review with her, his Mother, some part of the life of the Son of God each day until one finally learns to imitate Him so closely that she will say to Jesus: "Son—behold Thy brother."

Power House of Spiritual Energy

Daily meditation is the spiritual power house of the great leaders of the Church.  But it is not for them alone.  Every person in the world, no matter what his talents be, can draw from this same power house by daily meditation on a portion of the Mysteries of the Rosary.  The home that makes a daily practice of the Family Rosary is strong unto selflessness, meets trials courageously, faces life joyously.  Father, mother, brothers, and sisters all sense the new feeling of power.  The family is not only teeming with life—it is teeming with the life of Christ.

The Mind's Eye Sees

The family will find no difficulty in meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary.  Each of the Mysteries gives a snapshot of some event in the life of Jesus and Mary.  Meditating means looking at that snapshot with the eyes of the mind.  At first, if the eyes have not been used to looking at these pictures, they may get a dim, hazy view.  But once they are in focus by a little practice, the picture will become clear.  Then just one thing can happen—the person behind those eyes will have to say: "Now I see what God and His Mother have done for me.  I must do something for them.  What can I do to prove that I mean what I say?"  Even the seven-year-olds can understand that.  They learn before this age to say "Thank you" for a gift.

An Unforgettable Picture

There is no one method of meditation, but for an example here is one on the first Joyful Mystery.  First, listen carefully as the leader announces the Mystery.  Imagine yourself right there in Mary's own room.  You watch her praying.  You see the Angel Gabriel approach her.  You notice that she is frightened as she suddenly sees a strange person in her room.  The sound of his voice is like sweet music.  She is no longer afraid.  You listen to what the Angel is saying: "Hail Mary..."  The words are on your lips, too.  "Full of grace..."  Not another person in the world is full of grace, yet how humble Mary is about it all.  The Mother of God!

Such a meditation, or any other that you like, can be used for each of the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.  Later we shall give a short sample meditation for all of them.

The Family Recitations

Just as there is no single way of meditating on the Mysteries, so there is no one manner of recitation of the Family Rosary.  The most practical way, however, seems to be this:  first, at the beginning of each decade, let the leader announce the proper Mystery so that all may hear.  If convenient, the leader may offer a few suggestions to make the meditation easier.  He may read the meditations which we have placed at the end of this booklet, or any others he may have.  Perhaps he may wish to compose his own.  Where practicable, the whole family may together read aloud the meditation for each Mystery, since the vocal recitation directs the attention of each one more effectively to the Mystery in hand, and gives all a fuller sense of participation in the prayer.

A Daily Practice

The recitation of the Family Rosary should be the unfailing practice every day in every family, no matter what may take members of the family away from home.  As long as two members of the family say the Rosary together, they say the Family Rosary, and all the added power of the Family Rosary is present in their prayer.  Of course the entire family should try to be present.  Those members who are deliberately absent not only fail to receive the fruits of the Family Rosary recitation which they would receive were they present, but they also weaken the power of the united family plea before God.

Win the Family Guest

The presence of visitors should never be the occasion for letting a day go by without the Family Rosary.  No guest at your home, no matter what his religion may be, would want to feel that because of his presence in your home God and Mary were put aside for fear of embarrassing him.  Experience has shown that the recitation of the Family Rosary in the presence of visitors has been one of the most fruitful means of spreading the Family Rosary to others.  Is it any wonder?  If it is a beautiful thing to do, then it is a beautiful thing to see, and those who see it themselves will wish to do it.

Recite at Any Hour

There is no determined time at which to recite the Family Rosary.  Different times fit different families.  The most popular, however, seems to be after the evening meal—perhaps even before the dishes are washed, while everyone is at the family table.  Our Lady, good housekeeper though she is, will not condemn the housewife who delays washing the dishes for ten minutes in order that she may bring to the family table prayers worth an eternity.

Value Its Indulgences

The fruits of the Family Rosary?  What is there to say about them?  Who can enumerate them?  History tells its story—from Dominic to Lepanto, from Lourdes to Fatima, and down to the present day.  The beauty of its prayers is beyond comparison, the power of its plea is irresistible.  In addition to these fruits the Church grants a special indulgence to the Family Rosary, because it grants twice the amount to group recitation as to recitation alone.  Also, on the last Sunday of the month, the family that has been faithful to the daily Family Rosary may gain a plenary indulgence by going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, and visiting a church.

The Family Rosary Crusade

The Rosary is not a new prayer—it goes far back in history.  The Family Rosary goes back just as far, and if today families do not everywhere say the Rosary, it is not because the Rosary does not belong to families but rather because families have failed to belong to the Rosary.  This is the reason why, in January of 1942, Father Patrick Peyton, a young priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, obtained the permission of his superiors to dedicate his life to the restoration of the Family Rosary.  He is not the creator of the Family Rosary.  He is not even the first leader of the present Family Rosary Crusade.  He has only taken up the cause of the Vicars of Christ.

Began with the Popes

The Popes, especially of recent years, have been constant in their plea for the Family Rosary.  Pius IX said: "If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, in your country, assemble every evening to recite the Rosary."  The last plea of this same Father of the Christian Family was: "In the whole of the Vatican there is no greater treasure than the Rosary ... Let the Rosary—this simple beautiful method of prayer enriched with many indulgences—be habitually recited of an evening in every household.  These are my last words to you, the memorial I leave behind me."

With Repeated Pleas

Pope Leo XIII was another great apostle of the Family Rosary.  He appealed for it in several encyclicals.  These are some of his words:  "It is therefore not only agreeable to the devotion of private persons, but also suitable to the public needs of the times, that this kind of prayer should be restored to that place of honor which it long held, when each Christian family would suffer no day to pass without the recitation of the Rosary."

Again he said: "The formula of the Rosary, too, is excellently adapted to prayer in common." — "It will not then seem too much to say that ... in families ... in which the Rosary of Mary retains its ancient honor, the loss of Faith through error and vicious ignorance need not be feared."

The late Pius XI carried the Family Rosary Crusade directly to parents with this message:  "The fathers and mothers of families particularly must give an example to their children, especially when at sunset they gather together ... and recite the Holy Rosary on bended knees ... This is a beautiful and salutary custom, from which certainly there cannot but be derived tranquility and abundance of heavenly gifts for the household."

And Humble Example

And today our present Holy Father preaches the Family Rosary by both word and example.  In an address to newly wedded groups, speaking of the recitation of the Rosary he said:  "You may be sure that in doing so you are insuring the success of your future family life."  But to clinch his words with action, each day he gathers the papal household together to recite with them the Family Rosary.

Modern Rosary Crusade

Father Peyton took up this Crusade of the Holy Fathers in thanksgiving to the Mother of God for the restoration of his health.  He made the first plans for a world-wide Crusade for the Family Rosary at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., in January, 1942.  In September of the same year he opened the first Family Rosary Crusade Office in Albany, N.Y.  From there the Family Rosary message went to every church, school, and religious institution in America.  So great was the response and enthusiasm of America to this appeal that its effects soon began to be felt in Canada, Cuba, Panama, Newfoundland, Australia, Hawaii, Ireland, and England.  The American hierarchy at their annual meeting in 1942 recommended the Family Rosary to America.  Requests for leaflets and pledge-cards poured into the Crusade Office by the thousands.  Radio stations included the Family Rosary on their schedule of programs.  Translations were made into Braille and Spanish.  French and Italian translations were asked for, too.  Personal letters praising the Family Rosary came from cardinals, archbishops, bishops, religious superiors, national and diocesan leaders of lay organizations; from students and families.  The voice of America clamoring for the perfect Family Prayer, is even heard beyond its own boundaries.  Soon, please God, there will be a world-wide united prayer ascending to the Throne of God, the prayer of the Rosary said by millions of families.

The Family's Crusade

The Family Rosary is not only the family's prayer—it is the family's crusade.  As each family takes up the practice of the daily Family Rosary, its members become apostles, persuading other families of the beauty and power of the Family Rosary, and of the peace and love it will bring into their home.

Apostles by Prayer

There are many apostles and many ways to be an apostle.  The Family Rosary said for the promotion of this Crusade has in itself a world-conquering sweep; for like true love it is never satisfied until there are no more worlds to win for the beloved.  Bernadette, after she had drawn first a village, then a nation, then a whole world, to Lourdes to say the Rosary, quietly went to a convent to be out of the reach of the world.  Yet she knew she had lost none of her marvelous power by so doing—she still had its source, for as she herself said:  "I can do two things, I can love Mary and I can say my beads."  The family that loves Mary and says the Family Rosary will draw families to the Family Rosary as Bernadette drew crowds to Lourdes.

Apostles by Action

Crusade apostles have not limited themselves to prayer alone, but have developed methods of organized action.  Bishops promote it, pastors make it a parish project, Army and Navy chaplains preach it.  Congregations of Religious spread it; students of colleges, high schools and grade schools win family pledges; the Catholic press pleads for it; and the lay organizations of America have adopted it.

For All Eternity

Great advances have been made, as you see, but the end is still not in sight.  There is a world to win.  Yet even when that world is won and the Family Rosary Crusade is finished, the Story of the Family Rosary will still go on.  For it is a living story—a story of the prayer of a living family which will worship God and honor Mary for all eternity.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE FAMILY ROSARY RECITATION

Vocal Prayers of the Family Rosary

ALL:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

LEADER:

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 Ghost; 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; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

GROUP:

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting.  Amen.

LEADER:

Our Father, Who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

GROUP:

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.

LEADER:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

GROUP:

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

(Three Hail Marys as above)

LEADER:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

GROUP:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

LEADER or ALL TOGETHER:

FIRST MYSTERY

Announce it.  Then give the appropriate meditation—either one suggested below, or any other you like.  The more closely it applies to the particular group the better it is.

Then: One Our Father

          Ten Hail Marys

          One Glory be to the Father

Leader takes the first part of these prayers, the group the last part.

After the Glory be to the Father is said, announce the second Mystery, then continue as above, and so on for all of the Mysteries.

SAMPLE MEDITATIONS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

Monday and Thursday (Also Sundays from the first Sunday of Advent to the first Sunday of Lent)

Setting the Scene:

Today may have been a day of sorrow and pain.  So many days of life are.  But meditation on the five Joyful Mysteries will help to turn sadness into true spiritual joy.

The Annunciation:

An Angel came to you, dear Mother, as you prayed in your home at Nazareth, and told you that you were to be the Mother in the Holy Family and that the Son of God would be your Child.  You are God's Mother, but you are our Mother too.  God always listens to you.  Mother of God and of us all, listen to our prayer.

The Visitation:

Dear Mother Mary, when you left your home to visit your cousin Elizabeth, you brought the Son of God into Elizabeth's home.  Through the Family Rosary we invite you to bring Him into our home.

The Nativity:

Mother of Christ, when you brought your Son Jesus into the world, His first home was a cave for animals, but He was happy because you were there to care for Him.  We, too, will know real happiness if you come to our home, however humble it be.  Come to us, then, as we recite Your Rosary!

The Presentation:

In the Temple of Jerusalem, Immaculate Mother, you offered your little Son to the Father to Whom He belonged.  Although Simeon prophesied that a sword of sorrow would pierce your heart, yet your joy remained because you knew that you and your beloved Son belonged to God.  Let us likewise remember that no sorrow can drive away our family joy if we offer ourselves generously to God.

The Finding in the Temple:

Dear Mother, after three days of sorrow and searching, you found Jesus and your soul was filled with joy.  Never again can you lose Him.  Yet daily you seek Him in the soul of each of us in this family circle.  May your search be ever rewarded by finding Him in our souls when they are free from mortal sin!

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

Tuesday and Friday (also Sundays in Lent)

Setting the Scene:

Today you go with Our Lord and His Mother over the way of the Sorrowful Mysteries.  There is no need to tell you of sorrow.  If you have lived, you have felt it.  But let your only sorrow in this short journey be sorrow for sin—yours and the world's. For the rest, let peace, confidence, love, and joy stirred by the thought of so loving a God, be the sentiments of these meditations.

The Agony in the Garden:

Dear Lord, permit us to kneel with You as You pray in the Garden.  We are sorry because our sins caused You so much suffering.  With this Family Rosary we will try to show You that we love You very much.  Give us the grace to be always a comfort to You and to Your Sorrowful Mother.

The Scourging at the Pillar:

The crack of the whip rings in our ears, dear Lord, as they scourge You.  What terrible pain You suffer just for us!  Help all in our family to be holy in body and soul. 

The Crowning with Thorns:

Your crown, dear Savior, is made of cruel thorns.  Many people will not have You as their King.  But You will always be the glorious King Who rules our family.

The Carrying of the Cross:

We are walking at Your side, dear Lord.  We are carrying crosses, too.  You told us that we must.  Our crosses are little ones ... Yours is the heavy cross of Calvary!

The Crucifixion:

In spirit we stand at the foot of Your cross, dear Lord.  You hang there for three hours.  Our Family Rosary takes us only a few minutes, but we will remember all our lives the lesson we are now learning—the lesson of Your great love for us.  Dear Jesus, our family thanks You for all that You have suffered for us.

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

Wednesday and Saturday (also Sundays from Easter to Advent)

Setting the Scene:

In life on earth joy follows sorrow and sorrow follows joy, until life ends with the last great sorrow—death.  Then joy alone remains—joy so great that we call it glory, for there is a Resurrection and Coronation waiting for us, too, when we enter forever on the way of the Glorious Mysteries.

The Resurrection:

Dear Mother, this is a happy day for you.  Your Son has come back to life, and His glorious body will live forever.  Our bodies, too, will rise from the dead and will live forever.  Help us to live so that our family will be together again in heaven.

The Ascension:

Dear Blessed Mother, we kneel beside you as your Divine Son ascends into heaven.  He is going to prepare a place for you—you will be Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Ask Him to prepare a heavenly home for our family.

The Descent of the Holy Ghost:

Blessed Mother, our family cannot be good unless the Holy Ghost lives in it.  As you prayed with the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came upon them.  Pray with us now that during this Family Rosary the Holy Ghost may come and bring His wonderful gifts to our family circle.

The Assumption:

You are in heaven, dearest Mother, body and soul.  You are preparing a place for us.  You made a promise that the true children of the Rosary would enjoy great glory in heaven.  We know that you will keep that promise.

The Coronation:

Your Son, Jesus, dear Lady, is the King in our family.  You are the Queen.  Our Lord has promised to be with us when we pray in the family group.  We know that you, too, are in our midst when we say your favorite prayer—the Daily Family Rosary.

PRAYER

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, hath purchased for us the rewards of everlasting life, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who meditate upon these Mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary may both imitate what they contain and attain to what they promise.  Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

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