INTRODUCTION

Excerpts from Blessed John Paul IIs Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae
The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, which gradually took form in the second millennium
under the guidance of the Spirit of God, is a prayer loved by countless Saints and encouraged
by the Magisterium. Simple yet profound, it still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium,
a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.
The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In
the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which
it can be said to be a compendium. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat
for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the
Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on
the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful
receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.
The Gospels give great prominence to the sorrowful mysteries of Christ. From the
beginning Christian piety, especially during the Lenten devotion of the Way of the Cross, has
focused on the individual moments of the Passion, realizing that here is found the culmination
of the revelation of God's love and the source of our salvation. The Rosary selects certain
moments from the Passion, inviting the faithful to contemplate them in their hearts and to
relive them. The sequence of meditations begins with Gethsemane, where Christ experiences a
moment of great anguish before the will of the Father, against which the weakness of the flesh
would be tempted to rebel. There Jesus encounters all the temptations and confronts all the
sins of humanity, in order to say to the Father: Not my will but yours be done.
Meditation on the mysteries of Christ is proposed in the Rosary by means of a method
designed to assist in their assimilation. It is a method based on repetition. This applies above
all to the Hail Mary, repeated ten times in each mystery. If this repetition is considered
superficially, there could be a temptation to see the Rosary as a dry and boring exercise. It is
quite another thing, however, when the Rosary is thought of as an outpouring of that love
which tirelessly returns to the person loved with expressions similar in their content but ever
fresh in terms of the feeling pervading them.
One thing is clear: although the repeated Hail Mary is addressed directly to Mary, it is to
Jesus that the act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her. The repetition is
nourished by the desire to be conformed ever more completely to Christ, the true programme
of the Christian life.

From Mary's uniquely privileged relationship with Christ, which makes her the Mother
of God, Theotkos, derives the forcefulness of the appeal we make to her in the second half of
the prayer, as we entrust to her maternal intercession our lives and the hour of our death.
The Rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace, since it consists in the contemplation of
Christ, the Prince of Peace, the one who is our peace. Anyone who assimilates the mystery of
Christ and this is clearly the goal of the Rosary learns the secret of peace and makes it his
life's project. Moreover, by virtue of its meditative character, with the tranquil succession of
Hail Marys, the Rosary has a peaceful effect on those who pray it, disposing them to receive
and experience in their innermost depths, and to spread around them, that true peace which is
the special gift of the Risen Lord.
I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life, to you, Christian families, to
you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: confidently take up the Rosary once again.
Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the
context of your daily lives.
OPENING HYMN
Minsan ang buhay ay isang awit ng galak,
at mayroong liwanag na tatanglaw sa ating pagyapak.
Minsan ang buhay ay isang awit ng luha,
at siyang papawi nito ay ang pag-asa ng umaga,
at kahit anong tindi ng unos,
at kahit anong tindi ng dilim
may isang inang nagmamatyag, nagmamahal sa 'tin.
Awit niya'y pag-ibig ng Diyos, tawag niya'y magbalik-loob,
turo nya'y buhay na ang Diyos lamang sa ati'y nagkaloob.
CHORUS:
O Inang mahal narito kami awit awit ang Ave Maria
at dalangin ng bawat pamilya'y kapayapaa't pagkakaisa
Ang rosaryo mong hawak namin at awit awit ang Ave Maria
puspos ka ng diwang banal, dinggin ang aming payak na dasal
Ihatid mo kami sa langit ng Amang nagmamahal
(Repeat Chorus)

BEGINNING
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
V. Lord, open my lips.
R. And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
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; on the third day he
rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will 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.
THE LORDS PRAYER
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 you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the
fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour
of our death. Amen.
GLORY BE
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.

FATIMA PRAYER (TO BE PRAYED AT THE END OF EACH MYSTERY)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of your mercy.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (22:39-46)
Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples
followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, Pray that you may not undergo
the test. After withdrawing about a stones throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying,
Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.
And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he
prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he
rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to
them, Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.
1 Our Father
10 Hail Mary
1 Glory be
Fatima Prayer
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (15:15)
Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus
scourged, handed him over to be crucified.
1 Our Father
10 Hail Mary
1 Glory be
Fatima Prayer

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns

A Reading of the Holy Gospel according to John (19:2-5)
The soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a
purple cloak, and they came to him and said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck him
repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, Look, I am bringing him out to you,
so that you may know that I find no guilt in him. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of
thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, Behold, the man!
1 Our Father
10 Hail Mary
1 Glory be
Fatima Prayer
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross to Calvary
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (23: 26-31)
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in
from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A
large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for
yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed. At that
time people will say to the mountains, Fall upon us! and to the hills, Cover us! for if these
things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?
1 Our Father
10 Hail Mary
1 Glory be
Fatima Prayer
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (23:44-46)
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the
afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the

middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and
when he had said this he breathed his last.
1 Our Father
10 Hail Mary
1 Glory be
Fatima Prayer
HAIL, HOLY QUEEN
Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this
valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us. And after
this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your 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 salvation, grant, we beseech you, that meditating on 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.
LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, hear us.
R. Christ, graciously hear us.
V. God, the Father of Heaven,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (R.)
V. God the Holy Spirit, (R.)
V. Holy Trinity, One God, (R.)

(AT THE FOLLOWING VERSES THE RESPONSE IS: PRAY FOR US.)
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,

Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of Peace,
V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord!
V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord!
V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Grant, we beg you, O Lord God, that we your servants, may enjoy lasting
health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be
delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our
Lord.
R. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYERS
For Francis our Pope, for all his intentions and for the whole church:
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE.
For all of us gathered here, for our University, for peace and unity in our nation and
throughout the whole world:
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE.
For all the faithful departed, especially our sister JULIANA, and for all the souls in purgatory:
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE.

V. May the Divine Assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.
V. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. And may the blessing of the Almighty God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend
upon us and remain with us always.
R. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
CONCLUDING HYMN
Sa laot ng dagat na aking tinatawid
Tanging pangalan mo ang siyang laging sinasambit
Hanap-hanap ang pangako ng iyong lambing
Inaasam na tuwina'y nasa iyong piling
Sa araw-araw na paglusong ko sa buhay
Ikaw ang tangi at nag-iisang bantay
Dayuhin man ako ng lungkot at hirap
Kanlungan kong lagi, lingap mo't yakap
Salamat Maria, sa iyong pagpisan
Sa bawa't hapis, luwalhati at tuwa namin
Salamat sa pag-ibig, at sa bawa't dalangin
Salamat sa iyo, sa mga pagdamay mo
Kami'y patuloy na magmamahal sayo
Sa araw-araw na paglusong ko sa buhay
Ikaw ang tangi at nag-iisang bantay
Dayuhin man ako ng lungkot at hirap
Kanlungan kong lagi, lingap mo't yakap
Salamat Maria, sa iyong pagpisan
Sa bawa't hapis, luwalhati at tuwa namin
Salamat sa pag-ibig, at sa bawa't dalangin
Salamat sa iyo, sa mga pagdamay mo
Kami'y patuloy na magmamahal sayo