Perhaps the best person to teach us about the life of Christ is His mother, Mary. After all, she was there with Him from the moment of the Incarnation to His Ascension into Heaven, and she now enjoys eternal life with Him! That's why the Rosary is such a powerful prayer in the life of a Catholic.
Our Lady holds our hands as we dwell on the life of Christ and what He means for our lives. In an effort to help us all learn about and discover the rich meaning of the Rosary, Blessed is She created the Mystery Series as a part of our Blessed Conversations. This Rosary study is a four-part deep dive into each set of Mysteries, enabling us to grow closer to Christ through prayer and community.
The Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessings. // Pope St. John Paul II
What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a long-beloved prayer within Catholicism. It serves as a spiritual foundation for priests, religious, and lay people.
There are four sets of Mysteries of the Rosary: the Joyful Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. Each of these sets have five mysteries within them that focus on a different moment in the life of Christ. Traditionally, for each mystery of the Rosary, we pray an Our Father, ten Hail Mary's, and a Glory Be.
We pray different sets of Mysteries on different days:
- Mondays and Saturdays - the Joyful Mysteries
- Tuesdays and Fridays - the Sorrowful Mysteries
- Wednesdays and Sundays - the Glorious Mysteries
- Thursdays - the Luminous Mysteries
Why is the Rosary Important?
The Rosary allows us to enter into deeper reflection on the life of Christ in union with the person who was closest to Him on earth, His mother. When we pray the Rosary, we ask Our Blessed Mother to help us understand more fully the life, miracles, teachings, suffering, and redemption of Christ. The Rosary strengthens our souls against temptation and can grow our devotion to the Lord.
Still not convinced the Rosary should be a part of your prayer life? Here's what the popes and saints have to say about it:
When people love and recite the Rosary they find it makes them better. // St. Anthony Mary Claret
If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. // Pope Pius XI
To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and His mother. // Pope St. John Paul II
You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you! ... If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you! // St. Bernardine of Siena
The Rosary is the 'weapon' for these times. // St. Padre Pio
The power of the rosary is beyond description. // Venerable Fulton Sheen
Additionally, in every approved apparition of Our Lady, she has asked continuously that we recite the Rosary frequently and with great love. So we have the charge straight from Our Mama!
The Mystery Rosary Study
Inspired by this great love and call to pray the Rosary, Blessed is She set out to create a resource for those desiring a greater understanding of the Mysteries of the Rosary. The series is divided into four booklets for each set of Mysteries, giving you the option to obtain specific, individuals sets, or the entire set of Mysteries.
Each Mystery offers four sections:
- Scripture related to the Mystery;
- reflection by the author on that Mystery;
- questions to reflect on personally;
- questions for discussion.
We examine our lives mirrored in Mary’s as we ponder a different layer of our relationships in each of the five Mysteries by focusing on vocation, community, home, God, and family.
I'm praying with the Mystery Rosary study! Join me? #blessedconversations //Click to tweet
Behold (the Joyful Mysteries)
Written by Laura Kelly Fanucci, this Rosary study covers the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Presentation of Our Lord, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
Beloved (the Luminous Mysteries)
Written by Brigid Hogan, this Rosary study covers the Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.
Belong (the Sorrowful Mysteries)
Written by Sister Maria Kim Bui, this Rosary study covers the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.
Believe (the Glorious Mysteries)
Written by Bonnie Engstrom, this Rosary study covers the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This is a perfect place to start during the Easter season!
Who Can Use this Rosary Study?
Short answer: everyone!
Blessed is She has a heart for creating community among Catholic women, so Mystery can easily be incorporated into a group setting. It is ideal for small groups, Bible studies, moms' groups, and even for a Voxer chat between you and your best girlfriend.
Mystery can also be studied individually!
Let's Pray Through Mystery Together!
We are elated to pray through Mystery with you, sisters. Our hope and prayer is that this Rosary study brings us all closer to Jesus through Mary. Let's pray for one another as we learn more about the life of Our Lord through the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Once you have your Rosary study in hand, please share it with us! It's so much fun to see you participating. Feel free to share pictures and reflections on social media, and use #blessedconversations so we can all find each other!
| Get your copy of the Mystery Rosary study series here |
What's your favorite Mystery of the Rosary?
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Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She works from home as an editor and social media manager while raising her children and laughing with her husband. Although she now spends most of her free time away from the internet, past adventures are still on her blog. You can find out more about her here.
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