The Rosary

The Rosary or Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Marian pious practice which consists in contemplating on the Mysteries of Jesus Christ and which encourages the reading of Sacred Scriptures. In the Middle Ages it substituted for the praying of the Psalms - hence the Rosary being called the Psalter (Psalms) of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary is particularly useful for meditating on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and the Joyous and Sorrowful Mysteries - which are meditations on the Incarnation and on the Redemption, respectively - can help orient prayer toward Christ during Eucharistic adoration.

Blessing
The rite of blessing of the rosary beads, followed by the blessing of those who meditate on the life of Christ, signifies the Catholic Church's esteem for the Rosary. This blessing can be made publically on a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine, a Marian feast day (such as the Feast of the Rosary), or at the end of October, which is the month dedicated to the Rosary. Below are the two official formulas for the rite of blessing of the rosary beads.

Benedicto
The priest, wearing a stole, says:

V. Adiutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini. R. Qui fecit cælum et terram. V. Dóminus vobísum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo.

V. Orémus. Omnípotens et miséricors Deus, qui proper exímiam caritátem tuam qua dilexísti nos, Fílium tuum unigénitum, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum de cælis in terram descéndere, et de beatíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ Dóminæ nostræ útero sacratíssimo, Angelo nuntiánte, carnem suscípere, crucémque ac mortem subíre, et tértia die glorióse a mórtuis resúrgere voluísti, ut nos eríperes de potestátem diáboli: obsecrámus imménsam cleméntiam tuam ut hæc signa (vel hoc signum) Rosárii in honórem et laudem eiúsdem Genetrícis Fílii tui ab Ecclésia tua fidéli dicáta (vel dicátum) bene- + dícas et sanctí- + fices, eísque (vel eíque) tantam infúndas virtútem Spíritus + Sancti, ut quicúmque horum quódlibet (vel hoc) secum portáverit, atque in domo sua revénter tenúerit, et in eis (vel eo) ad te, secúndum huius sanctæ Societátis institúta, divina contemplándo mystéria, devóte oráverit, salúbri et perseveránti devotióne abúndet, sitque consors et párticeps ómnium gratiárum, privilegiórum et indulgentiárum, quæ eídem Societáti per Sanctam Sedem Apostólicam concéssa fuérunt, ab omni hoste visíbli et invisíbili semper et ubíque in hoc sculo liberétur, et in éxitu suo ab ipsa beatíssima Vírgine María Dei Genetríce tibi plenus bonis opéribus præsentári mereátur. Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia saecula sæculórum.

R. Amen.

Then those blessed are sprinkled with holy water.

Brevior
V. Ad laudem et glóriam Deíparæ Vírginis Maríæ, in memóriam mysteriórum vitæ, mortis et resurrectiónis eiúsdem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, bene- + dicátur et sancti- + ficétur hæc sacratíssimi Rosárii coróna: in nómine Patris + et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti.

R. Amen.

If several Rosaries are blessed, than the plural is used. Use of the stole and holy water is optional.

Forms
There are fifty-seven ways of praying the Rosary. Some of these forms include their own rosary beads. These rosaries include:


 * Traditional Rosary


 * Missionary Rosary


 * Josephian Rosary


 * Chaplet for the Dead


 * Chaplet for the Holy Souls


 * Chaplet in Praise of the Virgin Mary


 * Chaplet of all Souls


 * Chaplet of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha


 * Chaplet of Conversion


 * Chaplet of Divine Mercy


 * Chaplet of Faith


 * Chaplet of Mercy and Forgiveness


 * Chaplet of Our Lady of Czestochowa


 * Chaplet of Our Lady of Guadalupe


 * Chaplet of Our Lady of Mount Carmel


 * Chaplet of Our Lady of Perpetual Help


 * Chaplet of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Short Version)


 * Chaplet of Our Lady, Star of the Sea


 * Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears


 * Chaplet of Saint Anne


 * Chaplet of Saint Anthony


 * Chaplet of Saint Dymphna


 * Chaplet of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini


 * Chaplet of Saint Gabriel the Archangel


 * Chaplet of Saint Gertrude


 * Chaplet of Saint Joseph


 * Chaplet of Saint Jude


 * Chaplet of Saint Maximillian Kolbe


 * Chaplet of Saint Michael the Archangel


 * Chaplet of Saint Padre Pio


 * Chaplet of Saint Patrick


 * Chaplet of Saint Philomena


 * Chaplet of Saint Raphael the Archangel


 * Chaplet of Saint Rita


 * Chaplet of Saint Theresa the Little Flower


 * Chaplet of Tears


 * Chaplet of the Blessed Sacrament


 * Chaplet of the Five Wounds


 * Chaplet of the Holy Face


 * Chaplet of the Holy Infant


 * Chaplet of the Holy Spirit


 * Chaplet Of the Holy Wounds


 * Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception


 * Chaplet of the Immaculate Heart of Mary


 * Chaplet of the Infant of Prague


 * Chaplet of the Most Holy Trinity


 * Chaplet of the Precious Blood


 * Chaplet of the Queen of Light


 * Chaplet of the Sacred Face


 * Chaplet of the Sacred Heart (Angelic)


 * Chaplet of the Sacred Heart (Augustinian)


 * Chaplet of the Sacred Heart (Consecration)


 * Chaplet of the Seven Dolors of Our Lady


 * Chaplet of the Two Hearts


 * Chaplet of the Way of the Cross


 * Chaplet of Unity


 * Chaplet to Obtain a Great Confidence


 * Chaplet to the Mother of the Most Holy Eucharist

Clarifications
The Church teaches that the Rosary does not discredit other prayers and it is not necessary to be recited by the faithful.

The Church recommends reflection on the appropriate verses of the Scriptures and Catechism of the Catholic Church for each Mystery.