THE ROSARY PRAYER

The Rosary is a prayer of meditation on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is a reflection on the events of his life. It is in a sense like looking at a family album of someone you love. There are fifteen mysteries, divided under the headings: "Joyful", "Sorrowful", and "Glorious" and "Mysteries of Light". Join with us as we pray for each other:

Each decade of a mystery is reflected upon while saying one "Our Father", ten "Hail Marys" and one "Glory be to the Father" prayers.

The Joyful Mysteries are said on Mondays
Mysteries of Light on Thursdays
Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful etc.

To help concentrate, a rosary beads (as above) is often used.

Instructions for Use of Real Audio

You will need Real Audio 3.0 or higher. Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher is also recommended.

For Netscape and older real audio I include a streamed version of the soundfiles which also work with the current version of real audio and all browsers.

Our Father		Hail Mary		Glory Be
Ár nAthair		Sé do bheatha		Glóir don Athair

Once you have loaded the prayers, minimise each of the three real audio files so that they are ready for a quick replay.

You can also listen to the Ave Maria by clicking on the link above. But to listen to the Real Audio Prayers, you will have to click again on the link to stop the music. In this way you can turn music on and off as you please.

1. The Annunciation:

God calls Mary to be the Mother of God and she answers Yes.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

2. The Visitation:

Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

3. The Nativity:

Jesus is born in a stable at Bethlehem.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

4. The Presentation:

Jesus is presented to the Lord in the temple as was the custom.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

5. The Finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple:

Mary and Joseph search for their twelve year old son and find him listening to the doctors in the temple.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

After the Fifth Mystery, the Hail Holy Queen is said.

SORROWFUL

1. The Agony of our Lord in the Garden:

Jesus contemplates his passion and death.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

2. The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar:

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

3. The Crowning with Thorns:

The soldiers mock him and place a crown of thorns on his head.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

4. Jesus carries his cross.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

5. Jesus is crucified on Calvary

After the Fifth Mystery, the Hail Holy Queen is said.

GLORIOUS

1. The Resurrection:

Jesus rises from the dead.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

2. The Ascension:

Jesus ascends to the God the Father and promises to be with us until the end of time.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles giving them the strength to proclaim the gospel message.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

4. The Assumption:

Mary is taken up to Heaven, body and soul.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

5. The Coronation:

Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Real Audio: Our Father say Once Real Audio:Hail Mary Say Ten Times Real Audio:Glory Be To The Father Say Once

After the Fifth Mystery, the Hail Holy Queen is said.

The rosary is recited daily at 9.45 A.M. in Donabate Church.
In Balheary Church it is said each day at 6 P.M. and on Sundays at 10.45 A.M.
St Ita's: Each Sunday at 3 P.M.

One site of interest is the Rosary Tapes site where you can get a vocal version of the rosary on cd with music and see also the Ecumenical Rosary.

This site has been designed by Fr Aquinas T. Duffy