ROSARY PRAYER SERVICE

Today we pray a rosary in memory of ____. We pray that Mary will intercede with God that _____ may have eternal rest with Him forever.

Catholics believe St. Dominic introduced the rosary to the Catholic world during the thirteenth century in the south of France. He claimed to receive instruction to spread the rosary prayers throughout the world in a vision from Mary the Mother of Jesus. The rosary prayers invoke Mary as an intercessor between God and us seeking His blessings on our prayer intentions. The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. As the prayers are repeated, we are encouraged to meditate on these events.

The rosary begins with the Apostles Creed, a prayer which states the basic beliefs of Catholic Christians, followed by the basic prayers of the rosary: The Our Father, The Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. At a funeral rosary the prayers are followed by the Eternal Rest Prayer.

Apostles Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is 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 thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at 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

Eternal Rest: Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

We pray the Glorious Mysteries to recall our hope for salvation for ourselves for those we love. We pray that we may all enter into Eternal Life after death. As we meditate on each mystery, we prayer one Our Father, ten Hail Mary prayers, and one Glory Be.

Glorious Mysteries: 1) The Resurrection, 2) The Ascension, 3) The Coming of the Holy Spirit, 4) The Assumption of Mary into Heaven, 5) The Coronation of Mary.

The rosary ends with a traditional prayer to the Virgin Mary:

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, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon 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.

Eternal Rest: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.