Unity and Diversity in the Rosary

The Rosary Board at Sacred Heart Parish

In a past blog post I summarized and described different versions of the rosary. Now I will go into more detail on each version of the Seven Sorrows, The Franciscan Crown and the Brigettine rosaries.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary (The Servite Chaplet)

Names of this Devotion:

1. The Seven Sorrows of Mary
2. Servite Chaplet
3. The Seven Dolors Rosary
4. The Seven Swords

Religious Order: Order of the Servants of Mary or “Servites”

Date of the Devotion: 13^th Century

Beginning prayer: Act of Contrition

Mysteries for Reflection:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
2. The Flight Into Egypt (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
4. The Meeting on the Way of the Cross (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
6. The Body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)
7. The Burial of Jesus’ Body (1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary’s)

The Seven Joys of Mary

Names of the Devotion:

1. The Franciscan Crown
2. Seraphic Rosary
3. Seven Joys of Mary

Religious Order: Franciscans

Date of Devotion: 1422

Mysteries for Meditation

1. The Annunciation (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
3. The Nativity (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
4. The Adoration of the Magi (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
6. The Resurrection (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)
7. The Assumption and Coronation of Mary (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s)

Add two Hail Mary’s for a total of 72 in honor of the years of Mary’s sojourn on earth.

Conclude: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be (for the intentions of the Holy Father, the Pope).

The Franciscan, Dominicans and Servites appear in Church history about the same time. As you might notice, the reflections of each of these rosaries co-mingle. They are practically the “other side of the coin” and counterbalance each other. *

*Amato, Lucas J., Spiritual Meditations, Acta Publications, 2009, p. 31.

The Brigettine Rosary

Religious Order: Carmelites

This Rosary begins similarly to the Dominican Rosary with 1 Our Father and three Hail Marys. The 7 total Our Father prayers commemorate the 7 sorrows of Mary. The 63 Hail Marys in commemoration of the 63 years of Mary’s sojourn on earth. (There are two different traditions on the age of Mary; that of the Franciscan Order and that of the Carmelites). At the end of each decade is 1 Apostles Creed, instead of the Glory Be.

The six-decade rosary is worn on the Carmelite habit whereas the 15 decade rosary is worn on the Dominican habit. *

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Immaculate Conception (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
2. The Annunciation (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
3. The Visitation (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
4. The Nativity (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
5. The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
6. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
2. The Scourging (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
3. The Crowning with Thorns (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
4. The Carrying of the Cross (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
6. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed in the arms of His Sorrowful Mother. (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
2. The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
5. The Crowning of Mary (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)
6. In honor of Mary’s Patronage, the Mediatrix of All Grace, and for Mary, Queen and Beauty of Carmel. (1 Our Father, 10 Haily Marys, 1 Apostles Creed)

These different versions of the Rosary compliment one another. In some cases they are the looking at the same mystery from a different viewpoint. It also gives us a greater appreciation of the many religious orders who devote their lives to the service of God. The devotions they handed on to the Church through the centuries are priceless and keep us always in the Truth.

If you have any questions or comments please leave a message below. Also if there are other facts and details that I did not mention please let me know. Let us learn about Jesus and His Blessed Mother together.

* http://www.newmanchaplets.com/articles/the-six-decade-rosary/

   http://8kidsandabusiness.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-brigittine-rosary/

Ave Maria!

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, Protect and Save the Unborn!