Rosary Workshop - Traditional Prayer Index
 THE HOLY ROSARY PRAYERS
 MOST PRAYERS HAVE OLD TESTAMENT ROOTS
The following prayers are the standard prayers used in the rosary as we know it today.  Most have
developed and grown over a 2000 year period and are scripturally based.

Apostles Creed  -   Our Father
Hail Mary  -   Glory Be   -   O My Jesus
Hail Holy Queen  -   Meditations on John 1:1-14

The sign of the cross along with the amen have roots in the Old Testament. For more information on the origins of the prayes listed above

HISTORY - ORIGIN of the PRAYERS

 ~ APOSTLES CREED ~

(dates back to the Apostles - 1st century AD)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. born of the Virgin Mary,He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; he ascended into Heaven sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there he will come 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 life everlasting, Amen.

~ OUR FATHER ~

(See Matthew 6:9 - taught by Jesus - 1st century)

Our Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in 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 ~

(Angelic annunciation to Mary - pre Christian era)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. 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 ~

(has roots from 4th century)

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

~ O MY JESUS ~

(1917 - Fatima)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your Mercy. Amen

~ HAIL, HOLY QUEEN ~

(11c - Blessed Herman the Cripple)

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee 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 towards us, And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of they womb, Jesus.
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O clememt. O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray:
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O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech the, that meditating upon these mysteries of the 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

~ MEDITATION on JOHN 1:1-14 ~

(New American Bible)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be 4 through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; 5 the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
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10 He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.  11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,  13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

shared by Father Joseph

... a perfect prayer of love ...
 The Glory Be seems to be a perfect prayer of love since it consists only of praise and adoration for each person in the Holy Trinity and asks for nothing in return. Lori M - PA