"The Orthodox Way of Praying the Holy Rosary"
Alejandro Cañadas

Workshop No 2: March 16th, 2021

The Marian Psalter: Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1754-1833), born Prokhor
Moshnin, is one of the most renowned Russian saints and is venerated both in the
Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Catholic Church.
"I forgot to give you a piece of advice vital for Salvation, say the Oh Hail Mother
of God, 150 times, and this prayer will lead you in the way to Salvation. This rule
was given by the Mother of God herself in the 8
th century, and at one time, all
Christians fulfilled it."
1
What do we know about the Rosary?
 The Rosary is a form of prayer in which 15 decades of Hail Marys (that is
15x10 = 150 Hail Marys) are recited,
 Each decade is being preceded by the Lord's Prayer and followed by the
Gloria Patri.
 The prayers are counted on a string of beads or sometimes on a ring.
 Each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of a sequence of
Mysteries.
 Usually, only five decades (the so-called chaplet) or less are recited at a time.
 The practice of saying a prayer a set number of times, often with some device
to help keep count, is attested in early Christian monasticism (from the East
and the West).
 History, however, indicates that Christians were reciting the Rosary even
before Dominic was born (centuries before, right from the time the
Gospels were written).
 The prayer probably developed gradually over centuries.

1 As quoted in Taylor Marshall, PhD, The Rosary in 50 Pages: The Layman’s Quick Guide to Mary’s Psalter
(Rockfort, IL: Saint John Press, 2020). https://taylormarshall.com/2021/02/638-eastern-orthodox-pray-rosary-yespodcast.html?ct=t(Regular_Blog_Updates_Campaign)
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 Believers in the East had the habit of counting their prayers on strings of
beads or knotted strings. Monks used these strings to keep count as they
recited all of the Bible's 150 psalms2
(it takes three hours to read!!!).
 Also, in the East, Monks' prayer developed into the 'Jesus Prayer.'
 Many of them couldn't read; simple Christians adapted the practice by
substituting 150 recitations of other prayers. Thus, this practice was
sometimes called the poor man's Psalter. The prayer most often chosen
was the Hail Mary, recited over fifteen rounds of ten.
3
 The Holy Rosary = Marian's Psalter = the Psalter of poor people
 At first, in the West, the dominant equivalent was the repeated recitation of
the Lord's Prayer, which came to be seen as equivalent to the Psalter's
recitation for people who could not read.
 However, we know from Saint Seraphim of Sarov that in the 8th century,
people prayed 150 Hail Marys in the East.
 In the 12th–13th cent. Some people began adding or substituting Hail Marys;
150 Hail Marys came to be known as the Marian Psalter, recited whole or
part.
 The development of the cycle of meditations owes much to the Carthusians
in the early 15th cent.;
 They influenced the Dominican Alain de la Roche (c. 1428–75), who used
this devotion to revive the Blessed Virgin Mary's Dominican
Confraternity.
 The Blessed Virgin Mary tradition gave the Rosary to St Dominic as a weapon
against the Albigensian heresy.
 The Rosary was propagated by the establishment of Rosary confraternities,
which were increasingly under Dominican influence;
 In 1569 Pius V encouraged the Dominicans to use it in the preaching and
missions (pastoral).
 Besides the Dominican Rosary, there are various other forms of praying the
Rosary.

2
Scott Hahn, Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God (1st ed.; New York; London; Toronto;
Sydney; Auckland: Image Books; Doubleday, 2001), 169–170.
3
Scott Hahn, Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God (1st ed.; New York; London;
Toronto; Sydney; Auckland: Image Books; Doubleday, 2001), 170.
3
 For example, the Servite Rosary has seven sections in memory of the Seven
Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, each consisting of the Lord's Prayer
and seven Hail Marys; it dates from the 17th century and is approved by the
General Chapter of the Servites in 1646.
 There is an infinite number of miraculous and graces been receive for
praying the Rosary. One of the most important ones is the miraculous
Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto (1571). In commemoration of
this tremendous miraculous event, Pope Pius V instituted in 1572 the Feast
in honor of our Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary on October 7th.
4
How do we pray the Rosary?
https://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf
Day Rosary
Mystery
Sunday Glorious
Monday Joyful
Tuesday Sorrowful
Wednesday Glorious
Thursday Luminous
Friday Sorrowful

4 F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford; New
York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 1427. Also see J. M. Larroca, OP (ed.), Acta Sanctae Sedis necnon
Magistrorum et Capitulorum Generalium Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum pro Societate SS. Rosarii (2 vols. in 4,
Lyons, 1890–91). E. Wilkins, The Rose-Garden Game: The Symbolic Background to the European Prayer-Beads
(1969). G. G. Meersseman and G. P. Pacini, Ordo Fraternitatis: Confraternite e pietà dei laici nel medioevo (Italia
Sacra, 24–6; Rome 1977), pp. 1144–232. K. J. Klinkhammer, SJ, Adolf von Essen und seine Werke: Der Rosenkranz
in der geschichtlichen Situation seiner Entstehung und in seinem bleibendem Anliegen (Frankfurter Theologische
Studien, 13; 1972). A. Winston-Allen, Stories of the Rose: The Making of the Rosary in the Middle Ages (University
Park, Pa., 1997). J. D. Miller, Beads and Prayers: The Rosary in History and Devotion (2002). On the Servite
rosary, Corona dell’Addolorata, issued by the General Curia of the Servites (Rome, 1986; Eng. tr., Rosary of our
Lady of Sorrows, Chicago, 1986). A. Duval, OP, in Dict. Sp. 13 (1988), cols. 937–80, s.v. ‘Rosaire’; W. A.
Hinnebusch, OP, and others in NCE (2nd edn.), 12 (2002), pp. 373–6, s.v. Dict. Sp Dictionnaire de Spiritualité, ed.
M. Viller, SJ, and others (16 vols. + index, 1937–95). NCE New Catholic Encyclopedia (14 vols. + index, New York,
etc., 1967, + 3 supplementary vols., 16–18; 1974–89).
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Saturday Joyful
Mysteries Of The Rosary:
The Joyful Mysteries5
The Joyful Mysteries are taken mainly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New
Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood.
The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God
became man and dwelt among us.
Jesus is the Incarnation - God made flesh...
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten
of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
-John 1:14
 When Adam and Eve sinned against God, the gates of heaven were closed.
God promised to send a savior who would open the gates of heaven.
 Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise.
 That is why the Incarnation is the most wonderful event in human history.
 The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are so-called because they recount all the
Joys of the "Good News," namely Jesus.
1st Mystery: The Annunciation: The angel announces that Jesus is to be born...
 When meditating upon the Annunciation mystery, it may be useful to look at
a picture of the Annunciation or even listen to some soothing, uplifting
music.
 Be mindful that the fruit of this mystery is humility, and recall this scene as
you meditate...
 The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a young Jewish girl.
 Gabriel greets Mary saying,

5 Adapted from http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/joyful-mysteries.html#annunciation
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"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among
women." Luke 1:28.
 These familiar words are how Mary is greeted in the Hail Mary Prayer, the
main rosary prayer.
 Gabriel is declaring that Mary is holy. She never had original sin. In the
words of the angel, she is "full of grace."
 Mary being very humble, is disturbed by the angel's words. The angel
recognizing this, then adds,
"Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God."Luke 1:30
 Gabriel continues with his message to Mary,
"Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and
thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the
Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of
David his Father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of
his kingdom, there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33
 Now because Mary is a virgin, she is puzzled and asks the angel how this is
possible.
 He answers her...
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High
shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
 Mary knows about the promise of a savior and is well informed of the Old
Testament's Messianic prophecies.
 However, when you look at her comments to the angel, Mary doesn't fully
understand all that is happening to her, but she answers most obediently and
confidently.
 She says...
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy
word." -Luke 1:38
 Mary always conforms her will to that of God's Will.
 Imitating Mary's attitude toward God's will is a sure way to bring peace to
your life.
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 For the exact Bible account of the Annunciation, please see Luke 1:26-38
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nd Mystery: The Visitation, The baby in Elizabeth's womb, leaps for joy
when Mary, who is pregnant with baby Jesus, visits her...
"And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
-Luke 1:43
 The Visitation is taking place when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.
 Considering this scene and looking at a picture or Icon will help you
meditate on the Rosary mystery.
 Keep in mind also that the fruit of this mystery is the love of neighbor.
 Use the following story to help you set the scene...
 During the Angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary, he also tells her that her
cousin Elizabeth is expecting a baby.
 Elizabeth is much older than Mary and was thought to be infertile because of
her age and because she had no children.
Gabriel reveals this to Mary to show that "no word shall be impossible
with God" -Luke 1:36.
 After the Angel leaves, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Mary enters into
the house of Elizabeth and her husband, Zachary.
 When Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting, she feels her child leap within her.
 Elizabeth proclaims to Mary...
"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." -
Luke 1:42
 This phrase again is used in the Catholic Rosary Prayers, the Hail Mary
Prayer. Elizabeth continues...
"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy." -Luke 1:43-44
 Leaped for joy...notice here that St. John the Baptist, Elizabeth's child, is
the first to experience the joys of Mary and Jesus. How special he is.
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 Mary responded to Elizabeth with another famous prayer the Magnificat,
which is taken directly from St. Luke's Gospel chapter 1:46-55...
46And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”
 It says so right in the New Testament, "All generations shall call me
blessed."
 You obey this command when you pray to the Rosary, especially when you
meditate upon this mystery, the Visitation.
 Mary then stays with Elizabeth for three months. Surely she helps her
cousin, who was late in pregnancy.
 Elizabeth has a son and names him John.
 The Bible says that he is the prophet of the highest and that he prepares his
way.
 The highest is, of course, Jesus and John went before Jesus and
"enlighten them that sit in darkness, and the shadow of death: to direct
our feet into the way of peace." -Luke 1:79
 Meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary and especially the Visitation
will direct your feet into the way of peace.
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3rd Mystery: The Birth of Jesus [The Nativity] Jesus is born in a stable in
Bethlehem...
"And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
-Matthew 2:10
 There are many artistic renditions of the Birth of Jesus, also known as the
Nativity. Choose one that most inspires you, and keep this scene in mind as
you meditate on the Birth of Jesus mystery...
 Mary and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem to register for a census of the
entire Roman Empire.
 People are ordered to travel to the town of their ancestors to register. Joseph
(and Mary) are from David's family and therefore go to Bethlehem, the city
of David.
 Mary is often depicted as traveling, ready to deliver the baby on the back of
a small donkey being led by her loyal and chaste spouse, St. Joseph.
 Because so many people are traveling at this time, Joseph and Mary can't
find anywhere to stay.
 They go from place to place, seeking a warm room where the baby can be
born.
 Time after time, the door is closed to them with the words "no room in the
inn" echoing in their ears.
 Finally, they are offered lodging in a stable.
 Jesus, the Son of God, comes into the world in the lowliest and humble of
places.
 He is born in a stable among livestock and laid in a manger.
 It is interesting to note that the word Bethlehem means "house of bread"
and Jesus the "Bread of Life" John 6:35 was born there and laid in a
manger, a feeding trough for animals.
 This account is a foreshadow of the Institution of the Eucharist.
 There are shepherds nearby watching their sheep, and suddenly, an angel
appears to them and says,
"Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be
to all the people: For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the
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Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find
the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army,
praising God, and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will." -
Luke 2:10-14
 The shepherds leaving their flocks are the first to go and worship the baby
Jesus.
 The shepherds are the first to see Jesus.
 The King of kings and Lord of lords humbles Himself to be born in a
manger and to have among his first visitor's simple shepherds.
 Mary is also truly humble.
 She says not a word.
 She does not seek attention or praise. Instead, the Bible says she
"kept all these things pondering them in her heart." -Luke 2:20
 And upon leaving, they are the first to bring the Good News of Jesus' birth to
the world.
 The Magi, or the Three Wise Men, come from the east. They are astrologers
following a star rising above the place where Jesus is born.
 On their travels, they stop in Jerusalem and ask King Herod where the king
of the Jews is and say that they have followed his star and come to adore
him.
 Now King Herod being a jealous man, tricks the Three Wise Men into
thinking that he also wants to worship the newborn king.
 He tells them he does not know where the baby is, but when they find him to
return and tell him so, he too may go and worship the baby.
 Continuing on their journey, they follow the star to Bethlehem.
"And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary, his mother,
and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh." -Matthew 2:11
 These three wise men are the first of the Gentiles to visit Jesus.
 After the three wise men leave, St. Matthew goes on to say that an angel
appears to St. Joseph in a dream and tells him to flee to Egypt.
 King Herod is threatened by the birth of Jesus and tries to kill him.
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 In Egypt, the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are safe.
 When Herod dies, an angel again tells Saint Joseph to go back to Israel
because the baby is now safe.
 There was no room for the Prince of Peace in the inns of Bethlehem.
 Make room for Him in your heart as you pray this mystery of the Rosary.
4th Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple: Jesus is presented to
God in the Temple in Jerusalem in accordance with Jewish Law...
"The sons of wisdom are the church of the just:
and their generation, obedience and love."
-Eccl 3:1
 This scene sets the stage for the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
 Keep these events in mind and the fruit of the mystery, which is the virtue of
obedience.
 You will find it helpful to look at a picture of the Presentation of Jesus or
even listen to some music that will uplift your soul...
Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus to Jerusalem "to present him to the
Lord" -Luke 2:22
 The presentation of Jesus in the Temple is in fulfillment with the Jewish
Law.
 Every male child must be taken to the Temple, and an animal must be
offered as a sacrifice.
 That is why Joseph is usually artistically depicted in this scene, holding a
cage with two doves in it.
 The prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna meet the Holy Family while at
the Temple in Jerusalem. God told Simeon that he would see the Savior
before he died.
 When Simeon sees baby Jesus, he takes him from Mary and holds Him in
his arms, and praises God proclaiming,
"Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in
peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation" -Luke 2:29
 Simeon then blesses Mary and Joseph and prophesies to Mary:
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"Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in
Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a
sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." -
Luke 34-35
 Even though this is a joyful occasion, you can see in the words of Simeon a
foreshadow of the sorrows that will be shared between Jesus and his Mother
Mary.
 Mary suffered with Jesus from the beginning to the end.
 Anna also proclaims that this child, the baby Jesus, is the long-awaited
Messiah.
 After all this, the Holy Family leaves Jerusalem and returns to Nazareth.
 There they live in peace and joy for many years before Jesus begins His
public life.
 For the Bible says...
"The child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of
God was in him." -Luke 2:40
5th Mystery: Finding Jesus in the Temple who was lost is found in the Temple
in Jerusalem teaching the high priests...
"Seek, and you shall find."
-Matthew 7:7
 While meditating on Finding Jesus in the Temple, it helps look at a picture
or listen to some uplifting music and keep the following story in mind while
meditating on this final rosary mystery of the Joyful Mysteries...
Every year during the Feast of the Passover, the Holy Family went to
Jerusalem.
 The Gospel of St. Luke tells of one particular trip when the twelve-year-old
Jesus remains behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph don't know this,
however. Mary thinks Jesus is with Joseph, and Joseph thinks He is with
Mary. This could easily happen because the women and men would travel in
separate groups, and Jesus was at the age when he could be either with His
Father or His mother.
 Mary and Joseph do not notice He is missing until an entire day passes. Can
you imagine the anxiety they felt? They lost the Christ Child. When
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realizing He is not with either of them, they look for Him among their family
and friends. Much to their sorrow, they do not find Him, so they quickly
return to Jerusalem.
After three days, their anxiety turns to joy when they find Jesus "sitting
in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom". -Luke 2:46-47
 Mary asks Him,
"Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy Father, and I have
sought thee sorrowing." -Luke 2:48
 The child Jesus replies,
"How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about
my Father's business?" -Luke 2:49
 Once again, Mary does not fully understand, but she humbly accepts what
He says to her. Jesus goes on to set a wonderful example. Jesus, the King of
Kings, goes home and is obedient to them.
 Peace will penetrate your life when you follow the example of Jesus here,
and you become obedient first to God, then to Church authority, and lastly to
civil authority.
 Remember,
"render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's: and to God
the things that are God's" -Luke 20:25
 Just as she did at the Nativity, Mary, His mother
"kept all these words in her heart." -Luke 2:51
"And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and
men." -Luke 2:52