Our Blessed Mother
By Bryan J. P. Gesinger
The Angelus
(recite at 6am-12pm-6pm)
V. The Angel of the Lord declared
unto Mary.
R. And She conceived of the Holy
Ghost (Hail Mary Prayer)
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to
thy word. (Hail Mary Prayer)
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us. (Hail Mary
Prayer)
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of
God.
R. That we may be made worthy of
the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we
beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace
into our hearts, that we to whom the
Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was
made known by the message of an
angel, may by His Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of His
Resurrection, through the same
Christ Our Lord, Amen.
The first person to “accept Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior”1 was a young virgin girl named Mary
of Nazareth. To her came an angel named Gabriel,
who announced that she would be the Mother of the
Son of God (cf. Lk. 1:32, 35). Though she did not
understand all that her motherhood would involve (cf.
How to Pray
Lk. 1:34), nevertheless she exercised great faith,
replying, “Behold, I am the handmaid [i.e., servant girl]
the Rosary
of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”
(Lk. 1:38).
That moment encapsulated both the end of
an era and the beginning of another. The Old
Covenant was on its way to the dustbin of history,
while the New was about to begin. At the
Annunciation stood Mary, in the crossroads—at
Calvary stood Mary—on the road under her Son’s
Cross. In both moments she fulfilled the role of Co-
Redemptrix, the one who, by humble, loving faith,
would help to accomplish the Redemption of Man.
This she did, not of her own natural strength, but by
the extraordinary grace God bestowed upon her. She
chose freely to enter the Mystery of God’s plan to
reunite men to Himself by means of conjoining
human nature to His Eternal, Divine Nature—and not
merely any human nature, but Mary’s nature. The
instrument God chose to unite human nature to
Himself was the pure, humble girl from Nazareth.
Because God, in His Infinite Knowledge, foresaw
Mary’s great faith, and her desire to accomplish His
wondrous Plan, He preserved her from the universal
disease of corruption of intellect and will, known as
Original Sin, fashioning her as a fitting canvas, as it
were, through which the Divine Artist would step into
His own gallery.
1.Though this phrase does not appear anywhere in Holy Scripture,
we use it here because it is appropriate to the attitude Our Lady
demonstrated at the Annunciation, accepting Christ as Lord of her
life, and acknowledging Him as Savior.
©2007. Scott R. Porter &
Bryan J.P. Gesinger
 Prayers of the Rosary Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father of The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays & Saturdays)
the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 1. The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary (Lk. 1:28)
The Apostles' Creed: I believe in God the Father 2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Lk. 1:41-42)
Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus 3. The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem
Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived 4. The Presentation of Jesus
by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered 5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays & Fridays)
buried. He descended into hell; the third day He
arose again from the dead; He ascended into 1. The Agony of Jesus in the garden (Lk. 22:44-45)
heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the 2. The Scourging of Jesus at the pillar
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to 3. The Crowning with thorns
judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy 4. The Carrying of the cross
Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of 5. The Crucifixion and death of Jesus
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays & Sundays)
the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, 1. The Resurrection of Jesus
2. The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we
5. The Coronation of the Virgin Mary
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us
not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen. The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with 1. The Baptism of Jesus
thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed 2. The Wedding of Cana
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother 3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of 4. The Transfiguration
our death. Amen.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Glory Be to the Father: Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the
beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
The Fatima Prayer: "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".
Hail, Holy Queen: 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.
Additional Prayer: "O God whose only begotten Son
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, Grant that
we beseech Thee while meditating upon these mysteries of
the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may
both imitate what they contain and obtain what they
promise, through the same Christ our Lord Amen."
How to Pray the Rosary
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and
say The Apostle’s Creed
2. Say the Our Father
(Lk. 2:7) 3. Say three Hail Mary’s for the
(Lk. 2:22-23) intention of an increase of
(Lk. 2:46) Faith, Hope, and Charity
4. Say the Glory Be to the Father,
and one Fatima Prayer
(Jn. 19:1) 5. Announce the First Mystery,
(Mt. 27:28-29) then say the Our Father
(Jn. 19:17) 6. Say ten Hail Mary’s
(Lk. 23:46) 7. Say the Glory Be to the Father
8. Say the Fatima Prayer
9. Announce the Second Mystery,
(Mk. 16:6) then say the Our Father, ten
(Mk. 16:9)
Hail Mary’s, one Glory Be, and
(Acts 2:4)
one Fatima Prayer
(Rev. 21:1)
10. Announce the Third Mystery,
(Rev. 21:1)
then say the Our Father, ten
Hail Mary’s, one Glory Be, and
(Mt. 3:16-17) one Fatima Prayer
(Jn. 2:5-7) 11. Announce the Fourth Mystery,
(Mt. 10:7-8) then say the Our Father, ten
(Lk. 9:29-35)
Hail Mary’s, one Glory Be, and
(Lk. 22:19-20)
one Fatima Prayer
12. Announce the Fifth Mystery,
then say the Our Father, ten
Hail Mary’s, one Glory Be, and
one Fatima Prayer
13. Conclude by reciting the Hail,
Holy Queen
©2007. Scott R. Porter &
Bryan J.P. Gesinger