THE ROSARY
This section provides an introduction to why the Rosary is important and two links- a Rosary Leaflet (how to pray the traditional Rosary including the basic tradition of Rosary prayers) and a Ritarian Mysteries Leaflet (setting out the 30 Mysteries and different schedules for prayer).
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Christians have long understood the power and significance of asking others - especially those closest to them - to pray for them. This may be family, friends or their community.
Within the Rosary we ask Mary to pray for us in exactly the same way. Many misunderstand this prayer as praying to Mary. Actually we ask Mary to pray for us, so pray through Mary to God. Only God is worthy of worship, but who better to lead us to Jesus than His mother?
To pray the Rosary is to contemplate and enter deeper into the life of Jesus and Mary in the scriptures. Embracing this reality - every day - changes our lives. It enhances our relationships and brings us closer to an understanding of God’s will for our lives.
A better understanding of the Good News gives us the confidence and courage to ask for - and strive for - what many believe is impossible.
We have a special devotion to St Rita. In her we find an example of holiness, devotion, vocation, discernment, confidence and love. As a member of the Communion of Saints, within which the Virgin Mary is the head, we similarly ask for her prayers as we offer God our contrite hearts, asking for His healing, strength and inspiration.
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The link below ("Rosary Leaflet") explains how to pray the Rosary and can be printed as a booklet.
To learn about the individual Mysteries (including the additional Ritarian Mysteries), see the section at the bottom of this page.
THE MYSTERIES
For those who are new to the Rosary, an understanding of each Mystery is essential. One cannot contemplate something one does not know.
The Mysteries are all biblical. They need to be seen in context. Different people "access" their ability to embody scriptural events in different ways. Two that are common are reflecting on the scriptural narrative or praying with the use of a pictorial representation of the Mystery.
How you most effectively pray and consider each Mystery will be unique to you.
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Often those starting to pray with the Rosary are confused with the "churchy" names of the Mysteries- be it Annunciation, Transfiguration, Ascension, Assumption etc.
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There are many different ways to 'engage' with the Rosary. Within the Ritarians, we contemplate not only the traditional and Luminous Mysteries, we also particularly focus on the Passion of Christ. To do this we experience the Hopeful Mysteries allowing us to contemplate the hope Christ reveals within his Passion and Death. We also pray the Evangelical Mysteries to embody and appreciate what the Passion can and does mean for us, through the eyes of Mary. Both these sets of Mysteries are directly linked to the inspiration we find in the example of St Rita.
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Ritarian's pray in different ways, and with different time commitments. Consistency should be a primary consideration as this embraces discipline and longevity. All Ritarian prayer is based around making ourselves 'radically available' to the Holy Spirit to teach, lead and motivate change. This is not 'magic', verbosity or chanting. It is a commitment to prioritise our time within which God can speak to us.
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Ritarian's make different commitments whilst being united by a devotional use of the Rosary and the Ritarian Mysteries.
Some pray one decade of the Rosary a day. This daily 'remembering' and priority can be one that allows the person to 'walk alongside' Jesus and Mary as our salvation is revealed. Some have found this an ideal way to pray during the week and meet with others once a week to reflect and support each other.
Others pray 'a Rosary a day' using different Mysteries each day (Monday - Saturday) leaving Sunday to reflect on the Mass, or pray, again, the set of Mysteries most apt to the Liturgical season.
A further calling is to pray either the whole Ritarian- 30 decade- Rosary, or a 'rolling' 24 decades (one for each hour), every day. This means radical giving of self; of time, energy and devotion.
All 3 'forms' of Ritarian prayer are a vocation; a humble and prudent use of time demonstrating to God and self where our treasure is found.
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Please click on the "Mysteries" tab below.