"His mother treasured all these things in her heart." This is how the Gospel of Luke describes Mary's reflection
on the mystery of Jesus. The rosary is a tool that helps Christians to reflect on the life, death and
resurrection of Christ. People have prayed the rosary in its present form for more than 500 years.
The most important and most beautiful prayers for Christians are the psalms. Some people
try to pray all 150 psalms each week. Many people learn a few psalms by heart and pray one psalm before going to
bed at night.
The rosary is called the Psalter of Mary because all fifteen of its mysteries, with
their 150 Aves, correspond to the number of the psalms. Praying all fifteen decades at once is called the
Dominican Rosary. The Rosary is the most well known and used form of chaplet (a devotion using beads; from a
French word meaning "crown" or "wreath"). There are other chaplets, such as those in honor of St. Bridget of
Sweden and in honor of Mary, the Immaculate Conception.
The Fatima invocation (recommended by Mary to the children at Fatima in 1917) is
sometimes recited between decades:
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell, and bring all souls to
heaven, especially those who most need your mercy."
The Franciscan Crown or Seraphic Rosary has seven decades and was introduced among the
Franciscans in 1422. Two Hail Marys were added since then, to total seventy-two, the traditional age of Mary at
her assumption.
