Meaning of the Catholic Rosary Bead and How to PrayEach
bead of the Catholic rosary has a meaning that is necessary to know if you want
to learn how to pray on rosary beads. Most Catholics know that the meaning of
rosary beads is prayer, but many do not know how to pray the rosary or the meaning
of each bead. The Catholic rosary is made up of five decades of small beads, each
bead meaning a Hail Mary, divided by a single, usually larger, bead meaning an
Our Father. One of the larger beads is replaced by a medallion, often picturing
the Virgin Mary, from which hangs two large beads, three small beads and a cross.
Even Catholics who know generally how to pray the rosary, sometimes do not know
how to pray this
part of it. To learn how to pray the Catholic rosary, start,
as in all
Catholic prayer, with the sign of the cross. Then, say the Creed
on the
crucifix. Next, say the Our Father on the first large bead, followed
by
three Hail Mary¹s on the small beads. The meaning of the next large
bead is the Glory Be to the Father. Now in order to continue to say the rosary,
you must be familiar with how to pray the meditations or mysteries. There are
four sets, each set having a common meaning: the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful,
and the Glorious. Since most Catholics have only a five decade rosary, they pray
one set of mysteries at a time when they learn how to pray on rosary beads. The
first Joyful Mystery, for instance, is the Annunciation; Catholics will either
read a scriptural passage about the event or look at a picture depicting it and
then meditate on the mystery as
they pray the Our Father and ten Hail Mary¹s.
Next, although there is no bead meaning it, we say the Glory Be before starting
the nest decade of the rosary. Many Catholics who learn how to pray with rosary
beads, also say the Fatima prayer after each decade: ³Lord Jesus Christ,
forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those most in need of thy mercy.² Finally, it is common to complete
each set of mysteries said on rosary beads with the Hail Holy Queen prayer. Praying
the rosary can become a very meaningful, sought after experience for those who
adopt it. However, if you glean no benefit from using rosary beads, remember that
God hears all prayer, whatever method you choose.
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