PRAYING THE ROSARY

From the earlier days of the church, people used prayer beads to aid in recitation of repetitive prayers.

This method of prayer took on many forms.  During the fifteenth century, the Rosary structure formed. Fifty Hail Mary's were recited and were linked with verses of psalms. The prayer was called rosarim meaning rose garden.
Saint Dominick is the person that made the structure of the Rosary.   The Rosary became popular in the 1500's. There were many wars, and people turned to the Rosary for comfort.

The 5 joyful mysteries dramatize five joyful experiences of Mary.  At left, they are depicted in the stain glass windows of the Monte Alverno Chapel.