Friday 30 September 2011

The rosary prayers with Blessed Bartolo Longo




As we enter the Rosary month, I would like to share the rosary prayers written by Blessed Bartolo Longo, the great apostle of the Rosary who was instrumental in popularizing the devotion of the rosary with the construction of the great Rosary Basilica of Pompeii.


The prayers may be dated in its language and Marian piety, but each prayer reflects the man's great trust and devotion of the Virgin Mother of God. The prayers of the Luminous mysteries were written by me.

May the Virgin of the Rosary, continue to inspire all of us to seek the Truth as she accompanies her children to contemplate the greatest of mysteries: Jesus the incarnate word.

Rosary Prayers of Blessed Bartolo Longo

First Joyful Mystery. The Annunciation.
O Mary, immaculate lily, through the joy you felt when at the Angel's message you became the Mother of God: obtain for me the virtue of purity and of humility, that I may become your worthy son/daughter and the brother/sister of Jesus.

Second Joyful Mystery. The Visitation.
O Mary, Mother of grace and of charity, through the joy you felt when, upon visiting Elizabeth, you brought joy to the home of Zechariah and the Baptist was sanctified at the sound of your voice: visit my soul, let it hear your Motherly voice, and fill it with love of God and love of neighbour.

Third Joyful Mystery. The Birth of Jesus.
O Mary, mirror of humility and of poverty, through the joy you felt when, turned away by the inhabitants of Bethlehem and forced to take refuge in a stable from the cold and darkness, you gave birth to the Divine Redeemer: grant that by accepting scorn and poverty I remain faithful to grace and gain the reward of eternal salvation by means of good works.

Fourth Joyful Mystery. The Presentation.
O Mary, the perfect model of obedience and of sacrifice, you who offered Jesus to the Eternal Father on our behalf: place your Child upon my bosom, that, together with you, I may offer him the sacrifice of my passions and of my whole being.

Fifth Joyful Mystery. The Finding in the Temple.
O Mary, a shining example of patience, through the joy you felt when, after three days of anxiously searching, you found Jesus in the Temple: grant that I too, seeking Jesus with love in every moment of my life in imitation of you, may find him at last in your arms at the hour of my death, never to lose him again.

First Sorrowful Mystery. The Agony in the Garden.
O Grieving Virgin, through the anguish of that saddest of nights in which Jesus in agony in the garden sweat blood at the sight of my sins, and, betrayed, was tied as a criminal: obtain for me the perfect sorrow of my sins and perseverance in prayer, that I may never again betray
his most loving Heart.

Second Sorrowful Mystery. The Scourging at the Pillar.
O most grieving Mother, through the pain you felt in knowing that your innocent and holy Son had been publicly stripped and bloodily scourged with biting whips: obtain for me the spirit of true repentance and the virtue of chastity and of the mortification of the senses.

Third Sorrowful Mystery. The Crowning with Thorns.
O Mother of sorrows, through the atrocious torment which pierced your heart when you saw Jesus, the King of glory, then become the King of suffering, crowned with thorns and shame, with a reed in his hands, derided by the crowd: ah!, encircle my intellect and my heart with these very thorns, that I may never offend him again with evil thoughts and sentiments; and obtain for me pureness in my thoughts and the right intentions in my actions.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery. The Carrying of the Cross.
O grieving Mother, through the martyrdom of your heart, when you met your Son weighed down beneath the heavy cross, staining the road to Calvary with his blood: grant that I, clinging to Jesus' cross, follow behind, daily carrying the cross of my troubles with meekness and with perfect conformity to the will of God.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord.
O Queen of the Martyrs, through the extreme spasm of your heart when you witnessed Jesus dying on the cross in the midst of a thousand torments, forsaken and without comfort: grant that I die to myself, to the world and to sin, and live in the heart of Jesus alone, having abandoned myself in his most holy arms.

First Glorious Mystery. The Resurrection.
O Most Holy Mother of God, through the joy you felt in seeing Jesus risen from the dead and surrounded in glory: obtain for me that I too rise from the death of sin to a life of grace and of faith, and may persevere in it till my very last breath.

Second Glorious Mystery. The Ascension.
O Queen of the Heavens, through the joy you experienced in seeing Jesus rising to Heaven triumphant as King of the Universe and as our Advocate by his Father: obtain his blessing for me also, so that I be changed by him from a sinner into a saint; moreover, by separating me from all earthly affection, through the virtue of hope may he kindle in me the desire of paradise.

Third Glorious Mystery. The Descent of the Holy Spirit.
O Queen of the Universe, through the joy you felt when the Holy Spirit descended on you and on the Apostles: grant that he come into my soul and fill it with his holy gifts and the heavenly fruits of charity, of joy, of patience and of peace.

Fourth Glorious Mystery. The Assumption.
O Queen, Lady of the Angels, through the joy you experienced when you were taken into heaven body and soul: come with Jesus to assist me at the hour of my death, and lead me with you to everlasting happiness.

Fifth Glorious Mystery. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
O Queen of all the Saints, and the honour and delight of humankind, through the joy you felt when the Most Holy Trinity crowned you as Queen of Heaven and Earth: inflame me with your love and with the love of God, that I may love and serve you on earth, and glorify you, O Queen of my heart, in heaven.

First Luminous Mystery. The Baptism at Jordan.
O Mary, mother of all believers, your Son Jesus received the waters of baptism to teach us the mystery of obedience to the Father. Grant me the grace to learn from your obedience in faith, so that I may bravely bear witness to the my faith in the Risen Lord.

Second Luminous Mystery. The Wedding Feast at Cana.
O Mary, help of those in need, through your intercession, your Son Jesus Christ performed the first sign of his redemption, by transforming water into wine to bring joy and gladness to the guests at the wedding feast. Grant me the grace to share the joy and happiness of knowing God and bring hope to those in need.

Third Luminous Mystery. The Preaching of the Kingdom of God.
O Mary, mother of the Word, your Son Jesus Christ began to preach the Kingdom of God to the poor not only in words by in signs. And thus he ushered this great period of grace and forgiveness. Grant me the grace to be docile to that living Word so that my life would always conform to the teachings and ideals of the Gospel.

Fourth Luminous Mystery. The Transfiguration.
O Mary, the foretaste of heavenly glory, your Son Jesus Christ was transfigured to manifest his glory won through the fulfillment of his mission as the obedient Son of the Father. Grant me the grace to see what is beyond the earthly and believe in the transfigured reality through the outpouring of salvation to all men.

Fifth Luminous Mystery. The Institution of the Eucharist.
O Mary, mother of the Eucharist, your Son Jesus Christ instituted the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist to remind us of his great and unselfish love for all men. Grant me the grace that I may put into practice the mandate of love of living my life for God and for the service of my brethren.