
Praying the rosary: Understanding the tradition that helps Catholics meditate on Jesus and Mother Mary
Fox News
Here's how to understand the rosary, a Catholic prayer tradition practiced by millions of faithful worldwide — including the beads, the link to Mother Mary and the meaning behind the prayer aid.
"The rosary is a combination of vocal prayer (the Our Fathers and Hail Marys) and of mental prayer — namely, reflection on important events in the life of Christ and His Mother," according to the website for the Rosary Center & Confraternity, a ministry of the Dominicans of the Province of the Holy Name of Jesus, in Portland, Oregon. The meditative aspects of the rosary help immerse a person in prayer. Praying the 15 original mysteries involved reciting 150 Hail Mary prayers, a number that corresponds to the number of psalms in the Book of Psalms. The "Fatima prayer" originates from a reported 1917 apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. "Calling in some help from Mary seems like a perfectly logical move." Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
The founder of the Dominican Order, St. Dominic, helped to popularize the rosary in the 13th century, the website also notes.