The Holy Rosary is to be prayed — not simply recited. And so it is prayed here, not to the end of praying it as quickly as one can, but as thoughtfully and prayerfully as one can.

You will not “get through” the 5 Mysteries quickly in the Rosary prayed below. It is prayed as one speaking to another, as the soul speaks to God and to Mary ... who are listening. Very often, when we pray, is at a tempo that we would never use in speaking with a friend, let alone one beloved. Such conversations are an intimate sharing ... not rote recitations. Even if we repeat ourselves, it is with a new emphasis. Who ever tires of being told that they are loved? The words are the same but the moment is new. Only in a desperate parting are such words spoken quickly.

One single “Hail Mary” prayed from the heart is worth a thousand spoken only upon the lips. Yes, in prayer, especially repetitive prayer, our minds tend to wander, to drift away from the one to whom we are praying. This is our human frailty, and God understands this. It is our perseverance in prayer that matters, despite all distractions. Let us, then, as Saint Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The Rosary consists of 3 Mysteries that are divided into 15 decades.

NOTE: This is the Traditional Rosary of hundreds of years.