The Rosary has long been a part of Catholic devotional life. Based on Scripture, the Rosary is also an ecumenical prayer which can interest Christians of various faith traditions. The heart of the Rosary is meditation on the mysteries of our salvation as related in the Bible.
The Rosary is a prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin, consisting of two hundred Hail Mary’s and twenty Our Fathers. These are accompanied by meditation on the life, passion and glory of Christ.
The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary.
St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and––added by Saint John Paul II in 2002––the Luminous.
The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.