Rosary Variations
Just as the Rosary has evolved with changing prayers and the form of those prayers, so to there are variations of the emphasis of the Rosary. This page lists the traditional Dominican Rosary with variations below.
Traditional Dominican Rosary
Sign of Cross, Apostles’ Creed and Our Father
Three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity)
Glory be to the Father
JOYFUL MYSTERIES (Mondays and Thursdays)
Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Visitation (Luke 1:39-56) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Nativity (Luke 2:1-19) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Presentation (Luke 2:22-40) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Finding of Jesus (Luke 2:41-52) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES (Tuesdays and Fridays)
Agony in the Garden (Luke 22:39-46) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Scourging (John 19:1-3) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32-34) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Crucifixion (Matthew 27:35-37) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES (Sundays and Wednesdays)
Resurrection (Mark 16:1-14) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Ascension (Luke 24:50-53) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-12) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Assumption of Mary (Judith 13:23-31) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Crowning of Mary (Revelations 12) + Our Father/Ten Hail Marys/Glory Be/Fatima Prayer
Conclusion: Hail Holy Queen
Prayer for the Holy Father's Intentions (Hail Mary/Our Father/Glory); Sign of the Cross.
*Saturday's Mystery varies
Franciscan Rosary/Chaplet of Seven Joys
Development of this devotion parallels in time the Dominican Rosary, and was popularized by St. Bernardine of
Sienna in the 15th century.
Sign of Cross
Annunciation (the Angel and Mary) + Ten Hail Marys
Visitation (Mary goes to Elizabeth) + Ten Hail Marys
Nativity (Birth of Jesus) + Ten Hail Marys
Adoration of the Magi (Epiphany) + Ten Hail Marys
Finding of Jesus (lost at age twelve) + Ten Hail Marys
Resurrection (Easter morning) + Ten Hail Marys
Assumption of Mary (to Heaven) + Ten Hail Marys
Two additional Hail Marys (to make a total of 72...a traditional age of Mary)
Hail Mary/Our Father/Glory; Sign of the Cross.
Rosary/Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Dominican Bl. Henry Suso began the spread this devotion in the 14th century. Participants share in the
promises revealed by Christ to St. Elizabeth of Hungary for those devoted to the Seven Sorrows:
1. True repentance for those who invoke the Mother of Seven Sorrows before death.
2. Christ's protection in trials and at the hour of death.
3. Christ will impress the Passion on the minds of devotees
4. Christ will commit the devotees to Mary to share in her freely distributed graces
Sign of Cross and Act of Contrition
Prophecy of Simeon (piercing of Mary's heart) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Flight into Egypt (to avoid Herod) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Loss of Jesus in the Temple (at age twelve) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Crucifixion (Jesus dies on the cross) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Jesus is Removed from the Cross (held by Mary) + Ten Hail Marys + Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Jesus is Placed in the Sepulchre (for three days) + Ten Hail Marys+ Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be
Three additional Hail Marys for the tears of the Virgin
Prayer: O mother, pray that my love may rest with you and your Son, Our Savior, who shed His blood for my salvation.
May the memory of your sorrows abide in my own soul, that my heart may burn with love for you and your Son.
To Him be honor, glory and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen.
The practice of assigning a different thought/specific meditation to each Hail Mary was often used at times during the Middle Ages, and opens the Rosary to innumerable
variations. An example of this is the Scriptural Rosary.
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