The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

© The Commander Cross Rosary, 2024.

All illustrations © The Art of Christianity Collection, Stockholm. with the exceptions then mentioned.

All Rights Reserved.

Sign of the Cross

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

† In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen

THE OFFERING PRAYER and INTENTIONS OF THE ROSARY

Let us pray:

Eternal Father,

I offer you this Rosary,

through Mary's Immaculate Heart in union with her Son, Jesus Christ's precious blood, as thanksgiving for all your almighty acts,

according to Jesus' Sacred Heart intentions;

for all grace and blessing that will make us close to this beloved Heart

in life, in death, in time and eternity;

for the sick;

for the dying;

for the conversion of sinners and for the souls in Purgatory;

for those who have asked for our prayers and we are obliged to ask for and the family's intentions, to You, God, may all lead to your greater honour and glory and a glorious death for us all.

Amen.

On the Crucifix of Rosary:

One begins by holding the Crucifix of the Holy Rosary, kiss it, do the sign of the Cross and pray:

Sign of the Cross

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

† In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.

Apostles' Creed, (still at the Crucifix of the Rosary).

The Church is a mystery in as much as in her visible reality there is present and active a divine spiritual reality which can only be seen with the eyes of faith.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ,

His only Son, our Lord,

Let us kneel

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

Let us arise

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell;

on the third day He rose again

from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God

the Father almighty,

from there He shall come to judge

the living and the dead.

I believe

in the Holy Spirit,

the Holy Catholic Church,

the Communion of Saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body

and life everlasting.

Amen.

Our father    (First Pearl after the Cross)

The Word of God communicates the mystery of salvation. Through the Lord’s Prayer, we are therefore aware of our being sons of the Father in the Son.

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary (The three Cluster Pearls, pearl 2-4)

The Divine Virtues Fides, Spes et Caritas (Faith, Hope and Love). Mary becomes the mother of Jesus, she gave herself entirely to serve the mystery of redemption, by God's grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace, 

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

- who increases our Faith

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

- who increases our Hope

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

- who increases our Faith

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Doxology  (the single Pearl right before the Connecting Medallion)

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life,
and it is the source of all the other mysteries.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer  (Card. Burke prays it right here as it is after the mysteries of Our father, Hail Mary, and the Doxology).

The 3^rd apparition of our Lady of Fatima, 13 July 1917: "When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery;

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

Next Step is the Connecting Centerpiece (Medallion)

They come to a place, named Gethsemane; and he says to his disciples:

Sit here till I pray.

He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and in anguish, and said to them:

My soul is encompassed with sorrow even to death: remain here and keep watch.

And going forward a little he fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it was possible, the hour might pass away from him; and he said:

Abba, Father, all things are possible for thee; remove this cup from me: yet not what I will, but what thou want.

And he comes back and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter:

Simon, sleepest thou? hadst thou not strength to watch one hour? Watch and pray,

pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

And, when he returned, he found them sleeping again; for their eyes were heavy; and they knew not what they should answer him. Returning the third time he says to them:

Sleep ye now and take your rest?

It is enough; the hour has come:

behold, the Son of man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us go: Behold, he that betray me is at hand.

Our Father - the mystery of salvation

(still on the single pearl)

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

10 Hail Mary - the mystery of redemption

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Doxology - the mystery of the Christian faith

(on the chain before the single pearl)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

Immediately in the morning, the chief priests holding consultation, with the elders, the scribes and the whole Council. They bound Jesus and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

Pilate asked him:  Art thou the King of the Jews?

And Jesus answered and said to him:  Thou sayest.

The chief priests accused him of many things and Pilate again asked him:

Answerest thou nothing? See of how many things they accuse thee.

Jesus no longer answered any thing: so that Pilate wondered.

At every feast Pilate released to them one prisoner whom they chose.

And there was one called Barabbas who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in the insurrection had committed murder.The multitude then came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Pilate said to them:

Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?

And while he sat on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying:

Have nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered much this day in a dream because of him.

The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus destroyed. The governor said to them:

Which of the two will you that I release to you?

They said: Barabbas.

Pilate again answered and said to them:

What then will you that I shall do with him whom you call King of the Jews?

They again cried out: Crucify him.

Pilate said to them: Why, what evil has he done?

The crowed cried out vehemently: Crucify him.

And Pilate seeing that nothing avails, but rather that a tumult is rising, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying:

I am innocent of the blood of this man: see you to it.

Our Father - the mystery of salvation

(still on the single pearl)

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

10 Hail Mary - the mystery of redemption

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Doxology - the mystery of the Christian faith

(on the chain before the single pearl)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the palace and brought together to him the whole band. Having stripped him they put on him a purple cloak, and having plaited a crown of thorns they put it on his head,

and a reed in his right hand, and bowing the knee before him they mocked him, saying:

Hail, King of the Jews;

and having spit upon him they took the reed and struck upon his head.

And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the cloak and put his own garments on him and led him away to crucify him.

Our Father - the mystery of salvation

(still on the single pearl)

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

10 Hail Mary - the mystery of redemption

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Doxology - the mystery of the Christian faith

(on the chain before the single pearl)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

Then therefore Pilate delivered Jesus to the Chief Priests to be crucified.

As they led him away, they lay hold on Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the country,

they laid the cross on him, that he might bear it after Jesus. …And bearing the cross, he went forth to Calvary, in Hebrew Golgotha.

There followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women that bewailed and lamented him.

Jesus turned to them and said:

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me; but weep for yourselves and for your children;

for behold, there are coming days in which they shall say:

Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that did not give suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains:

Fall on us,

and to the hills:

Cover us;

for if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two others, two evildoers, to be crucified with Jesus.

… they crucified Jesus, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.

Our Father - the mystery of salvation

(still on the single pearl)

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

10 Hail Mary - the mystery of redemption

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Doxology - the mystery of the Christian faith

(on the chain before the single pearl)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

At Calvary, they crucified Jesus and the two evildoers.

Jesus said:

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The soldiers were dividing his clothing among them, they cast lots. The people stood looking on; …In like manner also the chief priests deriding among themselves with the scribes said:

Others he saved, himself he cannot save.

Christ the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe.

There was also a superscription over him:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

And one of the evildoers that were hanged blasphemed him:

If thou be Christ? save thyself and us.

But the other, answering, rebuked him and said:

Do not even thou fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation? We indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of what we have done; but this man has done nothing evil.

Then he said to Jesus: 

Jesus, remember me when thou come in thy kingdom.

Jesus said to him: I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.

Our Father - the mystery of salvation

(still on the single pearl)

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

10 Hail Mary - the mystery of redemption

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Doxology - the mystery of the Christian faith

(on the chain towards the connecting medallion)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Fatima prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of hell,

and lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those in most need of Your Mercy.

The Rosary is a perfect wreath!

We have now reached the connecting medallion which unites our intentions and prayers

On the medallion, we pray Salve Regina, and the Marian hymn is at the end of the Rosary;

Let us pray:

O, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,

Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, Poor banished children of Eve;

To thee do we send up our sighs,

Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

Thine eyes of mercy toward us;

And after this our exile,

Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Orémus:

Salve Regina,

Mater misericordiae,

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae.

Ad te suspiramus,

gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.

Et Iesum,

benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, o pia,

o dulcis Virgo Maria.

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.

R. Ut digni efficamur promissionibus Christi.

Let us pray:

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection,

has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation.

Grant, we beseech Thee: that while meditating on these mysteries

of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise,

through Christ our Lord.

Orémus:

Déus, cújus Unigénitus per vítam, mortem, et resurrectiónem

súam nóbis salútis ætérnæ præmia comparávit: concéde, quæsumus:

ut hæc mystéria sacratíssimo beátæ Maríæ Vírginis Rosário recoléntes,

et imitémur quod cóntinent,

et quod promíttunt, assequámur.

Per eúndem Chrístum Dóminum nóstrum.

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

† In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.

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The Step-by-Step Commander Cross Rosary follow the pearls leading us to the Cross ...

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LET US PRAY AT THE CROSS OF THE ROSARY:

for our Holy Father N.

May Thy hand be upon Thine holy servant and upon Thy son whom Thou hast anoited.

Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of Thy Sacred Heart.

Be Thou his light, his strength and his consolation.

R: May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

(The Raccolta ed 1898, N0. 33, p. 562)

FOR THE POPES INTENTIONS

i. The progress of the Faith and triumph of the Church. ii. Peace and union among Christian Princes and Rulers. iii. The conversion of sinners. and iv. The uprooting of heresy.

Pater noster,      1 Ave Maria,      Gloria

As per request from our Holy Father on 29 Sept. 2018, the Rosary shall end with:

Let us pray:

We fly to Thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God;

despise not thou our petitions in our necessities.

but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Oremus:

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.

Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus,

sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,

Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.

Let us pray:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle;

be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.

And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host,

by the power of God

thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Oremus:

Sancte Michael Archángele,

defénde nos in prælio;

contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium.

Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur;

tuque, Princeps militiae cæléstis,

Sátanam aliósque spíritus malignos,

qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo,

divina virtúte in inférnum detrúde.

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

† In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.

Kyrie, eleison.   R. Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, eleison.  R. Christe, eleison.

Kyrie, eleison.  R. Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, audi nos.  R. Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de caelis, Deus,   R. miserere nobis.

Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus,   R. miserere nobis.

Spiritus Sancte, Deus,  R. miserere nobis.

Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,   R. miserere nobis.

Sancta Maria,   R. ora pro nobis.

Sancta Dei Genetrix,   R. ora pro nobis.

Sancta Virgo virginum,  R. ora pro nobis.

Mater Christi,  R. ora pro nobis.

Mater Ecclesiae,  R. ora pro nobis.

Mater divinae gratiae,  R. ...

Mater purissima, R. ...

Mater castissima,  R. ...

Mater inviolata,  R. ...

Mater intemerata,  R. ...

Mater amabilis,  R. ...

Mater admirabilis,   R. ...

Mater boni consilii,   R. ...

Mater Creatoris,  R. ...

Mater Salvatoris, R. ...

Virgo prudentissima, R. ...

Virgo veneranda,   R. ...

Virgo praedicanda,   R. ...

Virgo potens,  R. ...

Virgo clemens,  R. ...

Virgo fidelis,   R. ...

Speculum iustitiae,  R. ...

Sedes sapientiae,   R. ...

Causa nostrae laetitiae,   R. ...

Vas spirituale,   R. ...

Vas honorabile,   R. ...

Vas insigne devotionis,  R. ...

Rosa mystica,   R. ...

Turris Davidica,   R. ...

Turris eburnea, R. ...

Domus aurea,   R. ...

Foederis arca,  R. ...

Ianua caeli,   R. ...

Stella matutina, R. ...

Salus infirmorum,  R. ...

Refugium peccatorum,  R. ...

Consolatrix afflictorum,   R. ...

Auxilium Christianorum, R. ...

Regina Angelorum,  R. ...

Regina Patriarcharum,   R. ...

Regina Prophetarum,   R. ...

Regina Apostolorum,  R. ...

Regina Martyrum,  R. ...

Regina Confessorum, R. ...

Regina Virginum,  R. ...

Regina Sanctorum omnium,  R. ...

Regina sine labe originali concepta,  R.

Regina in caelum assumpta,   R. ...

Regina sacratissimi Rosarii,  R. ...

Regina familiae,  R. ...

Regina pacis,   R. ...

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,  parce nobis, Domine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,  exaudi nos, Domine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,  miserere nobis.

V.   Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix,

R.   Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Oremus:

Concede nos famulos tuos, quaesumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere: et, gloriosa beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione, a praesenti liberari tristitia, et aeterna perfrui laetitia.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen

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