How to Pray the Rosary Properly?

Filipinos are the number one devotees of the Blessed Mother Mary. In fact, October is set by the universal church to be the month of the Holy Rosary to honor the mother of all ages. For this year, our school (Holy Cross of Davao College) launched the Rosary Month last October 07, the day we also celebrate the Feast of our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. During the Flag Ceremony, where Kindergarten and High School students gathered, we started the day with an invocation of the Grade III pupils with the song entitled: “Awit sa Ina ng Sto. Rosario” followed by praying the first decade/mystery of the rosary. Afterwards, the prayer leader encouraged the school community to continue praying the remaining mysteries inside the classroom/offices. In this manner, we believe by the end of the day, each class/office had prayed the rosary. It’s a blissful scenario, that as a school community, we were able to offer Mother Mary a “garland or a crown of roses” by praying the rosary. As I listened to respective classes praying, I heard various versions of the basic prayers recited.

1st THE CREED – Many are using the Apostles Creed which has been long taught by grandparents and parents to children at home. Yet some are using the Nicene Creed, the creed used during Sunday Masses.

2nd THE LORD’S PRAYER – I heard prayer leaders reciting: “Our Father in heaven, holy be your name….” Few also saying: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”

3rd HAIL MARY – Majority recited: “Hail Mary…. bles-sed (two-word syllable) are you among women”. Minority recited: Hail Mary… blessed (one-word syllable) are you…”

4th GLORY – The traditional one is: “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.” Yet the conventional one is: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and will be world without end. Amen.”

I told somebody about the different prayers used during the Rosary Prayer, they just told me “pareha lang na, basta kinasingkasing ang pag-ampo”. They might have a point, yet, our devotion through praying wholeheartedly partnered with proper way of doing, whether as rosary, novena or liturgy, will become more meaningful if properly understood. I look forward that someone from our pastors will enlightenment us in line with some concern to clear our confusions, so that FAITH will be bring everybody to the TRUTH: EX FIDE AD VERITATEM.