Picture of a Brigittine Rosary, which is a 6 decade Rosary, popularized by St. Bridgid of Sweden
Not all Rosaries are 5 decades, Meditating on the Dominican Rosary is the most common, Rosary i.e. 20 mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous (instituted in 2002 by Pope John Paul II)?
Unlike the Dominican Rosary, Some are also a:
7 bead rosary said in connection with the Seven Dolours of Mary. It is a chaplet consisting of a ring of seven groups of seven beads separated by a small medal depicting one of the sorrows of Mary, or a single bead.
Our Lady of Medjugorje The Peace Chaplet, 7 sets of 3 beads
Many types of Chaplets connected to Marian Devotions, Our Lord, or the lives of saints. Chaplets use rosary beads with often their own devotional prayers e.g Chaplet of Divine Mercy
2 Marian Rosaries of interest to the Jesus to Mary Blog are the
Rosary of the 7 sorrows referred to above, and the
Brigittine Rosary consists of six decades of ten beads each. There are three additional beads at the end. The sixty-three Hail Marys are in remembrance of the sixty-three years of Mary’s earthly life according to one traditional account. The seven Our Fathers, said on the large beads between each decade, are in remembrance of the seven sorrows and joys of the Blessed Virgin.
The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin MarySt. Louis de Montfort, universally known for his True Devotion to Mary, embellished the Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception by adding to each Hail Mary a distinctive invocation in praise of the Blessed Virgin’s excellence, power and goodness, ending with the joyful strain: Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times.The three crowns are:
1. The Crown of Excellence
2. The Crown of Power
3. The Crown of Goodness.
A good rosary reference I respect is the “All About Mary” resource connected with the University of Dayton, Ohio, US — https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/c/chaplets-various-kinds.php
Which one do we practice? I think of utmost importance is saying a daily rosary as Mary has asked on numerous occasions particularly in reparation for the sins against Jesus being committed throughout the world, and SORROWing both Mary’s and Jesus’s hearts! I used to think it was important to say the recommended mysteries on the recommended days of the week. Now I think its’ important that we are praying “a’ rosary of “a” mysteries.
Prayerfully listening to the rosary while working, cleaning, doing dishes, driving is a good way to develop and keep up a DAILY rosary habit.
I have used these techniques to develop the habit, but as time has gone on it has become a highlight of my life to say the rosary, holding the beads, sitting in front of an image or statue of Mary or especially in Church by an image of Mary of at an altar or place honoring Mary, and when fcousing towards Jesus, in front of images or statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and particularly in front of the Tabernacle where we know of Jesus’s real presence in the Eucharist.
Saying the rosary with a focus towards Jesus, I have found it meaningful to be in front of images or statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and particularly in front of the Tabernacle where we know of Jesus’s real presence in the Eucharist.
Note: OUR FOCUS IS ALWAYS TOWARDS JESUS! This is a central concept of this blog, it is to Mary we are always looking to go to Jesus! Meditating on the Mysteries of Mary within rosaries, is really meditating on Mary’s relationship with Son, her journey partaking in the Salvation History of her Son’s Life on Earth, and being a Mediatrix of His Graces and Mercy to us.
I used to struggle to say just the one Rosary of 4 main mysteries on 20 beads daily, today I find myself saying more than 1 rosary several times a week, and it no longer matters how perfect the schedule or the practice after I say the one rosary I am committed to.
I believe what is important is to Pray the Rosary, and in so doing we enter into a special communication with our Blessed Mother, A channel is opened between our Soul and Souls of Mary and Jesus, and we are joined in a communicative union around one of the most powerful tools the world has ever seen, to bring Jesus and Mary into our life and cast out satan and all his influencers. Fiat!
Fiat!