Want to add some power to your rosary? (try the "scriptural rosary")

On this the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7th), I wanted to give you an example of a "scriptural rosary." Praying a scriptural rosary involves reading or reciting (between the Hail Marys and Our Fathers) brief exerpts from Sacred Scripture that pertain to a particular mystery.

The rosary is intended to be contemplative prayer--as you repeat the Hail Mary and Our Father prayers aloud or internally, those prayers should become a backdrop to keep you focused on a particular mystery from the life of Christ (as if you were gazing upon a painting or image). By adding little bits of God's word to the familiar Hail Mary and Our Father, you can deepen your meditation.

For example, you might have a vague image or idea in your mind as you pray the 5th luminous mystery about Our Lord's institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. But, if you inject some scripture passages into your rosary prayer, you will be surprised to see how deeper your meditation can become!

When teaching the kids, try having them look up passages and match them with the relevant rosary mysteries. Then you can take turns reading the verses as you pray (or, try reading a longer passage before you begin the Our Father). You can buy many books that offer examples of possible scriptural rosaries (any number of Biblical verses can be used). Below I include an excerpt from The Mysteries of Christ: A Scriptural Rosary which is published by The Word Among Us (www.wordamongus.org). copyright 2003

FIFTH LUMINOUS MYSTERY: THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST (Jesus changes bread and wine into his body and blood)

Read or recite: Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, wihch is called the Passover. Luke 22:1

Pray: Our Father...

Read/recite: So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." Luke 22:8

Pray: Hail Mary...

And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover. When it was evening, he sat at table with his twelve disciples. Matthew 26:19-20

Hail Mary...

And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Luke 22:15-16

Hail Mary...

And s they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." Mark 14:22

Hail Mary...

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." Mark 14:23-24

Hail Mary...

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:53-54

Hail Mary...

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9

Hail Mary...

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26

Hail Mary...

Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven... Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. Psalm 78:23, 25

Hail Mary...

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All peoples may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Psalm 36:7-8

Hail Mary...

Glory Be to the Father...

O My Jesus...

Hail, Holy Queen...