St. Louis de Montfort is one of the greatest Marian saints of all time. He propagated the Most Holy Rosary as a powerful means of prayer and devotion to Our Lady. The following is the saint’s method of praying the Rosary.
Introductory Prayer
I unite with all the saints in Heaven, with all the just on earth and
with all the faithful here present. I unite with Thee, O my Jesus, in
order to praise worthily Thy holy Mother and to praise Thee in her
and through her. I renounce all the distractions I may have during this
Rosary, which I wish to say with modesty, attention and devotion, just
as if it were to be the last of my life.
We offer Thee, O most Holy Trinity, this Creed in honor of all the
mysteries of our Faith; this Our Father and these three Hail Marys in
honor of the unity of Thy Essence and the Trinity of Thy Persons. We
ask of Thee a lively faith, a firm hope and an ardent charity. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
The Five Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this first decade in honor of Thine
Incarnation in Mary’s womb, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery
and through her intercession, a profound humility. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father. O my Jesus, forgive
us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. (Prayer to be said at the end of each decade in accord with Our Lady of Fatima’s requests in 1917).
May the grace of the Mystery of the Annunciation come down into our souls. Amen.
2. The Visitation
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this second decade in honor of the
Visitation of Thy holy Mother to her cousin St. Elizabeth and the sanctification
of St. John the Baptist, and we ask of Thee, through this
Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, charity toward
our neighbor. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Visitation come down into our souls. Amen.
3. The Nativity
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this third decade in honor of Thy
Nativity in the stable of Bethlehem, and we ask of Thee, through this
Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, detachment
from the things of the world, contempt of riches and love of poverty.
Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Nativity come down into our souls. Amen.
4. The Presentation in the Temple
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourth decade in honor of Thy
Presentation in the Temple and the Purification of Mary, and we ask of
Thee, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy
Mother, purity of body and soul. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Presentation in the Temple come down into our souls. Amen.
5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifth decade in honor of Mary’s
finding Thee in the Temple, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery
and through her intercession, the gift of true wisdom. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Finding of Our Lord in the Temple come down into our souls. Amen.
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honor of Thine
Agony in the Garden of Olives, and we ask of Thee, through this
Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, contrition
for our sins. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Agony in the Garden come down into our souls. Amen.
2. The Scourging
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honor of
Thy bloody Scourging, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and
through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the grace of mortifying
our senses. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Scourging come down into our souls. Amen.
3. The Crowning with Thorns
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honor of Thy
being crowned with thorns, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery
and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, contempt of the
world. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Crowning with Thorns come down into our souls. Amen.
4. The Carrying of the Cross
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honor of Thy
carrying of the Cross, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and
through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, patience in bearing our
crosses. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Carrying of the Cross come down into our souls. Amen.
5. The Crucifixion
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honor of Thy
Crucifixion and ignominious death on Calvary and we ask of Thee,
through this Mystery and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother,
the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of the just and the relief of
the souls in Purgatory. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Crucifixion come down into our souls. Amen.
The Five Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eleventh decade in honor of Thy
glorious Resurrection, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and
through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, love of God and fervor
in Thy service. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Resurrection come down into our souls. Amen.
2. The Ascension
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this twelfth decade in honor of Thy
triumphant Ascension, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and
through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, an ardent desire for
Heaven, our true home. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Ascension come down into our souls. Amen.
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this thirteenth decade in honor of
the Mystery of Pentecost, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery
and through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, the coming of the
Holy Ghost into our souls. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of Pentecost come down into our souls. Amen.
4. The Assumption
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourteenth decade in honor of
the resurrection and triumphant Assumption of Thy holy Mother into
Heaven, and we ask of Thee, through this Mystery and through her
intercession, a tender devotion for so good a Mother. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Assumption come down into our souls. Amen.
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifteenth decade in honor of
the Coronation of Thy holy Mother, and we ask of Thee, through
this Mystery and through her intercession, perseverance in grace and a
crown of glory hereafter. Amen.
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be to the Father, O my Jesus.
May the grace of the Mystery of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin come down into our souls. Amen.
Prayer
Hail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father, admirable
Mother of the Son, faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost, august Temple
of the most Holy Trinity! Hail, sovereign princess, to whom all owe
subjection in Heaven and on earth! Hail, sure refuge of sinners, Our
Lady of Mercy, who hast never refused any request. All sinful though I
am, I cast myself at thy feet and beseech thee to obtain from Jesus, thy
beloved Son , contrition and pardon for all my sins, as well as the gift of
divine wisdom. I consecrate myself entirely to thee with all that I have.
I choose thee today for my Mother and Mistress. Treat me, then, as the
least of thy children and the most obedient of thy servants. Listen, my
princess, listen to the sighs of a heart that desires to love and serve thee
faithfully. Let it never be said that of all those who have had recourse
to thee, I was the first to be abandoned. O my hope, O my life, O my
faithful and Immaculate Virgin Mary, defend me, nourish me, hear
me, teach me and save me. Amen.
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This article is taken from a chapter in True Devotion to Mary with Preparation for Total Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort which is available from TAN Books.
