The Scriptural Foundations of the Holy Rosary
The Holy Rosary Prayers are scriptural
by Ogiri John Ogiri
Different people have asked me questions about the place of the the holy rosary prayers in the Bible. Some- unenlightened Catholic and Protestant brethren- have openly criticized the Catholic church for teaching and encouraging Catholic faithfuls to pray the holy rosary prayers arguing that it is all about Marian worship and not about the worship of God. I have tried to answer those questions on several occasions during my intellectual intercourse with them in schools and in the Church. But I still feel the need to write on this same topic so as to help you understand that in the Catholic Church, we honour Mary very deeply and religiously but we do not give her the worship that we bestow on the Almighty God.
The Holy Rosary in the Bible
The Crucifix
On the crucifix, we recite the apostle creed which is the profession of our collective faith in God, who became man through the immaculate conception, by the holy spirit, born of the virgin girl Mary becoming man living among us.(Emmanuel). He suffered death ,descended into hell to conquer evil/death but on the third day resurrected and ascended into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God. We believe that He is coming back again to judge the living and the dead. Here we express our collective faith and believe in the holy spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body and in the life of the world to come.
The Our Father (pater Noster)
This prayer is found in Mathew 6:9-14
The Hail Mary(Ave Maria)
"Hail Mary (Ave Maria), Full of grace,the Lord is with you! "(Luke 1:28) This is the words of the archangel Gabriel announcing God's plans and decision to Mary.
" Blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus" (Luke 1:42). Those were the words of Elizabeth when she saw Mary in her house.
By the way, Mary herself said in her magnificat that " from now on, all generation shall call me blessed because the mighty one has done great deeds for me and holy is his name, and for generation after generation, his mercy is upon those who fear him" ( Luke 1:48-50)
"Holy Mary(Sancta Maria), pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." This is the only added by the Church which is normal because we are ask loved ones to pray for us.
The Gloria Patri
The Gloria patri- Glory be to the father... as a doxology is a hymn of praise to the Trinity-God the father, Son and holy spirit. In fact, we are all expected to praise God in our various ways.
The Mysteries
The various mysteries of the holy rosary namely joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries are reflected upon while praying each decade of the rosary prayers to draw the person praying into a deeper reflection on Christ's joys, sacrifices, sufferings and the gracious miracles of his life.
The Joyful Mystery
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:28)
2. The visitation (Luke 1:42)
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20)
4. The Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple
( Luke 2:21-32)
5. The finding of the child Jesus Christ in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50)
The Luminous Mystery
1. The Baptism of Jesus Christ ( Mathew 3:13-17)
2. The self-revelation at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11)
3. The proclamation of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17)
4. The Transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36)
5. The institution of the Holy Eucharist
( Matthew 26:26-30)
The Sorrowful mystery
1. The Agony in the garden (Mathew 26:36-45)
2. The scourging at the pillar ( Mathew 27: 26)
3. The crowning with thorns ( Matthew 27: 29)
4. The carrying of the cross (Mathew 27:31-32)
5. The crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross
( Mathew 27:33-50)
The Glorious Mystery
1. The resurrection (John 20:1-31)
2. The ascension (Acts of the Apostle 1:9-11)
3. The descent of the Holy spirit upon the Apostles
( Acts 2:1-22)
4. The Assumption of the blessedness virgin Mary into Heaven
(Rev.12:1-17)
5. The coronation of blessed virgin Mary
(Rev.2:10, Rev.12:1,Wisdom 5:16)
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