Page:TheRosaryItsHistory.djvu/19

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particular mystery in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Custom has divided the Rosary into three parts, each of which consists of five decades. In fact, when we now speak of saying the Rosary, we generally refer to the recitation of five decades, and the Rosary beads are arranged accordingly.

The three parts of the Rosary commemorate respectively the joyful, the sorrowful and the glorious mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary; hence there are five joyful, five sorrowful, and five glorious mysteries. The Joyful Mysteries are assigned to Mondays and Thursdays throughout the year and to the Sundays of Advent, as well as to the Sundays from the Feast of the Epiphany until Lent. The Sorrowful Mysteries are prescribed for Tuesdays and Fridays, and for the Sundays in Lent. The Glorious Mysteries are designated for Wednesdays and Saturdays, and for the Sundays from Easter to Advent.

It is customary to commence the Rosary by reciting the Apostles' Creed, one “Our Father,” three “Hail Marys,” and one “Glory be to the Father.” We then proceed to the five decades with the respective mysteries. At the beginning of each decade a brief outline of the accompany-

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