Alliance of the Two Hearts, Atlanta

Audio Scriptural Rosary

All Four Mysteries of the Scriptural Rosary can be listened to using two different sound file formats:

PC Compatible
If you have a PC with Windows Media, it is much, much, faster to use the .wav files, marked Windows Media Wave

Macintosh
Macintosh users can use the .rm files. You can right mouse click and download them onto your computer using "Save Target As" for faster listening:

Don't miss the next live reading of the Scriptural Rosary at the upcoming Vigil, held the first Friday and the First Saturday of the month. For complete Vigil information please visit our home page.

The Year of the Rosary "To Jesus Through Mary" 2002 - 2003

The year of the Rosary was promulgated last October 16, 2002 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter "Rosarium Virgina Mariae" (in English, the Rosary of the Virgin Mary). Although considered by many as a devotional prayer that has come to us through the years, the Rosary is more than that. It is a silent Scriptural meditation on the Life of Jesus Christ. In Pope John Paul II words,

"With the rosary ... [we] are led to contemplate the ... face of Christ and ... experience the depths of His love."

In our busy world, we are unable to take the time to sit down daily to read and meditate on the Gospel. With the Rosary, we can reflect on the birth, life, suffering and glorification of Jesus condensed in twenty Mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries - Mary's "Fiat" and surrender to God
The Luminous Mysteries - Jesus as the "light of the world"
The Sorrowful Mysteries - Jesus' suffering for our Redemption
The Glorious Mysteries - the glory of the Risen Jesus

We can adore Jesus through His Mother's heart because Mary was the first living tabernacle where the Father enclosed His Son. Throughout His Son's life and at the foot of His Cross, Mary stood with Jesus, submitting to God's will. Likewise, when we meditate on the Rosary, we, too, can offer ourselves to the Father, at any time -- anywhere, silently or verbally.

What Is the History of the Rosary?

It comes from the 12th Century. At the time the Church was being attacked by the Albigensian heresy, St. Dominic was inspired by Our Lady to take a previously unknown approach. When he preached from village to village on the mysteries of salvation such as the Incarnation, the Redemption, Eternal Life and the Holy Trinity, Dominic had ten Hail Mary's recited after each instruction. Thus, the Rosary became a Bible "on our knees".

What Prayers Are Contained in the Rosary?

The prayers used in composing the Rosary come directly from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Gloria

The Gloria was dictated by the Heavenly Father to the angels when He sent them to sing it for His newborn Son. It is a hymn to the Blessed Trinity.

The Our Father

The Our Father was dictated by Jesus and is directed to the Father.

The Ave

The Ave was dictated in its opening words, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with You' by the Father, through the Angel Gabriel.

Jesus and Our Lady

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth pronounced Jesus "the Fruit of Thy Womb" And Our Lady Herself as "Blessed Among women."

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, added "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"

Is the Rosary a Meaningless Repetition of Aves?

Whether in a group or alone, we should pray the Rosary "from the heart." The repetition of the ten AVES provides a suppliant background to our meditation on each mystery, and helps to silence our mind from thoughts and distractions. If you tend to pray the Rosary hurriedly, you will miss its beauty and power, and your prayer may be lost. But when you pray the Rosary from your heart to the heart of Mary, with love, your prayer will last an eternity!

The Rosary has a power of its own. Unlike any other devotion, it will bring you closer to the Holy Eucharist because the Heart of Mary is united to the Heart of Her Son, Jesus. Try it, and you will see this happen in your life; because essentially, the Rosary is an adoration of Jesus through His Mother's Heart.

Sources:
Pope John Paul II, "Rosarium Virginia Mariae," (Apostolic Letter: October 16, 2002).
Rev. Gerard McGinnity and Christian Gallagher, "Out of the Ecstasy and Onto the Cross" (Helpers of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Allson Park, PA: 1996).