THE LIVING ROSARY  

DISTRIBUTE THROUGHOUT YOUR DIOCESE

 

The Living Rosary was founded in Lyons, France, on December 8, 1826. Each of 15 persons pledged to pray one Rosary decade for one corresponding Mystery, every day, for the rest of his life. In this manner, the association of 15 people ensured that the entire, traditional fifteen-decade Rosary would be faithfully recited every day thereafter, and this practice literally constituted the Living Rosary. It is a devotion deeply cherished by Pope John Paul II, was used by him and his loved ones during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and received his personal blessing.

 

If you or any other potential member of the Living Rosary is already reciting a personal, daily Rosary, that practice should obviously continue. By participating in the Living Rosary, you will say one extra decade daily, an extra decade of love being offered to Our Lord through Our Lady.

 

You will be amazed as to how everything will fall into place once you firmly decide to set the Living Rosary in motion. If someone has to give up his position within the Living Rosary, another person will take his place, and thus the living chain of the Living Rosary will never be interrupted. You must enroll 15 people, but you may begin with as few as 5.

 

In the calendar, fill in the names of the 15 members, one of whom is chosen to be the Team Captain, who will coordinate the Living Rosary and all prayer intentions.

 

Please remember: Your only obligation as a member of the Living Rosary is to agree to say one decade (one Our Father and ten Hail Marys) of the Rosary each day.

 

 

How To Read The Living Rosary Calendar

 

  1. The first two lines are the dates of a perpetual monthly calendar. 
  2. Each member recites the decade of the Rosary located by reading across, along with each day of the month, to the 15th. He then returns to the beginning of the column to recite the decade for the 16th day, and continues all the way to the 30th day. (To comply with John Paul II’s apostolic letter of October 2002, each individual may recite all five decades of the Luminous mysteries on the 15th day and on the 30th day.) 
  3. Example: reading across, on the 1st day of the month, Member 1 recites J-1 (Joyful Mystery, 1st Decade). 2nd day he recites J-2; 3rd day J-3; 4th day J-4; 5th day J-5. Having completed a Rosary in 5 days, he now begins the 6th day with S-1. 
  4. Member 2 starts the 1st day of the month with J-2 and reads across. 
  5. Member 3 starts the 1st day of the month with J-3 and reads across. 
  6. You will note the Rosary Calendar is set up for a 30 day month. If the month has 31 days, instruct the members to repeat the same decade on the 31st that was said on the 30th. 
  7. On the last day of February, say the decade for the 28th day, or, in Leap Year, for the 29th day. On the next day, begin your monthly Calendar again, at March 1st. 
  8. The member who recites the 1st decade will say the beginning prayers: Apostles’ Creed, one Our Father, and three Hail Marys. 
  9. The member who recites the 5th decade will say the concluding prayers: Hail, Holy Queen; Prayer to Saint Michael; and Let Us Pray, etc.