How to Pray the Latin Rosary:
Step-by-Step Guide with Translation + Audio
DOWNLOADABLE LATIN PRAYERBOOKLETS:
HOW TO PRAY IN LATIN
THE HOLY ROSARY | LATIN & ENGLISH
CORE & ESSENTIAL CATHOLIC PRAYERS | LATIN & ENGLISH
>> CLICK HERE <<
for Additional Latin & ENGLISH Prayer booklets
• • • • •
Here are Latin versions (most with audio snippets) of all component prayers of the Most Holy Rosary, including all Joyful, Sorrowful & Glorious Mystery announcements. Most long vowels are indicated with macron symbols ( ´ ) and this page should be used in conjunction with the previous post How to Pray in Latin, which gives word by word translations, so to assist with a better understanding of what is actually being prayed, and some very basic explanations and directions about Latin.
It is assumed that you know how to pray the Rosary. If you do not, then YOU SHOULD! (!!!) *** At Fatima Our Blessed Mother lamented that multitudes of souls ‘fall into hell like snow-flakes’ and asked – directly – that the faithful wear the Brown Scapular and pray the Holy Rosary daily.
The Fatima Prayer is included and it should be understood that as this is not a traditional liturgical prayer, there are numerous renderings from the original Portuguese. A good discussion can be found on FishEaters.com and it is worthwhile noting the remark of one poster: “but … Our Lady wanted the much more personal/intimate ‘O my Jesus’ to be said as opposed to the rather formal/official ‘O Lord Jesus’.”
Also included in the closest recognised Latin equivalent of “O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!” and an invocation to St. Joseph, which this poster adds at the conclusion of every decade; and, of course, the St.Michael Prayer which should be prayed always.
If this seems all too difficult, consider that if you can memorise the Ave Maria alone, over 70 per cent of your Rosary will be in Latin. Adding the Gloria Patri adds a further 10 per cent.
All audio snippets taken from Boston-Catholic-Journal.com, where CD & MP3 recordings can be ordered or downloaded for free.
••••••••
*** From the Desk of Yours’ Truly:
(Monday, 10.08.2020, Anno Domini)
This post originally read, in the spirit of Christian admonishment (and thus piety, even if belied): “It is assumed that you know how to pray the Rosary. Shame on you if you do not.” and this caused some level of consternation, as the comments below give witness.
If you are a Catholic and someone enquires of you “Sir, if you please sir, how does one pray the Holy Rosary, sir?” you should without any mental straining nor need of external reference be able to gainfully instruct the well-meaning fellow on the order and composition of the prayer, its Mysteries and on which days (if not seasonal variations) these are contemplated. Moreover, one should be able to impart some essential, antecedent knowledge of the background and history of this august prayer – why it is ‘Mary’s Psalter‘ – and should further be able to reach into one’s pocket and give practical instruction on the Rosary Beads procured therein.
In addition, one should without hesitation encourage the young chap to enrol himself in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, the arch-confraternity under the care of the Dominican Order (N.B. the ‘Rosary’ is the Dominican Rosary), thereby availing his eternal soul of the benefits and indulgences attached to such membership.
One will only become familiar with the Holy Rosary by praying it and with its Salvific Mysteries by immersed contemplation. The Holy Rosary is the weapon against evil and a path to salvation (5th Promise: “The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish”).
In the personal fancying of Your’s truly, the state of the world is a function of the state of the Church.
Have a look around you.
And having done so, pick up your weaponised beads daily and, to the everlasting glory of Almighty God, pray the Most Holy Rosary. Your Rosary will make a difference.
Every single day.
J.M.J
+ Signum Crucis | + Sign of the Cross
+ In Nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.
•••••••
Credo | Apostles Creed
(Symbolum Apostolorum)
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem,
Creatórem cœli et terræ.
Et in Iesum Christum, Fílium éius unícum, Dóminum nostrum :
qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto,
natus ex María Vírgine,
passus sub Póntio Piláto,
crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus :
descéndit ad ínferos :
tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis :
ascéndit ad cœlos :
sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis :
inde ventúrus est iudicáre vívos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sánctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam Cathólicam,
Sanctórum Communiónem,
remissiónem peccatórum,
carnis resurrectiónem,
vítam æternam.
Amen.
•••••••
Pater Noster | Our Father
Pater Noster,
Qui es in cœlis,
sanctificétur nomen tuum.
Advéniat regnum tuum,
fiat volúntas tua,
sicut in cœlo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem :
sed líbera nos a malo.
Amen.
•••••••
Ave Maria | Hail Mary
Ave María,
grátia plena,
Dóminus tecum.
Benedícta tu in muliéribus,
et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta María,
Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatóribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ.
Amen.
•••••••
Gloria Patri | Glory be
(Minor Doxology)
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spíritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc, et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.
Amen.
•••••••
Oratio Fatimae | Fatima Prayer
O mi (bone) Iesu,
líbera nos a peccátis nostris ;
líbera nos ab ígnibus gehénnæ ;
perduc in paradísum omnes ánimas præsértim
eas quæ plus misericórdia tua indígent!
•••••••
Sanctissimum Sacramentum | O Sacrament Most Holy
Laudétur et adorétur omni mómento sanctíssimum et diviníssimum Sacraméntum!
•••••••
Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis. (St. Joseph, pray for us.)
~~~ +++++++ ~~~
Joyful Sorrowful Glorious
Mystéria Gaudiósa:
(i) Prímum mystérium gaudiósum:
Annuntiatiónem Beátæ Maríæ Vírginis
(Annunciation)
(ii) Secúndum mystérium gaudiósum:
Visitatiónem Beátæ Maríæ Vírginis
(Visitation)
(iii) Tértium mystérium gaudiósum:
Nativitátem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi
(Nativity)
(iv) Quartum mystérium gaudiósum
Oblatiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi
(Presentation)
(v) Quintum mystérium gaudiósum:
Inventiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi in templo
(Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple)
Mystéria Dolorósa:
(i) Prímum mystérium dolorósum:
Agóniam Dómini nostri Iesu Christi in horto
(Agony in the Garden)
(ii) Secúndum mystérium dolorósum:
Flagellatiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi
(Scourging)
(iii) Tertium mystérium dolorósum:
Coronatiónem spinis Dómini nostri Iesu Christi
(Crowning with Thorns)
(iv) Quartum mystérium dolorósum:
Bajulatiónem Crucis
(Carrying the Cross)
(v) Quintum mystérium dolorósum:
Crucifixiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi
(Crucifixion)
Mystéria Gloriósa:
(i) Prímum mystérium gloriósum:
Resurrectiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi a mórtuis
(Resurrection)
(ii) Secúndum mystérium gloriósum:
Ascensiónem Dómini nostri Iesu Christi in cáelum
(Ascension)
(iii) Tértium mystérium gloriósum:
Missiónem Spíritus Sancti in discípulos
(Descent of the Holy Ghost)
(iv) Quartum mystérium gloriósum:
Assumptiónem Beátæ Maríæ Vírginis in cáelum
(Assumption)
(v) Quintum mystérium gloriósum:
Coronatiónem Beátæ Maríæ Vírginis in cáelum
(Coronation of Mary)
~~~ +++++++ ~~~
Salve Regina | Hail Holy Queen
Salve Regína, Mater misericórdiæ!
Víta, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevæ.
Ad te suspirámus,
geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra,
illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte.
Et Iesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsílium osténde.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Vírgo María!
V/. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Génetrix.
R/. Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi. Amen.
•••••••
Oremus | Let us Pray
Orémus.
Deus, cujus Unigénitus
per vítam, mortem et resurrectiónem
suam nobis salútis
ætérnæ præmia comparávit :
concéde, quæsumus :
ut hæc mystéria sacratíssimo beátæ Maríæ
Vírginis Rosário recoléntes,
et imitémurquod cóntinent,
et quod promíttunt,
assequámur.
Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Amen.
•••••••
Sancte Michael | St. Michael
Per tuum præsidium (By thy protection):
Sancte Michaël Archángele, defénde nos in prœlio,
contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium
Impéret illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur :
tuque, Prínceps milítiæ cœlestis,
Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos,
qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo, divína virtúte,
in inférnum detrúde.
Amen.
Wonderful !!!
De rozenkrans heb ik eerst in het Nederlands leren bidden via Radio Maria op de toenmalige middengolf.Nu is het dagelijks via DAB + te horen.Verder vind ik het ook mooi om in het latijns de rozenkrans te bidden en dat doe ik het liefst via de radio. Radio Vaticana op de korte golf zend het Rozenkrans gebed uit op zondagavond van 20.40 -21.00uit op 9705 Khz op AM in het latijns. Ook zijn er diverse podcasts op het internet te vinden via beide Radio Stations.Ik wens julie veel devotie.
Hey man, coming here from 🇮🇩
Your website had helped me a lot to memorize Latin our Father, Hail Mary, etc. So I just wanna say thank you, and God rewards you for your efforts and helps
Thank you for your comment. A downloadable booklet has just been added to that page which may be of interest.
Best wishes.
Thank you very much for this post. I want to learn Latin Rosary.
I wonder what our Good Lord would say to the “It is assumed that you know how to pray the Rosary. Shame on you if you do not.”
I imagine he would probably say “Amen!” The truth of it made me laugh out loud. I’m so glad somebody finally said it… the comment was overdue and I hope the world sees it. Anyone who might be uncomfortable with it needs to take an honest look at their own interior life. The rosary is a powerful weapon God gave us… we better know it.
Unfortunately the Fatima pray is not part of the Traditional Rosary. Wexare not obligated to pray it. However since Our Lady asked us to you should. The Fatima prayer here is not the the one given by our Lady. It is rewrite from the 1940s.
The actual words of Our Lady, according to Canon Formiga in the 1921 pamphlet are:
O meu Jesus, perdoai-nos, e livrai-nos do fogo do inferno, e allivae as almas do purgatorio, principlamente as mas abandonas.
Original Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, deliver us from the fire of hell, release poor souls from purgatory, especially those most abandoned.
The Fatima prayer was transmitted in Portuguese, then translated into Latin. Would be beautiful to learn this in the native tongue of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. As for Latin, there are four popular translations. Dr. Taylor Marshall examines each and shares which one he likes best and why. https://youtu.be/bvMCj-A38XU
Wonderful!
They could at least teach how to pray Rosary, for the beginners. But no , instead they say “Shame on you if you don’t know how to pray it” I should probably find another place
Get over yourself.
God loves all those who try, you don’t have to be perfect when you begin, just try a little more each time. Soon it will be fully known. But remember
how soon will be up to you.
Bless all those who try and never give up. Until the last breath perservere.
Yup why blame others. Learn how to pray the Rosary there a reason why you are here in this site.
I read it as a gentle admonishment. Please do not be offended but instead be happy for our opportunity to grow.
No they don’t. No one would say that. Looks like a fake post.
Thank you for instructing us on how to pray the Rosary in the traditional language of the Church. Beautiful!
I agree, we all should pray the Rosary! Please note that “Shame on you if you do not [know how to pray the Rosary]” is likely to turn away our brothers and sisters from discovering the the Rosary. Please remove this unnecessary comment, and replace it with a link to instructions, because if you truly believe that we all ought to pray it, then why don’t you include the instructions (or a link to instructions) on how to pray the Rosary?
God bless,
Eileen
I’m sure the post was in humor. Probably, the writer could have added another line afterwards like “But do not worry, we’re here to help”. Wouldn’t that be great. I love the word to word translation. Loving this site.
Amen! Thank you! I’ve been searching for a site with the Latin prayers. The added bonus are the English translated prayers. Not only did I find my treasured prayers here, but they’re so well organized & clearly, NOT clumsily well put together! I love it!!!!!!! Love my Latin prayers! Also, love the ease of searching for, finding, & following the prayers! It’s like going thru a filling cabinet which is well organized. Thank you.
As a newcomer and soon-to-be catechumen, I wasn’t offended by the comment and found that it highlighted its importance.
Oh my goodness, what whiners! He is right. If you don’t know the rosary then shame on you. Can’t we just say it? Then be a grown up and go learn it. Just wow!
Brother/Sister(?) in Christ, thanks firstly for this wonderful site/resource, I stumbled across it whilst searching for
https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/b012rpLatin_Rosary.htm
from where I had previously learned the rosary in Latin. Not knowing Latin, I’m just curious about the slight discrepancies in the translations of the mysteries. Are they both acceptable?
Also, as to the Mysterium Luminosa I found from some other site (can’t recall now);
Baptisma DnIC;
Nuptiae Canenses;
Proclamatio Regni Dei;
Transfiguratio DnIC;
Institutio Eucharistae.
Do you have a better version? Thanks again for the work.
God bless.
Thank you for your most kind words Garrett. Very kind, most charitable indeed.
I don’t speak the Latin either, though one would imagine that mild discrepancies are neither here nor there. At least in part these are probably a function of Latin’s grammatical structure, and/or confusion or personal interpretation thereof. In Latin adjectives/adverbs follow the verb/noun, so ‘Holy Spirit’ is ‘Spirit Holy’. As I understand it this can get quite complicated and convoluted when one gets into the subject/object structuring of a sentence. Then of course there is the word’s inflection which is subject to tense. Latin is uncompromisingly scientific, yet florid and romantic at the same time.
I can’t help you with the Mysterium Luminosa though you should be able to find them somewhere. Bear in mind that the Holy Rosary is Mary’s Psalter and there are only 150 Psalms. Our Blessed Mother gave but 15 Mysteries. My understanding is that Holy Church grants indulgences for praying “one third” of the Rosary and one third of 20 is 6.66… Perhaps this specific wording was altered after 2002 when these novel mysteries were introduced. I really don’t know and do not wish to lead you into error.
With regard, however, to the Wedding at Canna, be sure to watch the short Vortex video (where, by the way, “lies and falsehoods are trapped and exposed!”) ‘
THE BIG GUNS
‘ which might assist your meditations. Personally I think these are covered in the 1st Joyful and 4th & 5th Glorious Mysteries – via the Immaculate Mary – though that’s a personal musing.
God bless you and the Virgin protect you, Sir!
Thank you for this valuable tool against the enemy
You should add the angel of God prayer in Latin too
Wonderful post, it is inspiring to all who love Latin, keep it up;the Lord will reward you.
J’ai appris une autre version de la prière de Fatima, celle que vous montrez est-elle officielle? La version je connais est:
O Iésu mi, ignosce nobis, libera nos ab igni inferni
ad caelum trahe omnes animas et praesertim maxime indigentes
Hi Liz, from the text on that page:
The Fatima Prayer is included and it should be understood that as this is not a traditional liturgical prayer, there are numerous renderings from the original Portuguese. A good discussion can be found on FishEaters.com and it is worthwhile noting the remark of one poster: “but … Our Lady wanted the much more personal/intimate ‘O my Jesus’ to be said as opposed to the rather formal/official ‘O Lord Jesus’.”
Here’s a good discussion (in English): https://www.fisheaters.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=18385&pid=202048
Thank you for the link. I myself was wondering about the few differing translations I’ve seen on other websites. I’ve also read some tweaked translations of the mysteries, and then the Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayers… How do I know what is correct? After already memorizing the Latin Chaplet, I’d rather not have to do it again because of improper translation. Despite having Latin classes, I’m still not that good with grammar.
You probably know more about Latin than me. That link goes through a few versions and has discussion on the best manner the prayer is offered, which is intended to be personal and non-liturgical.
Regarding the ‘Chaplet’ – and it is not for me to say, DO NOT LET ME lead you into error – this is Church approved however perhaps you should investigate its history and background and muse upon it. Perhaps ask our most Blessed Lady to specifically guide you with regards to this devotion. Perhaps also strengthen your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that has been largely overshadowed (and thus neglected) in recent decades though which is absolutely and undeniably infallible.
I found parts of this reasonable: https://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/criticisms-and-responses-to-the-divine-mercy-devotion/
I am a former seminarian and I used to pray rosary and other intentions in Latin during my seminary life and I am so much filled with happiness and joy that I am praying in Latin again. May our God and our Mama Mary be praised forever and ever. Amen!
Great site. Thank you!
Wondering—Is there a Luminous Mystery?
Traditionally there are 15 Mysteries because Our Blessed Mother gave 15 Mysteries and 15 Mysteries only to Sts Dominic and Alan. It is understood that the number of Mysteties is 15 because what is now called ‘the Most Holy Rosary’ was originally known, formally, as ‘Mary’s Psalter’ (or, actually, ‘the Psalter of Jesus and Mary’ as St. Alan is reported to have insisted was the devotion’s correct name). There are one hundred and fifty (150) psalms and one hundred and fifty only. Not two hundred (200).
As great as some popes may have been, it is absolutely certain that Our Blessed Mother understands the Salvivic Mysteries better than any or all of them, combined. There is no sure reason to entertain that the Holy Mother of God, in her inscrutable wisdom, deigned twenty (20) such Mysteries.
Awesome! Been looking for a site with the words and pronunciation. The words don’t do much good if you don’t know how to pronounce them
Please, pray for me!
Me and my little son need help – we live with my mother and my uncle who are satanists!
Please, pray Virgin Mary and God that we are all set free from them! Amen!
Praying for you all. Have you considered placing blessed St Benedict’s medals at the corners of your house, or at least above the doorways inside your rooms? You can also have your priest bless literally anything for use. Salt? Bless it! Get a spray bottle of Holy Water, spray down your rooms and common areas. Though if they are active satanists, you would be best to speak with your priest. I wouldn’t want any holy materials to end up being used in anything evil.
But keep praying, to Mary and Sts. Joseph and Benedict. Mary and Joseph are also known as the “terrors of demons” and it is said that they cannot persist in her presence.
Do you know why the mysteries of the Rosary are in the accusative? Why “Annuntiationem” rather than “Annuntiatio”, for instance?
The accusative case is for the direct object. I believe it is because the verb is understood (probably “orare” (to pray): as in “I pray the Annunciation” which would be “(Oro) Annuntiationem”. In modern German, “hello” is “Guten Tag”, which is the accusative case (the nominative would be “Guter Tag”). The verb is understood in this case, as in “I’m wishing you a good day”. Much interesting word play has been lost with the disappearance of Latin and its various cases. German and Russian, to my knowledge, are the only modern languages that still use cases for nouns and adjectives. (English does to: think of “who” and “whom”, “thou” and “thee”. But these are unfortunately in desuetude or completely misunderstood. I hope this helps (sorry for the verbosity: hard to break old teaching habits!). Benedicat te Dominos omnipotens Deus.
Thank you for your hard work and efforts. However you have done this suits myself and I believe that we should count our blessings when someone takes the time to share such a beautiful and effective way to pray. None of us are perfect and we could not judge others as we all are sinners and have other things to manage ourselves for ourselves.
Yes, probably some improvement but listening to Saint Pope John Paul ll and reading this with him was excellent for me. My language is Latin based so it is easier for me I admit.
If you have an interest in JPII you should watch this video, read the Epistle of St. Jude and do your own ‘due diligence’:
https://youtu.be/UPB7ao4z-3U
I don’t understand how to pray the mysteries in Latin. I see there are the announcements of the mysteries but no how to pray them, like in English:
[…] blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
who you conceived by the Holy Ghost (this is missing in Latin)
Is there are reference to it?
Thank you in advance,
Philipp
Hi,
You pray the same way as you would in English (see: How to Pray the Rosary).
“… and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus” can be found in the Latin version of the Hail Mary (“et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus”).
“who you conceived by the Holy Ghost” is a common invocation (or part therein, see below; this can be added between decades and said throughout one’s day) though is not part of the Ave Maria or Salve Regina prayers.
IN thy conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wert immaculate; Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son, Jesus Christ conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth.
(pre-1968 Indulgence: 300 days)
English used to have full set of cases just like Latin.
We even had dual pronouns specifying two people instead of one or several.
We’ve still got the relative pronoun, & I/me, which most people now mix up.
There’s a whom missed here.
Thank you so much for preserving our beloved Latin prayers of the Rosary! It means so very much to me.
Thank you so very much for this site. Latin is so beautiful and I when I pray the Rosary in Latin I feel myself praying it in unison with every Catholic throughout history.
AVE MARIA!!
Those aren’t real mysteries.
Czy wiecie jak się odmawia po łacinie to wezwanie:
O Maryjo bez grzechu poczęta módl się za nami którzy się do Ciebie uciekamy oraz za wszystkimi którzy się do Ciebie nie uciekają, zwłaszcza za masonami i poleconymi Tobie
The Google translator gives this:
O Maria sine peccato concepta,
ora pro nobis qui ad te recurrant et pro omnibus qui ad te non recurrunt,
praesertim de libertis et tibi commendatis.
Dómine Jesu, dimitte nobis débita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferni; perduc in caelum omnes ánimas, praesertim eas, quae misericórdiae tuae máxime indigent
(Better Fatima Prayer)
wonderful website. I now pray the rosary in Latin. I guess my Italian heritage and knowing to read in Italian helps me with Latin
Thank you for providing the beautiful resource here!
I should like to point out one small erratum that you might fix:
When I viewed the present page on 2023 Oct 28 (Sat), I noticed that the Latin text for the prayer beginning with “Orémus” seems to have an error. The text read, toward the end of the prayer, “et imitémurquod cóntinent,” but it should instead read, “et imitémur quod cóntinent.” There is a missing space that should separate “imitémur” and “quod.”
Although I just submitted one erratum, I shall submit what seems like another, and I also have a question about an accent-mark.
In regard to the Oratio Fatimae, I notice that an earlier comment suggested a different version for the Latin. The one proposed in that comment is the one with which I am familiar.
I do not know how to judge which version is “better,” though the author of the comment indicates that the version more familiar to me is better.
Anyway, even if the version that you have here on 2023 Oct 28 be the better one, it seems to have a couple of errors.
1. You have “animás,” which seems an unlikely location for the accent, whereas the version more familiar to me has the accent on the first syllable (rather than on the last, as you have it).
2. You have, in a single line, “perdúc in paradísum ómnes animás præsértim,” but the last word would seem more properly located on the subsequent line, so that the overall couplet should be rendered,
Perdúc in paradísum ómnes ánimas.
Præsértim eas quae plus misericórdia tua indígent!
(Here I took the liberty of changing the accent to “ánimas.”)
In my third and final comment, I propose for your consideration an alternative breaking of the Oremus into lines (and containing also my suggestion above). In this version, I changed one of the colons to a comma, in order to preserve the appositive nature of the extend noun-phrase, and I have grouped together onto the same line all of the words in genetive expression “of the blessed Virgin Mary.”
Orémus:
Déus, cújus Unigénitus,
per vítam, mórtem, et resurrectiónem súam,
nóbis salútis ætérnæ præmia comparávit,
concéde, quæsumus:
ut hæc mystéria sacratíssimo
beátæ Maríæ Vírginis Rosário recoléntes,
et imitémur quod cóntinent,
et quod promíttunt assequámur.
Per eúndem Chrístum Dóminum nóstrum.
Amen.
Hi Thomas, thank you for your helpful contributions to this thread, and they suggest experience in Latin grammar. I was wondering if you (or anyone reading this) would happen to know something I’m curious about in the grammar of the foregoing.
At “ut hæc mystéria sacratíssimo beátæ Maríæ Vírginis Rosário recoléntes” what case is “sacratíssimo … Rosário” in? We translate it as though they’re in the genitive (“…these mysteries of the most holy Rosary…”), but the endings are either dative or ablative. I’ve considered a few options, but I’m still unsure.
Thank you!
“Shame on you” comment is unnecessary. We must all learn it for the first time.
Who are you to call “shame”. Think you’re fit to judge? Think again, lest ye be judged.
There is no greater happiness in heaven than a soul who is saved. Instead of judging, try encouraging. Discouraging someone from praying by ‘shaming’ is certainly the work of the devil.
Thanks to the author and publisher of this website.
Bless you
Adding my thanks to all those who have expressed appreciation for your efforts in developing and maintaining this website. Question – I am working in advocacy of implementing a prayer-oriented Latin course in local Catholic elementary and middle school grades. Might there be any particular web resources that you would endorse for something that would be turn-key, or helpful, for teaching in such an effort? Thank you!
Thank you Mark. Hopefully our downloadable .PDFs ‘How to Pray in Latin’ and ‘Essential Catholic Prayers’ may be useful. You may also like to look here https://praylatin.com/products/latin-pronunciation-variety-pack for Latin prayer cards which feature complete English phonetic renderings of the Latin words. I’ve not actually seen these, though have heard good things.
God bless you and the Virgin protect you, and much success for your project.
The vulgata. Your bible should be in latin, if it isn’t you’re reading the wrong version.
I just wanted to draw your attention to the bad audio quality of all the recordings on this page, and the mispronunciations. I wanted to hand this to a friend as a learning tool, but it is very substandard.
Thank you Vitam. Having just re-listened to these audio clips, the only thing you have brought to attention is just how ‘text-book’ and ‘pitch-perfect’ these recordings are.
These are taken from the web-site Boston-Catholic-Journal.com and, whilst I do not know the erudite gentleman who runs that web-site and who, presumably, is the beautifully timbred voice featured, his pronunciation of Ecclesiastical Latin is not only faultless, it is highly instructive.
These recordings are of premium value to anyone desiring to pray in Latin as they capture, lucidly, the correct long & short vowel sounds (particularly with regards to ‘a’, ‘e’ and ‘i’, which can be most problematic for native English speakers), consonants and, moreover, the correct manner of elucidating each individual sound, letter by letter and syllable by syllable. This is particularly instructive for the English speaker, who will tend instinctively to co-join, blend and amalgamate letter & syllable sounds. This gentleman is to be commended – highly so – and his website features many more prayers as well as the entire Book of Psalms in Latin – a priceless treasure.
Over the years I have encountered some Churchmen who pronounce their Latin in a sloppy, mumbled and indistinguishable manner. If only they could re-learn their pronunciation under instruction of this most learned gentleman.
Thank you
Where are the luminous mysteries?
The Queen of Heaven gave but Joyful, Sorrowful & Glorious Mysteries.
From our little Booklet “An Essential Guide to the Holy Rosary in Latin” (downloadable, at the top of this page):
The Holy Rosary is the ‘Psalter of Jesus and Mary’, or ‘Mary’s Psalter’, and was historically known as such before the term ‘Rosary’ (Rose garden) gained popular usage. As the Psalter contains 150 psalms, so too does the Rosary contain 150 Ave Marias, attached to its fifteen (15) Salvific Mysteries, and when prayed in full (with the opening prayers) the total num-ber comes to 153, the number of fish that filled St. Peter’s net when our Risen Lord saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find (St. John 21:6-11).
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, the fore-most Marian Saint of the past three hundred years (at least), gives pragmatic explanation as to the Rosary’s composition, the significance of this composition, and elucidates plainly why it contains fifteen (15) Mysteries:
EVER since Saint Dominic established the devotion to the Holy Rosary up until the time when Blessed Alan de la Roche re-established it in 1460, it has always been called the Psalter of Jesus and Mary. This is because it has the same number of Angelic Salutations as there are Psalms in the Book of the Psalms of David. Since simple and uneducated people are not able to say the Psalms of David the Rosary is held to be just as fruitful for them as David’s Psalter is for others.
But the Rosary can be considered to be even more valuable than the latter for three reasons:
1. Firstly, because the Angelic Psalter bears a nobler fruit, that of the Word Incarnate, whereas David’s Psalter only prophesies His coming;
2. Secondly, just as the real thing is more important than its prefiguration and as the body is more than its shadow, in the same way the Psalter of Our Lady is greater than David’s Psalter which did no more than prefigure it;
3. And thirdly, because Our Lady’s Psalter (or the Rosary made up of the Our Father and Hail Mary) is the direct work of the Most Blessed Trinity and was not made through a human instrument.
Our Lady’s Psalter or Rosary is divided up into three parts of five decades each, for the following special reasons:
1. To honor the three Persons of the Most Blessed Trinity;
2. To honor the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ;
3. To imitate the Church Triumphant, to help the members of the Church Militant and to lessen the pains of the Church Suffering;
4. to imitate the three groups into which the Psalms are divided:
(a) the first being for the purgative life,
(b) the second for the illuminative life,
(c) and the third for the unitive life;
5. And finally, to give us graces in abundance during our lifetime, peace at death, and glory in eternity. [2]
In his encyclical Supremi Apostolatus Officio (1883), Pope Leo XIII, ‘The Rosary Pope’, rem-inds us that St. Dominic composed the Rosary “as to recall the mysteries of our salvation in succession”: its purpose is to meditate on the salvation obtained for us by Jesus Christ, and to seek the “intercession with God of that Virgin, to whom it is given to destroy all heresies.” [3] No sensible interpretation of ‘in succession’ allows for valid incorporation of the novel ‘Luminous Mysteries’ into this format: neither when recited in full or progressed through the week.
The novel ‘Luminous Mysteries’ suggested in recent times have no traditional grounding or historical context in the Dominican Rosary, formal or other-wise, and were not handed down by the Holy Mother of God. Their inclusion is alien and jarring to Mary’s Psalter, disrupting its rubrics and the innate sequence of the Joyful — Sorrowful — Glorious narrative. There is not and nor has there ever been any obligation on the faithful to incor-porate this novelty into the recitation of the Rosary. [4]
The ‘Luminous Mysteries’ are not Salvific Mysteries per se; rather, they are principal events in our Lord’s earthly Ministry. They are patently unto the Salvation of the world and certainly mysterious, though they are not the Mysteries of Salvation upon which Creation is redeemed; instead, they are events that give expression to these Mysteries. They certainly merit assiduous meditation, either as pertaining to the fifteen Mysteries themselves (and encompassed therein), or separately. However, be absolutely certain that you pray the traditional Mysteries each and every day (see below).
With all this said, the Rosary is not a dogma of the Church: it is not part of the Deposit of Faith. It is not ‘Capital T’ Tradition and, therefore, the precepts that call for the formal rejection of ‘novelty’ when any such seeks to supplant Tradition do not apply in an eccles-iastical sense. [5] However, one should be keenly awake to the principle:
The customs of God’s people and the institutions of our ancestors
are to be considered as law.
(St. Augustine)
The Mysteries of the Holy Rosary unfurl the more they are meditated upon and a dynamic (or reciprocity) exists between them. Conceptualise the Mysteries as if shown on a clock-face and consider the 5th Glorious with regard to the 1st Joyful; the 4th Glorious with the 2nd Joy-ful; Pentecost in context of The Nativity; The Ascension in light of The Presentation; and The Resurrection in relation to The Finding of the Child Jesus. This dynamic between the Mysteries is most pronounced between the Joyful & Glorious, though not absent within the Sorrow-ful, and the more one approaches them ‘holistically’, the more they will reveal themselves.
Please know that this is so appreciated, thank you so much! God bless you!
It brought me to tears trying to pray in Latin. As I’m struggling to get back to the pre-Vatican 2 traditions, I am so thankful for coming to this webpage and have saved it. I have made a promise to our Lady, help me to pray the rosary (as I do daily) in the sacred language and also I asked to return to the Latin Rite celebration of the Mass; and in my daily prayers for the pope and all the bishops/clergy to return the tradition of receiving communion on the tongue by only ordained hands.
My friend and I pray the Rosary via Zoom, and we noticed in the “Our Father” the word “voluntus” is spelled and pronounced “voluntas” in other sources. Which is correct?
Many apologies Joanne! It is indeed ‘voluntas’ (“vo-loon-tahS”) and the correction has been made.