History

• Some have argued that the first rosary actually derived from the practices of the Eastern Orthodox Christians who prayed the "Jesus Prayer," but Catholics today date their use of the rosary to the 13th-century vision of Saint Dominic and the later 15th-century practices of Dominican priests. Catholic historians today recognize the current traditions of the modern rosary to the 16th-century pope and saint (and also Dominican) Pius V who made the rosary prayer standard for Catholics.
  
  

Prayers

• The rosary was originally designed for worshipers to follow each Hail Mary during the prayer of the mysteries. The worshiper will traditionally begin on the crucifix, with the recital of the Apostle's Creed, and follow this up with the Lord's Prayer on the first bead, one Hail Mary for each of the next three beads, and the Gloria Patri on the following bead. From here, the worshiper will pray the 15 (or 20) mysteries.
  
  

Mysteries

• The medieval mysteries revolved around three groups: joyful, sorrowful and glorious. Within the joyful mysteries were included the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation of Christ at the Temple and the Finding of the Child Jesus at the Temple. The sorrowful mysteries involved the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion. The glorious mysteries represented the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary and the Coronation of Mary. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five more luminous mysteries: the Baptism of Christ, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the Eucharist.
  
  

Appearance

• In appearance, an Italian rosary is a small rope or string that includes a series of beads. The rosary will typically have a crucifix hanging from it, although in some cases the rosary might include the emblem of a saint. For example, the Saint Michael Rosary includes a slightly different prayer pattern than the traditional rosary, because the worshiper directs the prayers to Saint Michael rather than to the Virgin Mary.
  
  

Construction

• Italian rosaries are made from a variety of materials. Catholics may purchase ornate rosaries made of crystal beads and decorated with precious metals, or they may purchase--or even make for themselves--simple rosaries of plastic or wooden beads. Roman Catholic missionaries throughout developing nations have noted that converts will sometimes create their own rosary out of local materials that are available because they cannot afford to purchase the rosary.