January 13, 2023
Prayerful recitation of the Rosary is a beautiful way to grow in love for Our Lady, allowing you to receive the graces that she pours on those who trust her to guide them to Her Son. But, remembering which set of mysteries to pray on which day of the week has flummoxed many a Catholic since it was revealed to St. Dominic in the 13th Century!
The correct pattern is as follows:
Sundays: Glorious
Mondays: Joyful
Tuesdays: Sorrowful
Wednesdays: Glorious
Thursdays: Luminous
Fridays: Sorrowful
Saturdays: Joyful
You may be wondering, why have specific rosary mysteries for each day of the week at all? The answer is that, as Catholics, we love these elements of our Faith that we can do in unison with the Universal Church. We read the same Mass readings, celebrate the same feast days, and fast on the same days. Committing to praying a certain set of Rosary Mysteries on a certain weekday is yet another beautiful way of bringing us together as Catholics, giving us a shared identity, purpose, and love for Our Lady and the Rosary.
If you’re having trouble remembering, there’s a few tricks to remind yourself.
The first three days of the work week are easy, as they follow a simple narrative arc: Joyful on Monday, Sorrowful on Tuesday, Glorious on Wednesday. This chronologically follows Our Lady’s life from the Annunciation until her Crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The remaining four days get a bit tricky, but if you recall our celebration of Holy Week, it’s actually pretty simple!
On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper and Institution of the Eucharist. So, we pray the Luminous Mysteries, which features the Last Supper, on Thursdays.
On Good Friday, we remember with sorrow the Passion and Death of Our Lord. So, we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday to recall His suffering in a special way.
On Holy Saturday, we feel relief that the Passion is over as Christ rests in the tomb, but the glory of His Resurrection has not yet been realized. So, we meditate on the Joyful Mysteries to remind us where the story of Christ’s life on earth began.
And on Easter Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, joyfully meditating on the Glorious Mysteries, which begin with the Resurrection and end with the Coronation of Our Lady.
That’s it! And if you’re looking for tangible reminders of the Mysteries that also help create a prayerful atmosphere, perfect for meditating on the life of Our Lady, look no further than J. Lily Mysteries of the Rosary Candles, featuring multiple colors and scents to match any decor in your Catholic home.
Now, you can start your rosary with confidence, focusing on the beauty of the message Our Lady conveys through each Mystery, and spending less time remembering which set goes on which day of the week.
