Have you ever heard about the Missionary Rosary? In case you do not know, we invite you to read this article so that you can learn everything about this interesting instrument used for prayer, this Missionary Rosary has a great meaning for all the continents that make up the world.
Missionary Rosary
The Missionary Rosary is a unique way of praying within Catholicism which derives mainly from the original rosary. For this reason, it is important to know a little about the traditional one, before continuing with the missionary rosary, the central theme of the article, and in this way be able to differentiate them easily.
traditional rosary
This Catholic instrument represents the living joy of the mother of Christ. Being one of the oldest traditions and created by the Dominican priests. However, it was Pope Pius V who in the mid-XNUMXth century blessed the existence of this common rosary that would come into use in the following centuries.
Centuries later, Pope John Paul II, through a document from the Holy See, supplemented the original rosary with new mysteries. They were called as the mysteries of light, or also considered luminous.
History of the Missionary Rosary
Now that you know the original Catholic instrument, we will now explain what the missionary prayer instrument is. Starting with its history, it was created during the XNUMXth century by an American Archbishop named Monsignor Fulton Sheen. It would not take long to reach the hands of Pope John XXIII, who daily dedicated the missionary rosary to humanity on every continent.
Therefore, considering the last mentioned about the relevance that the papacy gave it, it can be said that this missionary rosary is nothing more than a prayer that, through the intercession of Mary, asks the Supreme Lord for different issues that affect to humanity in every corner of the planet.
In other words, it is nothing more than a Marian prayer for the whole world. In its structure, as we can see later in greater detail, each of the mysteries is represented by a distinctive color for each of the planet's continents.
In addition, that with the colors we seek to think specifically about the situation of each one of them, to look at them from the point of view corresponding to evangelization and the presence of Catholicism. Also, raise prayers for all the individuals who dedicate themselves to preaching the powerful and sweet word of the Lord.
And yet, for all those people who still do not have the knowledge of the good news of salvation, so that they begin to open themselves to the light that the Holy Word provides.
Modular
The missionary rosary is structured in the same way as the original, with its same five mysteries. Since, in each one of them, one of the continents is placed as the intention and so on until it covers the five continents. It was designed as a colorful rosary.
Then each of the five tens is framed in color, representing each of the five continents from the missionary's point of view, also reminding those who request it with the missionary's intent to use each ten. As determined as follows:
Africa (First Mystery)
Represented in green, intended for all humanity on the African continent. Its color is symbolic with the representation of the jungle of these lands. The mystery of this missionary rosary is repeated 10 times in favor of the salvation of its inhabitants.
Since they are currently subject to confrontations between peoples fighting for territories or the power of hunting. Where their soils are seen in constant bloodshed, in addition to the famine caused by territorial control.
On the other hand, the African continent is made up of a population that still lives submerged in slavery; however, there is a small percentage of the population that has given itself to the faith through missionaries who enter these countries with humanitarian aid.
America (Second Mystery)
Represented in red; in this part the prayer instrument personifies the era of evangelization, created in honor of all the martyrs who sacrificed themselves. For the inhabitants of the American continent, there are 10 prayers that must be made. These prayers have the mission that all its inhabitants be like Mary, mother of Jesus, devoted and dedicated in love to her neighbor, in addition to becoming messengers and spreading the word of God.
Europe (Third Mystery)
The European continent is personalized with the color white, which symbolizes the origin of the Indo-European race. The representation of the Pope's clothes and everything that makes up the Vatican.
The prayers are for unity, faith and baptism itself. On this side of the world, despite the fact that the vast majority of countries are developed. There are in some, levels of poverty. Also, if we go to the history of all the continents, this one had an excellent performance in the evolution of man and in the world wars.
In front of the leaders of Catholicism, the European continent is seen as a region without spiritual guidance, a civilization that has evolved and distanced itself from God. This is one of the many causes for which the missionary rosary is prayed about ten times in the name of humanity that inhabits the European continent.
Oceania (Fourth Mystery)
The blue mystery corresponds to Oceania, its color is the image of all the islands that make up this great continent located between the two great Indian and Pacific oceans. The missionary rosary is recited ten times at the request of one of the inhabitants of these islands.
Asia (Fifth Mystery)
Last but not least, we have the ten prayers of the yellow missionary rosary. Color that symbolizes the color race of its inhabitants. As a curious fact, we can say that in the Asian continent half of its population is inclined towards the Catholic religion.
Regarding the population data, 60% are young people and children. Poverty levels are above 70%. And women don't have many rights. What makes the inhabitants of this continent very vulnerable to diseases and conflicts between its inhabitants. For all of the above, the missionary rosary is fulfilled. A firm request so that its inhabitants can overcome all the vicissitudes that they live as a society.
Prayer for the Missionary Rosary
To begin praying the missionary rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross. After that, perform a well-known forgiveness prayer. And later, depending on the day of the week, the corresponding mysteries will be recited, indicated as follows:
- On Mondays and Saturdays, joyous;
- Tuesdays and Fridays, painful;
- Wednesdays and Sundays, glorious;
- Finally, Thursdays will be light or bright.
Likewise, 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys will be prayed, beginning with the country itself, so that generous spirits are generated, to surrender to the word of the Supreme. As for those who do not yet have the knowledge of Christ, so that they may soon find it. After that, the following words are recited:
Lord, you wanted your Church to be a sacrament of salvation for all men, so that the redemptive work of Christ persists until the end of time.
Now move the souls of your faithful and grant us the grace to feel that you are urgently calling us to work for the salvation of the world, so that, from all nations, a people, a family, consecrate ourselves to your name, forming and developing a better future. . Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
And like all good rosary prayers, it should end with a grandiose Hail to the Virgin Mary, followed by the well-known Sign of the Cross.
Now that you know the meaning and structure of the Missionary Rosary, you will be able to understand the enormous importance it has for ecclesiastical figures when preaching this prayer, in addition to appreciating the deep symbolism that its colors maintain.
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