+JMJ+ This week we’ll continue on our quest to learn to pray the Rosary and we’ll also look at some Rosary art along the way. Since it’s Monday as I write this, and we could all probably use something joyful here at the beginning of the work week, I’ve selected the Annunciation, the first of the Joyful Mysteries, for us.

Have you been saying your Rosary? Even just the basic prayers? Or thinking about it? Good for you! If you’ve gone further, excellent! Whatever pace you’ve set for yourself, that’s fine and dandy. You know what you’ve got going in your life. Heaven knows, our time can flat get away from us, don’t I know it! But time spent with the Rosary only makes things better. That’s how it is for me, anyway. 

I have oodles of art for the Annunciation but we’ll only look at a few in this post. I’ve got a fondness for Fra Angelico so I chose three of his. We’re only going to do one of the Joyful Mysteries in this post but you can go ahead and do as many as you like, of course. The Rosary on the blog might be convenient for you.

People do this different ways but I like to gaze at the art first and then say the prayers. I don’t think it matters much which way you do it unless you pray the Rosary with a group. Then you notice the way they pray it and go along with it. Just about every group I’ve prayed with has done it a slightly different way. I pray their way, then take what works for me, read or watch what I can find, and adapt it as time goes on.

Let’s get started. Next week maybe we’ll add the Apostles’ Creed at the beginning. For now we will begin with the Sign of the Cross.

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Our Father (once, and we’ll add an intention): for the Holy Father.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

The Hail Mary (pray it three times for the intention): for an increase of faith, hope and charity in our souls and in our world.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be (once)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Here are the images we’ll use for the Annunciation. One way of using the images, if you’re visually inclined, is to place yourself in the scene, try to see the Annunciation taking place right there in front of you or around you. Or simply look at it, maybe see if something catches your eye. Fra Angelico’s art is particularly good for this, I think, but you can use whatever art you’re drawn to.

There’s so much in those paintings: In one you can see the words from the Angel to the Blessed Virgin, and her words to the Angel, the Holy Spirit, Adam and Eve on top of a hill, for starters. In another Adam and Eve are in the Garden, and we can see the Angel’s words to the Blessed Virgin and her reply within the rays of light which could also be breath signifying Spirit. 

We don’t want to get bogged down making this an art lesson so I’ll put some notes and links at the end, Here we will gaze at the images long enough to help us pray and enter into the story of the Gospel: the Angel’s Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. You might even want to read the passage in your favorite Bible. Here’s a place online that you can use for free with a good selection of Bibles. This link takes you to Luke, Chapter 1 in the RSVCE, the RSV Catholic Edition. Scroll down to verse 26 for the beginning of the Annunciation.

When you’re ready, go ahead with the Rosary. 

Ten Hail Mary’s.

One Glory Be.

End with the Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

That’s it. You’ve prayed the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, you’ve reflected on some beautiful artwork, maybe you’ve read some Scripture and reflected on that, too. You are moving right along! I hope you’re enjoying learning to pray the Rosary this way. We won’t do any more of it now in the post. We’re taking our time with it, a stress-free approach. l

Thanks for visiting the blog and reading. May we grow in holiness and virtue as the Easter season draws to a close, praying our Rosary, and, by His grace, becoming united with Christ, becoming the saints we were meant to be. God bless you, and may His peace be always with you. +JMJ+

Join me on Fridays for the Rosary Project Live on Twitter at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, to cultivate a culture of Light, Life, Love, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, for the conversion of sinners, and for the salvation of souls. There’s also a Rosary on the blog you can use anytime.

“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” — Padre Pio

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Notes and Links

• Don’t miss Margaret Duffy’s posts on the Annunciation (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5). Her site is wonderful. She writes about Fra Angelico’s Annunciations in Part 3 and Part 5.
• Pray the Rosary blue booklet, by Fr. Patrick Peyton: Paperback, Kindle.
• Rosary CD, by Dana and Fr. Kevin Scallon (Amazon affiliate link, see Full Disclosure below).

Image: In the banner, a photo from Pixabay, then three by Fra Angelico:

• 1) The Annunciation of San Marco, the plainest one from the convent at San Marco, Florence, Italy. Fra Angelico painted plainer versions for the friars to use in meditation within the convent. These are on the convent walls and they friars would see them as they walked through the convent. 
• 2) The Annunciation of Santo Domenico, with Adam and Eve in the Garden on the lefthand side of the painting, no words, altarpiece was painted for the convent of Santo Domenico in Fiesole, near Florence. 
• 3) And the Annunciation of Cortona, notice Adam and Eve in the Garden on a hill (mountain) on the lefthand side of the painting, rays of light with words in them. This one is a panel-painting altarpiece or retable by Fra Angelico: once housed in the Church of Gesù of Cortona, it is now held at the Museo Diocesano in Cortona.

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