Let Us Pray The Rosary

A History Of The Rosary

A Timeline of Faith
From prayer beads to modern devotion

Origins & Early Development

• Pre-Christian roots: While distinctively Christian, prayer beads existed in other cultures, but the rosary’s 150 Hail Marys directly mirror the 150 Psalms recited by monks.
• 11th-12th Century:
  Laypeople used knotted cords to count Our Fathers, evolving into “Mary’s Psalter” with Hail Marys.

St. Dominic & the 13th Century:

• 1214 vision: Tradition holds Mary gave St. Dominic the rosary to combat Albigensian heresy, though scholars debate direct attribution.
• Dominican promotion: His order popularized group rosary prayer, forming early Confraternities.

Structural Evolution:

• 15th century: Fixed as five decades (Our Father + 10 Hail Marys) with meditations on Christ’s life.
• 16th century standardization:
• Battle of Lepanto (1571): Pope Pius V attributed victory over Ottomans to rosary prayers, establishing Our Lady of the Rosary feast (October 7).
• Prayer additions: Second half of Hail Mary (“Holy Mary…”) finalized; Glory Be became standard.

Modern Developments:

Fatima Prayer: Added after 1917 apparitions, officially recognized in 1930s.