I wanted to share a way in which I pray the rosary in a penitential manner when I’ve fucked up and need God’s help, especially with something in particular, which in this case was pride. Here’s an outline of how I do that, with an example that I prayed recently, after I had already done some serious soul searching. I prayed with the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Opening Prayers:
Invocation (make the sign of the cross): in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
While holding the crucifix: The Apostle’s Creed.
First bead: The Lord’s Prayer.
Next three beads: Hail Mary.
Last bead: Gloria Patri (Glory Be, Doxology).
Medal:
Intentions: I always set an intention for the prayers, for this time I was praying penitential prayers and so I asked that God would help me to overcome my sin (pride).
Act of Contrition: I used one I know from memory from The Book of Common Prayer.
Prayer to begin each decade:
The Lord’s Prayer.
Prayers between the decades:
Gloria Patri (Glory Be, Doxology).
Fatima Prayer* (optional, but I put it in there).
Serenity Prayer (my addition).
The Agony in the Garden: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who suffered in obedience to the Father because of my sin (pride), of which I confess now. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
The Scourging at the Pillar: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was wounded for my sin (pride), of which I repent. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
The Crowning with Thorns: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was crowned with thorns, help me to mortify my desire to sin (be prideful). Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
The Carrying of the Cross: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who needed Simon to help carry his cross, help me to faithfully do penance** for my sin (of pride). Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
The Crucifixion: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who suffered and died to bear my sin (pride), I commit to amendment of life. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Closing Prayers:
Hail, Holy Queen.
Prayer After the Rosary.
* I do not believe in literal fire in hell, I believe the prayer was given this way because of common understandings of hell.
** Penance in this case referring to disciplines necessary to take on in order to resist occasions of sin, instead of in the context of an act assigned by a priest in sacremental confession, which is called penance also, but that’s not the context I’m using it in here.
formed by prayer 