who and when designed the catholic rosary with misteries, as it is today?

Answer 1

The rosary has evolved much over the centuries.

In ninth century Ireland, as is still true today, the 150 Psalms were one of the most important forms of monastic prayer (see Liturgy of the Hours). Monks recited, chanted, or sung the Psalms day-after-day as a major source of inspiration.

The lay people who lived near the monasteries could see the beauty of this devotion, but because very few people outside the monasteries knew how to read in those days, and because the 150 psalms are too long to memorize, the lay people were unable to adapt this prayer from for their own use.

So one day in about the year 800 C.E., one of the Irish monks suggested to the neighboring lay people that they might like to pray a series of 150 Our Fathers in place of the 150 Psalms. Little did he know that his simple suggestion was the first step in the development of what would one day become the most popular non-liturgical prayer form of Christianity.

At first, in order to count their 150 Our Fathers, people carried around leather pouches which held 150 pebbles. Soon they advanced to ropes with 150 or 50 knots; and eventually they began to use strings with 50 pieces of wood.

Shortly afterwards the clergy and lay people in other parts of Europe began to recite, as a repetitive prayer, the Angelic Salutation, which makes up most of the first part of our Hail Mary:

Hail Mary Full of grace, the Lord is with you. (These are the words the angel Gabriel said to Mary)

Blessed are your among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. (This is Mary's cousin Elizabeth's greeting)

St. Peter Damian, who died in 1072, was the first to mention this prayer form in writing. Soon many people were praying the fifty Angelic Salutations while others favored the fifty Our Fathers.

Then during the thirteenth century another prayer form, which would soon give the Rosary its Mysteries, began to develop. By deep meditation and skillful interpretation of the Psalms certain of these men began to compose 'Psalters of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' These were series of 150 praises in honor of Jesus, based upon interpretations of the 150 Psalms.

Soon 'psalters' devoted to 150 praises of Mary were also composed. When a Psalter of Marian praises numbered 50 instead of 150, it was commonly called a 'rosarium', or bouquet.

Thus, during the thirteenth century there were four distinct 'psalters' in use at the same time: the 150 Our Fathers, the 150 Angelic Salutations, the 150 praises of Jesus, and the 150 praises of Mary. In an age when unity was held in such high regard, perhaps it was inevitable that these four prayer forms should eventually be combined.

The first step toward the combination of these four kinds of psalters came in about 1365 C.E. when Henry of Kalkar, the Visitator of the Carthusian Order, grouped the 150 Angelic Salutations into decades and put an Our Father before each decade. This combined the Our Father and the Hail Mary for the first time.

Next, in about 1409, another Carthusian, Dominic the Prussian, wrote a book which attached a Psalter of fifty thoughts about the lives of Jesus and Mary to a Rosary of 50 Hail Marys. This was the first time that a special thought was ever provided for each Hail Mary bead. Eventually the 50 Hail Mary thoughts of Dominic the Prussian were divided, as Henry of Kalkar had done, into groups of ten with an Our Father in between. Many variations of this form were composed between about 1425 and 1470, but the changes were gradual, not sudden.

It was only in the year 1214, however, that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the method we use today. It was given to the Church by St. Dominic, who had received it from the Blessed Virgin as a means of converting the Albigensians and other sinners.

Saint Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse, where he prayed continuously for three days and three nights. During this time he did nothing but weep and do harsh penances in order to appease the anger of God. He used his discipline so much that his body was lacerated, and finally he fell into a coma.

At this point our Lady appeared to him, accompanied by three angels, and she said, "Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?" "Oh, my Lady," answered Saint Dominic, "you know far better than I do, because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation." Then our Lady replied, "I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the principal weapon has always been the Angelic Psalter, which is the foundation-stone of the New Testament. Therefore, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter."

So he arose, comforted, and burning with zeal for the conversion of the people in that district, he made straight for the cathedral. At once unseen angels rang the bells to gather the people together, and Saint Dominic began to preach.

http://www.virtualrosary.org/index.php

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The rosary as we know it is attributed to St Dominic, but was actually around mong before.

The educated Jews would memorize the Psalms- 150 of them. Less educated Jews would use strings of beads to keep track while reciting a simpler prayer, 150 times.

The early Christians- many of who had been Jews, continued this tradition...eventually making the prayer the Our Father. Gradually, the rosary evolved into 15 groups of 10, the central prayer became the Hail Mary ( taken from the Bible) and the mysteries were added as the points to mediatate upon.

It really can't be traced to one person, but as I said- the "Dominican Rosary" of 59 beads is traditionally attributes to St Dominic.

Answer 3

I am a well Irish Catholic lady of fifty two. I utterly recognize your obstacle at present and I am sorry to listen to of your loss. Traditionally, Catholics often choose to mention the Rosary at a viewing. As a guest, you're no longer anticipated to grasp the "Hail Mary's", however you might admire the "Lords Prayer" that is recited nine instances. The complete Rosary will take approximately forty five mins. You ought to determine with Miss Manners within the "what to put on" class. But I advocate, that seeing how you're already running into an uncomfortable obstacle, you must be dressed to thrill your self, averting black or loud colours. God Bless you and your household and peers. And then Father will say "And permit the peace of the Lord be with you constantly" and also you reply, "And Also With You." .

Answer 4

The Roman Catholic religion was formed in 387 AD by Emperor Constantine and Theodocious "the great".
Catholicism is based half and half on the religions of Mithra and Jesus Christ.
Mithra (a sun God) practised confession and encarcerated females (nuns). They also used a rosary to pray.
Buddist monks sometimes use a buddist rosary to pray.

Answer 5

Please do not listen to Edge or by Jonathan. They are misinformed and spreading lies about Catholicism. If you want the truth, listen to those who know.

The Rosary was introduced by St. Dominic as Midge has stated. http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/June97/rosary.html

The Catholic church was not started by Constantine as by Jonathan has stated. This is Protestant myth that they enjoy using regularly...but that doesn't make it so. In fact Constantine did not convert to Chrisitanity until he was on his death bed. http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/did_constantine_invent_catholicism.htm

Answer 6

From what I understand the rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit in 1090 AD.

Hi Midge. Having a good day? I bet you hate me. Don't worry. I love you.

Answer 7

Edge---what in the heck are you doing answering this question---you dont know Jack about this

St. Dominic