Hail Mary: Appreciating the Rosary

This week on From the Housetops, we present Hail, Full of Grace, a rich reflection on the Holy Rosary by Father Leonard Feeney, originally included in the From the Housetops Audio Tapes launched in 1985 and presented by Muriel Delaney. She carefully explains the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary—joyful, sorrowful, and glorious—tracing the life of Our Lord in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the Annunciation and Nativity to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, as well as the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Assumption, and the Coronation of Mary. Delaney also explores the structure of the Rosary, explaining its prayers and decades, the significance of the 150 Hail Marys known as the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin, and the meaning of the prayers that accompany this devotion.

The reflection goes deeper into the Rosary as a prayer of the mind, heart, mouth, and hands, through which the faithful contemplate the mysteries of the Catholic faith with Mary. Delaney explains the significance of the Sign of the Cross, the Apostles’ Creed, and the crucifix and beads held during prayer, while reflecting on the Rosary as an expression of Catholic faith and devotion. She encourages the faithful to pray the Rosary regularly, especially at the beginning or end of the day and in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, where they can unite their prayers and gestures in adoration of Our Lord truly present in the Eucharist. Listen to this beautiful and profound presentation of the Holy Rosary and discover its mysteries, prayers, and place in Catholic life and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.