Devotions to Our Lady in October

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In the Catholic tradition, October is designated as the Month of the Holy Rosary, a time for increased devotion to the Virgin Mary through the prayer of the Rosary. This devotion was historically linked to a miraculous victory in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, leading to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th.

The Rosary itself is a meditative prayer that contemplates the life of Jesus Christ through a series of Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries, honouring Our Lady as Christ’s mother.

We invite you to utilise this booklet in your devotions to Our Lady of the Rosary during the month of October. In this Jubilee Year of Hope Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to join in praying the Rosary every day during the month to invoke God’s gift of peace to the world, which is sorely needed in these testing times.

This Booklet Contains

1. The Litany of Loreto
2. The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries
3. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Novena Prayer
4. A Hymn to Our Lady
5. Special prayers to Our Lady

The Litany of Loreto and the Rosary will be said after every weekday Mass during the month of October.

The Litany of Loreto

This beautiful litany can also be recited alone, or after praying the rosary, particularly during the month of May, dedicated to Mary. A partial indulgence is attached to those who pray this litany. The version published below is the 1587 version of the Litany of Loreto with the latest additions.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us.
Mother of Hope, pray for us.
Mother Most Pure, pray for us.

Mother Most Chaste, pray for us.
Mother Inviolate, pray for us.
Mother Undefiled, pray for us.
Most Amiable, pray for us.
Mother Most Admirable, pray for us.
Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.

Virgin Most Prudent, pray for us.
Virgin Most Venerable, pray for us.
Virgin Most Renowned, pray for us.
Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.
Virgin Most Merciful, pray for us.
Virgin Most Faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of Justice, pray for us.
Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of Our Joy, pray for us.
Spiritual Vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of Honour, pray for us.
Singular Vessel of Devotion, pray for us.
Mystical Rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of Ivory, pray for us.

House of Gold, pray for us.
Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning Star, pray for us.

Health of the Sick, pray for us.
Refuge of Sinners, pray for us.
Solace of Migrants, pray for us.
Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.

Queen Conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of Families, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world; grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

The Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

In the Catholic tradition, October is designated as the Month of the Holy Rosary, a time for increased devotion to the Virgin Mary through the prayer of the Rosary. This devotion was historically linked to a miraculous victory in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, leading to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th.

The mysteries of the Holy Rosary are four sets of five meditations on pivotal events in the lives of Jesus and Mary, encompassing the Joyful Mysteries, Sorrowful Mysteries, Glorious Mysteries, and the Luminous Mysteries. These events are prayed on different days of the week, offering a way to contemplate Christ’s life, deepen faith, and draw closer to God through reflection.

Joyful Mysteries

Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

• The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
• The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
• The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
• The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries

Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays

• The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
• The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar
• The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns
• The Carrying of the Cross by Jesus
• The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Glorious Mysteries

Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays

• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven
• The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Pentecost)
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Luminous Mysteries

Prayed on Thursdays

• The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
• The Wedding at Cana
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
• The Transfiguration of Jesus
• The Institution of the Eucharist

Novena Prayer to Our Lady of the Rosary

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

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.

Hail Queen of the Holy Rosary, at thy feet, I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses. My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offences committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. Your prayers are never refused. However, dearest Mother, if what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

May I always ask in faith for my needs; that I might never be discouraged in my faith, even in times of difficulty. May I always practice my faith courageously and love God with greater devotion each day. Might I grow in virtue and holiness each day and never allow any difficulties to prevent me from serving God.

Please pray for the faithful, that we may be eager to conduct God’s will in our lives and in the world. Pray that we may do all we can to preach the gospel to others.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you. I place all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Recite: The Our Father, The Apostle’s Creed, and the Glory be to the Father.

This novena is to be said along with a daily Rosary.

A Hymn to Our Lady

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean Star:
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Tossed on life’s surge we claim thy care;
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the Sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless, Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, blest Advocate, we cry;
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to him who reigns above
In Godhead one, in persons three.
The source of life, of grace of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee.
Dearest bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for the children, pray for me.

Additional Prayers to Our Lady

The Magnificat

The Magnificat is named after its first Latin words, Magnificat anima mea Dominum, meaning My soul magnifies the Lord. It is found in the New Testament, specifically in Luke’s Gospel (1:46–55). The song is spoken by Mary during the Visitation to Elizabeth, after Elizabeth’s unborn child, John the Baptist, leaps in her womb at Mary’s greeting.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, Our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement O loving O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us O holy mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Salve Regina in Latin

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Evae, ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

The Memorare

Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that it is a thing unheard of, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left forsaken. Filled therefore with confidence in thy goodness, I fly to thee O Mother, O Virgin of virgins. To thee I come, before thee I stand, a sorrowful sinner. Despise not my words, O Mother of the Word, but graciously hear and grant my prayer, Amen.

The Angelus

V: The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

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.

V: Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary…

V: And the Word was made Flesh:
R: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary…

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.