Did You Know There Are Different Types of Rosaries?

The Dominican Rosary is the most beloved devotion in Catholic tradition. This is the type of rosary we are most familiar with - it consists of five decades which we pray while meditating on one of four sets of mysteries: The Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.  Rosary beads usually come with these five decades, but many religious wear a full rosary with fifteen or twenty decades.

But did you know there are other rosaries in addition to the traditional Dominican form? Let's explore some of these lesser-known rosaries!

The Madonna with the Seven Founders of the Servite Order by Agostino Masucci

Servite Rosary or Seven Sorrows Rosary

In 1233, a confraternity of men honoring Mary, the Mother of God, gathered in prayer in Florence, Italy. Tradition holds that Our Lady appeared to them, asking them to retire from the world as a community and offer themselves for her service. They traveled to Monte Senario near Florence and established the Servites, or Order of the Servants of Mary. 

They began to venerate Our Lady of Sorrows, developing the Seven Sorrows Rosary as a part of their spirituality. The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Prophecy of Simeon, the Flight into Egypt, the Loss of Jesus in the Temple, the Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Road to Calvary, the Crucifixion, Mary Receives the Body of Jesus, and the Burial of Jesus. 

In this Rosary, an Our Father and seven Hail Marys are prayed in honor of each of the seven Sorrows, along with a final three Hail Marys in honor of Our Lady's tears.

St. Francis & St. Clare by Simone Martini

Franciscan Crown or Seven Joys of Mary Rosary

This rosary, also called the Seraphic Rosary, was officially established in 1422. It contains seven decades honoring the Seven Joys of Mary and how she responded to the grace of God during each of these instances in her life. The Seven Joys are the Annunciation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, and her Coronation. The mysteries of this rosary thus overlap with the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries of the Dominican Rosary. 

Not only did the Franciscans develop and propagate this rosary as a part of their spirituality, but they are credited with adding the final words to the Hail Mary in its current form, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death." 

St. Bridget Issues Her Holy Rule by Giovannantonio Francesco di Solviani

Brigittine Crown

Propagated by St. Bridget of Sweden, this rosary features the same groups of mysteries as the Dominican Rosary, but adds a sixth mystery to each one. It adds the Immaculate Conception to the Joyful Mysteries, the Entry into Jerusalem to the Luminous Mysteries, Receiving Christ from the Cross to the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Mary as the Matron of the Brigittine Order to the Glorious Mysteries.

Prayed by the Brigittine Order and worn on their habits, it is also prayed and worn by the Discalced Carmelites, after Brigittine nuns in Spain hosted St. Teresa of Avila as she traveled to reform her order and establish Discalced Carmelite monasteries. The final Glorious Mystery as prayed by the Carmelites honors Our Lady as Queen of the Carmelite Order.

Honoring Christ and His Mother

These are just a few of the different types of rosaries found in our rich Catholic tradition. Though they differ, the goal of each is to honor the life of Christ and His Mother and to help us imitate them and ask their intercession. We encourage you to pray the Rosary every day, whether it be the Dominican Rosary or another type of rosary that you find fruitful for your prayer.