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Prayers of the Rosary (continued) – Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father; O my Jesus...
The Our Father or Lord’s Prayer, which the Son of God and God Himself drew from the bosom of the Father, from the center of all truth, is the most beautiful, the most complete, the most touching prayer we can make; it contains all that we can ask and desire. If, when we recite this sublime prayer, we do not alter its divine merit in any way; if it passes purely through our lips, having reached the throne of God, it is listened to favorably because of the respect which is due to its Author; its celestial origin is immediately recognized, and the Angels alone can say with what eagerness the love of the Father fulfills the recommendation of the Son.
The Hail Mary, which is called the Angelical Salutation, is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to Mary; we remind Her of Her greatness, Her virtues, Her perfections, Her power in Heaven and on earth. As pleasing to Mary as it is beneficial to Her children, the Angelical Salutation is for them a precious source of graces and blessings. Saint Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as Mary greeted her. The Blessed Virgin applies the graces of the Incarnation to those who remind Her of this mystery and congratulate Her on Her happiness.
The Gloria Patri, which ends each decade, is a prayer which comes to us from the Apostles; the Church makes its ministers repeat it more than a hundred times each day, and it cannot be repeated too often, to give at all times, if it were possible as we will do in eternity, Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi always accompanied this doxology with an offering of herself to the Most Holy Trinity; she then bowed her head, as if she were presenting it to the sword of the executioners, to be a martyr for the Christian faith. Whenever, in his old age, St. Alphonsus Mary of Liguori heard of some happy news for the glory of God or the benefit of the Church, he would cry out with holy emotion: Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui sancto.
The decade ends with the beautiful prayer taught by Our Lady to the three little shepherds of Fatima, in which we ask forgiveness, mercy and salvation for ourselves and for all sinners. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins… The Blessed Virgin Mary specified that it be recited after each decade.
(Father Huguet)
