Months ago I wrote a blog post The 54 Day Rosary Novena . . . Whew! expressing my initial experience with praying this beautiful and arduous rosary novena. The post gives an overview of how the 54 Day Rosary novena came to be. A labor of love, the Miraculous 54 Day Rosary novena cultivates virtue and the fruits of the Holy Spirit with each Hail Mary and bead that becomes a crown of love and virtue placed upon Our Lady’s brow.

I find myself again amid the early stages of the 54 Day Rosary Novena. A place I had not imagined I would be again so soon. Life has an unexpected and expected way of happening. I decided to cling to Our Lady and the hope of her intercession instead of my own control.

But how does a person pray to 54 Day Rosary Novena? Do I just pray 54 Rosaries or 1 Rosary over 54 Days? Are there specifics prayers or format that make the Rosary Novena distinct from praying the Rosary? Yes and Yes.

THE OVERVIEW: 6 Novenas Total

54 Days: 1 Rosary per day

The Mysteries of Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries, The Sorrowful Mysteries, & the Glorious Mysteries. (The Luminous Mysterious were not yet revealed at the time of the 54 Day Rosary novena and subsequent format.)

Day 1-27: Petition

Day 28-54: Thanksgiving (regardless of whether your petition(s) have been “answered” or not.)

Format: Beginning Prayer, Prayers after Each Decade, & Closing Prayer (Some purist would disagree, but I include the Fatima prayer “Oh My Jesus” even though the pray had not been revealed in 1884.)

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

The Annunciation – Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to thee with the tidings that thou wert to become the mother of God; greeting thee with the sublime salutation, “Hail, full of grace! the Lord is with thee!” and thou didst humbly submit thyself to the will of the Father, responding “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word!”

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Visitation – Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Visitation, when, upon thy visit to thy holy cousin, Elizabeth, she greeted thee with the prophetic utterance, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” and thou didst answer with the canticle of canticles, the Magnificat.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Nativity – Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Nativity of Our Lord, when the time being completed, thou didst bring forth, O Holy Virgin, the Redeemer of the world in a stable at Bethlehem; whereupon choirs of angels filled the heavens with their exultant song of praise, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.”

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Presentation – Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Presentation, when, in obedience to the Law of Moses, thou didst present thy Child in the Temple, where the holy prophet Simeon, taking the Child in his arms, offered thanks to God for sparing him to look upon his Savior and foretold thy sufferings by the words: “Thy soul also a sword shall pierce . . .”

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, when, having sought Him for three days, sorrowing, thy heart gladdened upon finding Him in the Temple speaking to the doctors; and when, upon thy request. He obediently returned home with thee.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, really present in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar, since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee, with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritualy into my soul through the Immaculate Heart of thy most holy Mother and abide with me forever.

Thou in Me, And I in Thee, In Time and in Eternity, Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.

Closing Prayers:

O God, Whose Only Begotten Son, by His Life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the reward of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

The Agony in the Garden – O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Agony of Our Lord in the Garden, when, in the Grotto of the Garden of Olives, Jesus saw the sins of the world unfolded before Him by Satan who sought to dissuade Him from the sacrifice He was about to make; when, His soul shrinking from the sight, ad His precious blood flowing from every pore at the vision of the torture and death He was to undergo thy own sufferings, dear Mother, the future sufferings of His Church, and His own sufferings in the Blessed Sacrament, he cried in anguish, “Abba Father! If it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me;” but, immediately resigning Himself to His Father’s will, He prayed, “Not as I will but as Thou wilt!”

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Scourging at the Pillar – O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Scourging of Our Lord, when, at Pilate’s command, thy divine Son, stripped of his garments and bound to a pillar, was lacerated from head to foot with cruel scourges, and His flesh torn away until His mortified Body could bear no more.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crowning with Thorns –O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Crowning of Our Lord with thorns, when, the soldiers, binding about His head a crown of sharp thorns, showered blows upon it, driving the thorns deeply into His head; then, in mock adoration, knelt before Him, crying, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Carrying of the Cross – O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Carrying of the Cross, when, with the heavy wood of the cross upon His shoulders, thy divine Son was dragged, weak, and suffering, yet patient, through the streets, amidst the revilements of the people, to Calvary; falling often, but urged along by the cruel blows of His executioners.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crucifixion – O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Cruxification, when, having been stripped of His garments, thy divine Son was nailed to the cross, upon which he died after three hours of indescribable agony, during which He begged from His Father forgiveness of His enemies.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, really present in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar, since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee, with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritually into my soul through the Immaculate Heart of thy most holy Mother and abide with me forever.

Thou in Me, And I in Thee, In Time and in Eternity, Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.

Closing Prayers:

O God, Whose Only Begotten Son, by His Life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the reward of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou bast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

The Resurrection – O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead, when, on the morning of the third day after His death and burial. He arose from the dead and appeared to thee, dear Mother, and filled thy heart with unspeakable joy; then appeared to the holy women, and to his disciples, who adored Him as their risen God.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Ascension – O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Ascension, when thy divine Son, after forty days on earth, went to Mount Olivet accompanied by His disciples and thee, where all adored Him for the last time, after which He promised to remain with them until the end of the world; then, extending His pierced hands over all in a last blessing, He ascended before their eyes into heaven.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit – O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Descent of the Holy Ghost (Spirit), when, the apostles being assembled with thee in a house in Jerusalem, the Holy Ghost descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, inflaming hearts of the apostles with the fire of divine love, teaching them all truths, giving to them the gift of tongues, and filling thee with the plenitude of His grace, inspired thee to pray for the apostles and the first Christians.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Assumption of Mary – O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of Thy Assumption, when, consumed with the desire to be united with thy divine Son in heaven, thy soul departed from thy body and united itself to Him. who, out of excessive love He bore for thee, His Mother, whose virginal body was His first tabernacle, took that body into heaven and there, amidst the acclaims of the angels and saints, re-infused into it thy soul.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Coronation of the Blessed Mother – O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of Thy Coronation in Heaven, when, upon being taken up to heaven after thy death, thou wert triply crowned as the august Queen of Heaven by God the Father as His beloved Daughter, by God the Son as His dearest Mother, and by God the Holy Ghost as His chosen spouse; the most perfect adorer of the Blessed Trinity, pleading our cause as our most powerful and merciful Mother, through thee.

I humbly pray: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. [Fatima Prayer.]

Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, really present in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar, since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee, with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritualy into my soul through the Immaculate Heart of thy most holy Mother and abide with me forever.

Thou in Me, And I in Thee, In Time and in Eternity, Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.

Closing Prayers:

O God, Whose Only Begotten Son, by His Life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the reward of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Christ the King Library , San Bernadino, CA- 03 September 2016 *