The Marian rosary in honor of the Blessed Mother of Jesus has been in use for nearly eight centuries. It was originally promulgated by St. Dominic as a tool to be used in the spiritual warfare against the Cathars in medieval France. The Inquisition was formed in 1239 to help to root out the Cathar heresy which included the belief that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were "lovers." Since childhood I have said the traditional rosary to the Virgin Mary for special intentions and have experienced wonderful answers to prayer.
One night in 1995 I fell asleep with my rosary in my hands and during my restless night, the links rearranged the configuration of my rosary. When I woke up, I discovered that my rosary had seven groups of seven prayers each, while one lone bead was lying by itself on the sheet. When I meditated on this strange "synchronicity," I decided that I wanted a rosary that had this seven-fold format to say in honor of Mary Magdalene.
Over the years I have developed this "7-fold" rosary with prayers celebrating the Mysteries of Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Union at the heart of the Christian Gospels. This rosary has 7 groups of 7 prayer beads each, separated by a single prayer bead that introduces each group or "Mystery." The rosaries are prayed with two sets of "Magdalene Mysteries":
Seven Gospel Mysteries of Mary Magdalene
1. Mary meets Jesus for the first time and is healed of seven demons
2. Mary’s tears move Jesus to raise her brother Lazarus from the grave
3. Mary anoints Jesus at the banquet and wipes her tears from his feet with her hair
4. Mary follows the Way of the Cross
5. Mary stands with the Mother of Jesus at the foot of the Cross
6. Mary meets Jesus resurrected at the tomb on Easter morning
7. Mary goes forth to proclaim the Good News that Christ is risen
Seven Legendary Mysteries of Mary Magdalene
1. Mary travels with Joseph of Arimathea to safety in Egypt
2. Mary gives birth to her daughter Sarah
3. Mary is reunited with her family and escapes with them from Palestine by sea
4. Mary’s boat with no oars is swept ashore on the beach of Gaul
5. Mary preaches the Good News in Marseilles
6. Mary lives out her life as a hermit in the cave of Ste. Baume
7. At her death, Mary is assumed body and soul into heaven
Prayers said with 'Magdalene" rosary are similar to those of the traditional Marian rosary.
1. Prayer to the Source of Life (said on each introductory bead, and after citing of the mystery being contemplated).
O Mystery of Life, Birther of all that is,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors,
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
2. Magdalene Prayer (repeated on each of seven beads during contemplation of the appropriate mystery).
Dear Mary Magdalene, love incarnate,
Sacred Vessel, Holy Grail,
Chosen were you from all women,
And blessed is your union with Jesus.
Dearest Bride and Beloved of Christ,
Show us the Way of the heart.
3. Glory to the Source, the Force, and the Presence (said after each group of seven prayers before citing the next mystery).
Glory be to the Source, and to the Force,
And to the loving Presence.
As it was in the Beginning, is now and forever
shall be, world without end.
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Chaplet --one group of seven prayers with introductory prayer on the lead-in - created
by Linda Stern.
photos by Linda Stern 2009
healingstarlinda@gmail.com
To order a custom-made chaplet
please contact Linda Stern at
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My "Magdalene Rosary" created by Sally Norton
