Saint Nicholas Rosary

The custom of praying the rosary has proven of great value in the lives of Christians throughout the ages. In some traditions the recitation of the rosary involves meditation on the life of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Prayers are said including the traditional "Hail Mary" or in some places the "Jesus Prayer."

This rosary focuses on prayer to Christ in fellowship with St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Saint in Bari, Patron saint of children and sailors. His feast day is 6 December and is revered universally as the true Santa Claus and Father Christmas.

Using the traditional five-decade rosary, one may wish to devote the entire time of prayer to one intention or to remember individual people, needs and thanksgivings on each bead of each decade of the prayers.

BELOVED, let us love one another, for love is of God . . . . I John 4

The Invocation

Holding the cross in your hand, say

In the name of the (+) Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

St Nicholas was a defender of the historic faith and was said to be present at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. So, still holding the cross, continue

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and (+) the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

is said on the single bead that follows

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

The Blessed Nicholas

is said on each of the three beads

BLESSED NICHOLAS, victorious saint,
Teach us to love and care for all in need;
Holy Bishop, servant of Christ, join in our prayer,
Enliven us with a spirit of generosity, joy, justice and peace,
As we seek to serve God's world today Amen.

The Gloria Patri

is said on the next single bead

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

The Lord's Prayer

is said on the large bead before each decade

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

A Commemoration of the Life of St. Nicholas

is made in each of the five decades
The commemoration may be said before beginning the decade

On each of the ten beads say
BLESSED NICHOLAS . . .
After the tenth bead, say

Blessed be God in the angels
and in the saints.

The First Commemoration

St Nicholas, his miraculous birth, Patron of children
Pray for parents and children, children with special needs, orphans and neglected and abused children and those who care for them; for nurses, doctors, midwives

The Second Commemoration

St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra
Pray for all Christian leaders, pray for Christians persecuted for their faith in Christ, and all who have lost their faith; Pray for the Shrine at Bari , for the restoration of the Myra Church; Pray for schools, institutions societies and churches dedicated to the saint

The Third Commemoration

St Nicholas, Help of the Innocent
Pray for those in prison, for all that are falsely accused and mistreated, for the victims of war, corrupt governments and disease

The Fourth Commemoration

St Nicholas, Patron of Sailors
Pray for all that travel on land, sea or air, for all mariners and seafarers and those who are tossed in the tempests and storms of life

The Fifth Commemoration

St Nicholas, Helper of the poor
Pray for those living in poverty all over the world, Pray for those who have power over the lives of others, Pray for a just use of all creation and fair-trade

The St. Nicholas Prayer

on the medal or large dividing bead

ETERNAL GOD,
in your great love you gave your servant NICHOLAS
a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea.
Grant that your Church may never cease to work
for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors,
the relief of the poor and the help of those who are tossed
by tempests of doubt or grief; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD,
who lives and reigns with you and the HOLY SPIRIT,
one GOD, now and for ever, Amen.*

A Blessing

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Nicholas and all the saints
pray with us, may the angels of God protect us, and may
Almighty God bless us, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen

The Hymn**

Saint Nicholas the children's friend
Joyful sing we
His miracles a blessing send
Joyful sing we
All the people shout with glee
Now the blessed saint to see
May we all right merry be
Happy Day, Holy Day
Celebrate with gladness.

The sailors, captives, all are free
Joyful sing we
The daughters three new life now see
Joyful sing we
All the people shout with glee
Now the blessed saint to see
May we all right merry be
Happy Day, Holy Day
Celebrate with gladness.

He comes with gifts beyond compare
Joyful sing we
He tells us of God's love and care
Joyful sing we
All the people shout with glee
Now the blessed saint to see
May we all right merry be
Happy Day, Holy Day
Celebrate with gladness.

From the St Nicholas Society UK/USA. Used by permission.

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