A verse before each Hail Mary

For anyone who finds the Rosary hard to concentrate on.

In the scriptural Rosary, a short verse of Scripture is read before each of the ten Hail Marys of a decade. It slows the prayer down and gives the mind something to hold — and it is the single most effective remedy for distraction there is.

How to Pray It

1. Announce the mystery.
2. Pray the Our Father.
3. Before each Hail Mary, read one short verse relating to the mystery.
4. Pray the Glory Be and Fatima Prayer as usual, and move on.

An Example — the Annunciation

1. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.
2. To a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.
3. And the virgin's name was Mary.
4. And coming to her, he said, Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
5. But she was greatly troubled at what was said.
6. Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
7. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
8. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?
9. The angel said, The Holy Spirit will come upon you.
10. Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

About This Method

Ten verses per decade means a hundred and fifty verses in a full Rosary — the same number as the psalms, which is not a coincidence: the Rosary began as a substitute psalter for those who could not read. The scriptural form returns it to something close to its origins.