The Rosary is believed to have been given to St. Dominic by the Blessed Virgin and the Dominicans have been instrumental

through the centuries in promoting the Rosary.  The stained glass window above is part of the Dominican Windows

 in the Cathedral's  Blessed Sacrament Chapel and depicts the moment when St. Dominic received the Rosary. 

The word Rosary itself comes from the Latin rosarium, meaning Rose Garden and the rose is often associated with Mary. 

By the 16th Century the major components of the modern Rosary were established -

the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be as well as the 15 Mysteries and 5 Decades were all part of  the Rosary devotion. 

The Salve Regina and Apostles' Creed were added later. 

 On October 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II introduced 5 new mysteries known as the Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light. 

Click Here to view the Pope's Apostolic Letter on the Rosary.