How to Pray the Rosary
By the Sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us, Lord our God.
Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Recite the Creed (on the crucifix)
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into the realm of the dead; on the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Pray one Our Father (on the first large bead)
Our Father:
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. Amen.
Pray three Hail Marys (on the next three small beads, asking for an increase in faith, hope, and charity)
Hail Mary:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Pray the Glory Be
Glory Be:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Announce the First Mystery and Pray One Our Father
(The mysteries vary according to the day of the week.)
Then:
Pray Ten Hail Marys (one for each small bead in the decade)
Pray the Glory Be
(Optional but recommended) Pray the Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.
Repeat this pattern for all five decades.
Each decade = 1 mystery + 1 Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + 1 Glory Be (+ Fatima Prayer)
After the Five Decades, Pray the Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)
- The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary.
- The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
- The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
- The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)
- The Agony of Jesus in the Garden.
- The Scourging at the Pillar.
- The Crowning with Thorns.
- The Carrying of the Cross.
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord.
Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)
- The Resurrection of Our Lord.
- The Ascension of Our Lord.
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit.
- The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.
- The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
- The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
- The Self-Revelation at the Wedding at Cana.
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the Call to Conversion.
- The Transfiguration of Our Lord.
- The Institution of the Eucharist, the Sacramental Expression of the Paschal Mystery.