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How to Pray the Rosary

What is the Rosary?

The Rosary is a meditative prayer that reflects on the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, consisting of five decades (sets of prayers). Each decade represents a mystery from their lives, and while praying, we reflect on these mysteries.

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Structure of the Rosary

The Rosary consists of the following main prayers:

  1. Sign of the Cross
  2. Apostles’ Creed
  3. Our Father
  4. Hail Mary (repeated 10 times in each decade)
  5. Glory Be
  6. (Optional) Fatima Prayer
  7. Hail, Holy Queen

Step-by-Step Guide

Step #1. Start with the Sign of the Cross

Make the Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Step #2. Apostles’ Creed

Holding the crucifix of the Rosary, say the 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 Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there He will 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.

Step #3. Our Father

On the first large bead after the crucifix, pray the 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.

Step #4. Three Hail Marys

On each of the next three small beads, pray a Hail Mary (traditionally offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity):

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.

Step #5. Glory Be

On the next large bead, pray the 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.

(Optional) Fatima Prayer (may also be included after the Glory Be):

O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Step #6. Announce the First Mystery

Each decade of the Rosary is associated with a specific mystery (joyful, sorrowful, glorious, or luminous), which we meditate on while praying. Announce the first mystery for the day.

Example (if praying the Joyful Mysteries):

The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation – when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Step #7. Our Father

On the next large bead, pray the Our Father.

Step #8. Ten Hail Marys

On each of the 10 small beads, pray a Hail Mary while meditating on the mystery you just announced.

Step #9. Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

After the 10 Hail Marys, pray the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer (optional).

Step #10. Repeat for the Next Four Decades

Repeat steps 6-9 for each of the next four decades, announcing a new mystery before each decade.

Mysteries of the Rosary

The mysteries are divided into four categories, and the specific mysteries prayed depend on the day of the week:

  • Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)
    1. The Annunciation
    2. The Visitation
    3. The Nativity
    4. The Presentation in the Temple
    5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
  • Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)
    1. The Agony in the Garden
    2. The Scourging at the Pillar
    3. The Crowning with Thorns
    4. The Carrying of the Cross
    5. The Crucifixion
  • Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)
    1. The Resurrection
    2. The Ascension
    3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
    4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
    1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
    2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
    3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
    4. The Transfiguration
    5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Step #11. Hail, Holy Queen

At the end of all five decades, pray the 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 valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

Step #12. Final Prayers

You may conclude with the prayer:

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Step #13. Sign of the Cross

Conclude the Rosary with the Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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