How to Pray the Rosary
The Holy Rosary is a cherished devotion that consists of prayer and meditation upon the chief mysteries of the life, death, and glory of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother.
1. Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and holding the Crucifix, recite the Apostles’ Creed.
2. On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
3. On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys for the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
4. Before the next large bead, pray the Glory Be.
5. Announce the First Mystery for the day and pray the Our Father on the large bead.
6. On the ten small beads that follow (a decade), pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.
7. After the tenth Hail Mary, pray the Glory Be, followed by the Fatima Prayer.
8. Announce the Second Mystery and repeat steps 5-7. Continue in this manner for all five decades.
9. After the fifth and final decade, conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen, and the Sign of the Cross.
The Prayers of the Rosary
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
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.
The 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.
The Glory Be
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 Fatima Prayer
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.
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! 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
The Joyful Mysteries
(Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary.
2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
3. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The Presentation of our Lord.
5. The Finding of our Lord in the Temple.
The Luminous Mysteries
(Prayed on Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
2. The Wedding at Cana.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar.
3. The Crowning with Thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord.
The Glorious Mysteries
(Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection of our Lord.
2. The Ascension of our Lord.
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Contexte Historique
The Holy Rosary is a venerable prayer of the Catholic Church, a compendium of the Gospel centered on the lives of Jesus and Mary. Pious tradition holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself appeared to Saint Dominic in the 13th century and gave him the Rosary as a powerful weapon against heresy and sin. Its propagation is largely due to the Dominican Order. The Rosary gained particular prominence after the Christian victory over the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope St. Pius V, attributing the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Mother through the recitation of the Rosary, instituted the feast of ‘Our Lady of Victory,’ which is now celebrated as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.