How to pray the Rosary

The Rosary is the Gospel in the hands. You hold a crucifix and a loop of beads, and you walk through the life of Jesus with Our Lady. Each decade is one mystery, one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be. Five decades make the ordinary Rosary. The words do not change. The mystery does.

Begin at the crucifix. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed. On the first large bead, the Our Father. On the next three small beads, a Hail Mary for faith, for hope, and for charity. Then the Glory Be. That is the opening. It is not yet a decade.

Announce the mystery. Some people read a few lines of the Gospel for it. Then the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and the prayer Our Lady asked at Fátima: 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. Do that five times. Close with the Hail Holy Queen, and the collect that asks for grace to imitate what the mysteries contain and to obtain what they promise.

Today the Church keeps the Joyful Mysteries, which are said on Monday and Saturday.

The four sets

Joyful
Monday and Saturday
The Annunciation. The Visitation. The Nativity. The Presentation. The finding in the Temple.
Luminous
Thursday
The Baptism in the Jordan. The wedding at Cana. The proclamation of the Kingdom. The Transfiguration. The gift of the Eucharist.
Sorrowful
Tuesday and Friday
The agony. The scourging. The crowning with thorns. The carrying of the Cross. The Crucifixion.
Glorious
Wednesday and Sunday
The Resurrection. The Ascension. Pentecost. The Assumption. The crowning of Our Lady.

Sunday in Advent, Lent, and Easter keeps the season’s mysteries: Joyful in Advent, Sorrowful in Lent, Glorious in Easter. On the other Sundays, the Glorious mysteries. If you pray one set a day, the week carries you through the life of the Lord.

Monday and Saturday

1 of 67

The crucifix

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

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.

Opening

The crucifix

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The beads — touch one

Opening

1. The Annunciation

2. The Visitation

3. The Nativity

4. The Presentation

5. The Finding in the Temple

Hail, Holy Queen

A small bead is a Hail Mary. A larger one is an Our Father, a Glory Be, or a mystery. The square is the crucifix.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The chaplet uses the same beads. Saint Faustina Kowalska received it, and the Holy See has approved the devotion. It is prayed especially at three o’clock, the hour of the Lord’s death. It does not take the place of the Mass. It places the Passion in front of the Eternal Father.

Open with the Sign of the Cross, one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed. Then five decades. On the large bead you offer the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus to the Father. On the ten small beads you ask mercy for the sake of His sorrowful Passion. At the end, three times: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 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. 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. 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. On each of the five large beads: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. On each of the ten small beads: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. At the end, three times: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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