How to Pray the Rosary

How to Pray the Rosary

The Rosary is a devotion to the Incarnation of Our Lord and to His Blessed Mother. It is composed of fifteen decades, each decade consisting of the Our Father, ten Hail Mary's, and the Glory Be to the Father, and each being recited in honor of some mystery in the life of Our Lord and of His Blessed Mother. During each decade we should call to mind the mystery which it is intended to honor, and pray that we may learn to practice the virtue specially taught us by that mystery.

Begin the Rosary by:

Making the Sign of the Cross

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

Say the Apostles Creed.

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; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Say 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.
Say three Hail Mary's

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.
Say the Glory Be and then, if you wish, say the Fatima Prayer or Hail Holy Queen

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. .

Fatima Prayer O my Jesus, forgive our sins; save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy. Amen. OR
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
to us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus: O clement,
O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be worthy of the promise of Christ
Let us pray.
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 meditating upon these mysteries in the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, e may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

Announce the First Mystery
then say the Our Father

Say ten Hail Mary's , while meditating on the Mystery

Say the Glory Be , the Fatima Prayer

Announce the Second Mystery
then say the Our Father Repeat steps 6 and 7
and Announce Third Mystery, Repeat steps 6 and 7
Announce the Fourth Mystery, Repeat steps 6 and 7
Announce the Fifth Mystery, Repeat steps 6 and 7

Say the Hail Holy Queen and the Let Us Pray. Our Rosary group ends the Rosary with Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, "The Memorare, and the Sign of the Cross.

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!
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

THE MYSTERIES

The Five Joyful Mysteries

Recited Mondays & Saturdays; Sundays of Advent and after Epiphany until Lent

The Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing She is to be the Mother of God.

The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION

The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
The Angel Gabriel announces: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee."
Mary wonders at this salutation.
The Angel assures her: "Fear not . . . you shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son."
Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity.
The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent.
Mary answers: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word."
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among among us.

Spiritual Fruit: Humility

The Visitation. Elizabeth greets Mary: "Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb"
The Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATION

Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age . . . for nothing is impossible with God.
Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her need.
The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty miles requiring four or five days.
Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears with her the Incarnate Word.
At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his mother's womb.
Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
"How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
"Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."
Mary replies: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."
Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the birth of John the Baptist.

Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor

The Nativity. The Virgin Mary gives birth to the Redeemer of the World.

The Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITY

Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caesar Augustus.
The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in the inn.
In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a cave, Mary remaining a Virgin.
She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.
In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her virginity.
Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly things.
The angel announces to the shepherds: "Today there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord."
The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth."
The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant Jesus.
The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.

Spiritual Fruit: Poverty of Spirit

The Presentation. The Blessed Mother presents the Child Jesus in the Temple.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery
THE PRESENTATION

Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord.
According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family should be consecrated to the Lord.
Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the price paid by the poor.
Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach obedience, submits to it.
Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility she submits to it.
God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah.
Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word."
"This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed."
And to Mary Simeon reveals: "And your own soul a sword shall pierce."
After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth.

Spiritual Fruit: Purity of mind and body

The Finding in the Temple. The Blessed Mother finds Jesus in the Temple

The Fifth Joyful Mystery
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus.
At the end of the first day's journey they discover Jesus is missing.
His parents return immediately looking for Him.
This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom.
Mary: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow."
Jesus: "Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them.
Mary keeps all these things in her heart.

Spiritual Fruit: Obedience

The Five Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light Suggested by Pope John Paul II inserted after the Joyful and before the sorrowful Mysteries)

Recited Thursdays,

The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.

The First Miracle of Jesus at Cana
Christ's Self-Manifestation at the Wedding Feast at Cana.

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with His Call to Conversion

The Transfiguration
Christ's Transfiguration

The Institution of the Eucharist
Christ's Institution of the Eucharist.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries

Recited Tuesdays & Friday; Sundays in Lent

The Agony in the Garden. At Gethsemane Jesus prays as He contemplates the sins of the World.

The Scourging at the Pillar. Jesus is cruelly scourged until His mortified body could bear no more.

The Crowning with Thorns. A crown of thorns is placed on the head of Jesus.

The Carrying of the Cross. Jesus carries the heavy cross upon His shoulders to Calvary.

The Crucifixion. Jesus is nailed to the Cross and dies after three hours of Agony.

The Five Glorious Mysteries

Recited Wednesdays & Sundays after Easter until Advent

The Resurrection. Jesus rises glorious and immortal, three days after His death.

The Ascension. Jesus ascends into Heaven forty days after His Resurrection.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Holy Spirit descends upon Mary and the Apostles.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. The Blessed Mother is united with her Divine Son in heaven.

The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. Mary is Gloriously crowned Queen of Heaven and earth

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