The Holy Rosary

A powerful prayer and meditation on the life of Jesus and Mary.

How to Pray the Rosary

Follow these steps to pray this beautiful and meditative prayer.

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The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer that leads us to meditate on the key events in the life of Jesus and His mother, Mary. Follow these steps using a standard rosary.

  1. The Sign of the Cross & Creed
    On the Crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles' Creed.
  2. The Our Father
    On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
  3. Three Hail Marys
    On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
  4. The Glory Be
    On the space after the three beads, pray the Glory Be.
  5. Announce the First Mystery
    Announce the first Mystery for the day (e.g., "The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation"). Then, on the large bead, pray the Our Father.
  6. Pray a Decade
    On the ten small beads that follow, pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.
  7. Conclude the Decade
    After the ten Hail Marys, pray the Glory Be, followed by the Fatima Prayer.
  8. Continue for All Five Mysteries
    Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 for the remaining four Mysteries.
  9. Concluding Prayers
    After the fifth and final Mystery, pray the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by the "O God, Whose Only Begotten Son..." prayer. End with the Sign of the Cross.

Joyful Mysteries (Mon, Sat)
  1. The Annunciation
  2. The Visitation
  3. The Nativity
  4. The Presentation
  5. The Finding in the Temple
Luminous Mysteries (Thu)
  1. The Baptism of Jesus
  2. The Wedding at Cana
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
  4. The Transfiguration
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Sorrowful Mysteries (Tue, Fri)
  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 (Wed, Sun)
  1. The Resurrection
  2. The Ascension
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
  4. The Assumption
  5. The Coronation of Mary

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.

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.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

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.

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.

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.

Let Us Pray (O God, Whose Only Begotten Son...)

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 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.