How to pray the Rosary

The steps

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.
2. Pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity) and a Glory Be.
3. For each of the five decades, announce the mystery, then pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be, followed by the Fatima Prayer if you wish.
4. After the fifth decade, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer.
5. End with the Sign of the Cross.

Which mysteries today?

• Monday: Joyful Mysteries
• Tuesday: Sorrowful Mysteries
• Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries
• Thursday: Luminous Mysteries
• Friday: Sorrowful Mysteries
• Saturday: Joyful Mysteries
• Sunday: Glorious Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries

1. Annunciation: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.” Luke 1:38
2. Visitation: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” Luke 1:42
3. Nativity: “And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.” Luke 2:7
4. Presentation in the Temple: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace.” Luke 2:29
5. Finding in the Temple: “Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?” Luke 2:49

The Luminous Mysteries

1. Baptism of the Lord: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17
2. Wedding at Cana: “Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.” John 2:5
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom: “The time is accomplished and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15
4. Transfiguration: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.” Matt 17:5
5. Institution of the Eucharist: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.” Luke 22:19

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony in the Garden: “Not my will, but thine be done.” Luke 22:42
2. Scourging at the Pillar: “Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.” John 19:1
3. Crowning with Thorns: “And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head.” Matt 27:29
4. Carrying of the Cross: “And bearing his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary.” John 19:17
5. Crucifixion: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46

The Glorious Mysteries

1. Resurrection: “He is not here. For he is risen, as he said.” Matt 28:6
2. Ascension: “He was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
3. Descent of the Holy Ghost: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:4
4. Assumption of Mary: “A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet.” Apoc 12:1 [Rev 12:1]
5. Coronation of Mary: “And on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Apoc 12:1 [Rev 12:1]

The prayers

Sign of the Cross

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

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 arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, 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 the 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. Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4

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. Luke 1:28; Luke 1:42

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.

Fatima Prayer (optional)

Many Catholics add this after each Glory Be.

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

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope, all hail! To thee we cry, poor banished sons of Eve; to thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O kind, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Rosary Closing Prayer (O God, whose only begotten Son)

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 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 those mysteries, in the most holy Rosary of the most blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture is from the Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner). Each prayer is given as printed in its dated source (see Prayer sources).