How to Pray the Rosary
1. Preparation
Start by making the sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Then recite the Apostle’s 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 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 Sprit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
3. Then say 1 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.
4. Then say 3 Hail Marys (for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity)
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 death. Amen.
5. Then say 1 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.
6. Announce the First Mystery (see below); then say the Our Father.
7. Say ten “Hail Marys,” while meditating on the Mystery.
8. Say the “Glory be to the Father.”
9. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the “Our Father.”
Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.
10. Concluding Prayers
After the completion of five mysteries (5 decades), or 15 or 20, the following is customarily said:
Hail Holy Queen (or Salve Regina may be sung)
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 us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
(Verse) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
(Response) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Rosary Prayer
(Verse) Let us pray,
(Response) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Joyful Mysteries
Annunciation
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” [Luke 1:28]
Visitation
“When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the babe in her womb leapt, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.” [Luke 1:41]
Nativity
“And she brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes.” [Luke 2:7]
Presentation
“According to the law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.” [Luke 2:32]
Finding in the Temple
“After three days they found Him in the Temple. He was sitting in the midst of the teachers.” [Luke 2:45,46]
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Agony
“Jesus came with them to Gethsemane and He began to be saddened and exceedingly troubled.” [Matt. 26:36,37]
Scourging
“Pilate then took Jesus and had Him scourged.” [Jn. 19:1]
Crowning
“And plaiting a crown of thorns they put it upon His head and a reed in His right hand.” [Matt. 27:29]
Carrying of Cross
“And bearing the Cross for Himself, He went forth to the place called The Skull.” [Jn. 19:17]
Crucifixion
“And when they came to the place called The Skull they crucified Him.” [Luke 23:33]
The Glorious Mysteries
Resurrection
“He is not here, but has risen. Behold the place where they laid Him.” [Luke 24:6; Mark 16:6]
Ascension
“And He was taken up into Heaven and sits at the Right Hand of God.” [Mark 16:19]
Descent of Holy Spirit
“And suddenly there came a sound from Spirit Heaven…and there appeared to them parted tongues…and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.” [Acts 2:2, 3, 4, 11]
Assumption
“Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, for the King shall desire your beauty. All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her rainment is threaded with spun gold.” [Ps. 45:10-14]
Coronation
“And a great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” [Rev. 12:1]
Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
The Wedding at Cana, Christ Manifested
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. John 2:11
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
The Transfiguration of Jesus
And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Matthew 17:2
The Last Supper, the Holy Eucharist
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26
