How to Pray the Holy Rosary
A step by step guide:
- Make the Sign of the Cross.
- Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles’ Creed.
- On the first bead, say an Our Father.
- Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
- Say the Glory Be
- For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery, then say the Our Father.
- While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.
- After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.
- After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. - Recite the following prayer: 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 while meditating on 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.
- Conclude the Rosary with the Sign of the Cross.
Those who pray the Rosary use a few different methods:
Traditional
Monday, Thursday – Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday, Friday – Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday, Saturday – Glorious Mysteries
Sunday during Advent – Joyful Mysteries
Sunday during Lent – Sorrowful Mysteries
All other Sundays – Glorious Mysteries
Addition of Luminous Mysteries
Monday – Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday, Friday – Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday, Saturday – Glorious Mysteries
Thursday – Luminous Mysteries
Sunday during Advent – Joyful Mysteries
Sunday during Lent – Sorrowful Mysteries
All other Sundays – Glorious Mysteries
Novena Rosarys
Day 1 – Joyful Mysteries
Day 2 – Sorrowful Mysteries
Day 3 – Glorious Mysteries
Day 4 – Joyful Mysteries
Day 5 – Sorrowful Mysteries
etc.
Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Presentation
Finding Jesus in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Jesus Carries His Cross
The Crucifixion
Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Jesus
The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist
Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection
The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary in Heaven
Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth