How to pray the Rosary
The Rosary begins by holding the Cross and making the Sign of the Cross as we pray:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
While still holding the Cross we profess our beliefs as we pray:
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 rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, 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.
On the first bead we pray the Our Father. This is traditionally offered for the intention of the Holy Father, the Pope:
Our Father Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your 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.
Three Hail Marys are then prayed 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 your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, “Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
We then pray the Glory Be (no bead):
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.
On the fifth bead we announce * the first mystery (see list of mysteries below) and while meditating on the mystery say one Our Father and ten Hail Marys (one on each of the next ten beads) and a Glory Be (no bead.)
Then, as requested by Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, we pray:
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need of thy mercy. (Repeat from * for each mystery.)
We may close our Rosary with:
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 signs, 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 your 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.
Rosary Prayer (optional)
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech you, 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 (From the Roman Ritual).
End with The Sign of the Cross.
The Rosary Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation—
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women” (Lk 1:28).
2. The Visitation—“When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the babe in her womb leapt, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk 1:41). 3. The Birth of Jesus—“And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2:7).
4. The Presentation—“According to the law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord” (Lk 2:32).
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple—“After three days they found Him in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the teachers” (Lk 2:45, 46).
Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism of the Lord—“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).
2. The Wedding at Cana—“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you’” (Jn 2:5).
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God— “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).
4. The Transfiguration—“As he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Lk 9: 29-31).
5. The Institution of the Eucharist—“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’” (Lk 22:19).
Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden—“Jesus came with them to Gethsemane and He began to be saddened and exceedingly troubled” (Mt 26:36, 37).
2. The Scourging at the Pillar—“Pilate then took Jesus and had Him scourged” (Jn 19:1).
3. The Crowning of Thorns—“And plaiting a crown of thorns they put it upon His Head and a reed into His right hand” (Mt 27:29)
4. Jesus Carries the Cross—“And bearing the Cross for Himself, He went forth to the place called The Skull” (Jn 19:1).
5. The Crucifixion—“And when they came to the place called The Skull they crucified Him” (Lk 23:33).
Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection—“He is not here, but has risen. Behold the place where they laid Him” (Lk 24:6; Mk 16:19).
2. The Ascension—“And He was taken up into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19).
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit—“And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven… and there appeared to them parted tongues of fire…and they were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:2, 3, 4, 11).
4. The Assumption of Mary, Body and Soul into Heaven—“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 raiment is threaded with spun gold” (Ps 44:11, 12, 14).
5. The Coronation of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth—“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).
Note: If five decades are prayed daily, the general order suggested by Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter on the Rosary, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (No. 38), is that the Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday.