How to Pray the Holy Rosary

Parts of the Rosary

You will need to understand the following three (3) basic parts in order to know how to pray the rosary: the introduction, the meditation of the mysteries, and the conclusion.

The Introduction

The introduction consists of the following:

• Making of the sign of the Cross
• Recitation of the Apostles Creed
• Recitation of Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, and 1 Glory Be
• Recitation of the Fatima prayer: “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls into heaven, especially those who need most thy mercy.”

The Meditation of the Mysteries

This is the heart of the rosary. In order to understand how to pray the rosary well, you will need to understand that the rosary is essentially a meditative prayer. The rosary is a reflection on the life of Jesus Christ, broken down into four (4) mysteries. We reflect on a particular mystery on specific days of the week. By praying the rosary every day, therefore, we will be able to reflect and meditate on the entire life of Jesus Christ during the entire week. The four (4) mysteries consist of the following:

• Joyful Mysteries (Recited every Mondays and Saturdays)– a reflection on the early life of Jesus Christ. Consists of the five mysteries: Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she will be the Mother of God, the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, the Birth of Our Lord, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Template.
• The Luminous Mysteries (to be recited every Thursday) – a reflection on the public ministry of Jesus, ie, the three (3) years of Jesus’ preaching and healing together with his disciples prior to His sorrowful passion. Includes the following mysteries: The Baptism of Our Lord at the River Jordan, the Miracle at the Wedding Feast of Cana, the Proclamation of God’s Kingdom and the Call to Conversion, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
• The Sorrowful Mysteries (to be recited every Tuesday and Friday) – a reflection on the sorrowful passion of Our Lord. Includes the following mysteries: The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.
• The Glorious Mysteries (to be recited every Wednesday and Sunday) – a reflection on the glorious life of Christ after His passion, beginning with the Resurrection. Consists of the following: The Resurrection, The Ascension of Our Lord to Heaven, the Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles, the Assumption of Our Lady to Heaven, and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

After reciting the introductory prayers (Apostles Creed, 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, 1 Glory Be, “Oh my Jesus…”, we then proceed to the meditation of the 5 mysteries of the day, as follows:

• Announcing the Mystery – we can announce this with words like “The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation.”
• Say 1 Our Father
• Say 10 Hail Mary’s, while reflecting on the mystery in focus
• Say 1 Glory Be
• Recitation of the Fatima prayer: “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls into heaven, especially those who need most thy mercy.”
• Say “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls into heaven, especially those who need most Thy mercy.”
• Say the Prayer for Peace: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen.”

The Conclusion

After meditating on the five (5) mysteries for the day, we conclude the rosary by reciting the following prayers:

• Hail Holy Queen
• O God, Whose Only Begotten Son…
• The Prayer for Peace ("Lord Jesus Christ..."
• Make the Sign of the Cross

Guide to Praying the Rosary

Here is a visual guide in order to help you clearly understand how to pray the rosary, using your rosary beads. Touch the beads to keep track of your progress and silently meditate on the “mysteries”, or events from the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Introduction

1. In The Name…
2. I Believe In God…
3. Our Father…
4. Hail Mary…
5. Hail Mary…
6. Hail Mary…
7. Glory be
8. O My Jesus...

The First Decade

9. Announce...
10. Our Father…
11. Hail Mary…
12. Hail Mary…
13. Hail Mary…
14. Hail Mary…
15. Hail Mary…
16. Hail Mary…
17. Hail Mary…
18. Hail Mary…
19. Hail Mary…
20. Hail Mary…
21. Glory be
22. O My Jesus...Prayer for Peace (“Lord Jesus Christ…”)

The Second Decade

23. Announce...
24. Our Father…
25. Hail Mary…
26. Hail Mary…
27. Hail Mary…
28. Hail Mary…
29. Hail Mary…
30. Hail Mary…
31. Hail Mary…
32. Hail Mary…
33. Hail Mary…
34. Hail Mary…
35. Glory be
36. O My Jesus...Prayer for Peace (“Lord Jesus Christ…”)

The Third Decade

37. Announce...
38. Our Father…
39. Hail Mary…
40. Hail Mary…
41. Hail Mary…
42. Hail Mary…
43. Hail Mary…
44. Hail Mary…
45. Hail Mary…
46. Hail Mary…
47. Hail Mary…
48. Hail Mary…
49. Glory be
50. O My Jesus...Prayer for Peace (“Lord Jesus Christ…”)

The Fourth Decade

51. Announce...
52. Our Father…
53. Hail Mary…
54. Hail Mary…
55. Hail Mary…
56. Hail Mary…
57. Hail Mary…
58. Hail Mary…
59. Hail Mary…
60. Hail Mary…
61. Hail Mary…
62. Hail Mary…
63. Glory be
64. O My Jesus...Prayer for Peace (“Lord Jesus Christ…”)

The Fifth Decade

65. Announce...
66. Our Father…
67. Hail Mary…
68. Hail Mary…
69. Hail Mary…
70. Hail Mary…
71. Hail Mary…
72. Hail Mary…
73. Hail Mary…
74. Hail Mary…
75. Hail Mary…
76. Hail Mary…
77. Glory be

Conclusion

78. Hail Holy Queen…
79. O God, Whose… Prayer for Peace (“Lord Jesus Christ…”)
80. In The Name…

The Mysteries of the Rosary

On Monday and Saturday, meditate on the “Joyful Mysteries”

• First Decade (Steps 9-22): The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
• Second Decade (Steps 23-36): The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
• Third Decade (Steps 37-50): The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
• Fourth Decade (Steps 51-64): The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-38)
• Fifth Decade (Steps 65-78): The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

On Thursday, meditate on the “Luminous Mysteries”

• First Decade: The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-16)
• Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
• Third Decade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
• Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
• Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Mt 26)

On Tuesday and Friday, meditate on the “Sorrowful Mysteries”

• First Decade: The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
• Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
• Third Decade: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
• Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
• Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)

On Wednesday and Sunday, meditate on the “Glorious Mysteries”

• First Decade: The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)
• Second Decade: The Ascension of Our Lord (Luke 24:36-53)
• Third Decade: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)
• Fourth Decade: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
• Fifth Decade: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

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