How to Pray the Rosary

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostlesâ€™ Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angelâ€™s words announcing Christâ€™s birth and Elizabethâ€™s greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary.

The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christâ€™s life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious andâ€“â€“added by Pope John Paul II in 2002 â€“ the Luminous.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christâ€™s spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.

How to Say the Rosary:

1. Make the Sign of the Cross.

2. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostlesâ€™ Creed.

3. On the first bead, say an 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. Say three Hail Marys on each of the next three beads.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you 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.

5. Say The Glory Be (The Doxology)

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

6. Praying the Mysteries: For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture using the links above) then say the Our Father. Each of the next ten beads, say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.

After finishing each decade, some say the Fatima 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. Amen

7. After saying the five decades, say: Hail, Holy Queen

8. Optional closing prayers:

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 by 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.

Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

All Prayers