How to Pray The Rosary
Praying the rosary can be a little intimidating at first, but it doesn't have to be. The rosary prayers allow us to meditate on the mysteries presented in the Bible about Jesus’s life as seen through Mary’s eyes. If we breakdown the rosary, we see it has three parts: the Introduction, the Decades and the Closing.
INTRODUCTION
First off, it is helpful to say a rosary with rosary beads. Before you start praying, though, you should dedicate your rosary to a specific person or cause. Sometimes it is what is troubling you, or it can be dedicated to a loved one or for someone who is sick. We ask that your intention for this rosary would be to Save Our Nation: from the pandemic, from obtuse ideology, and from the evil spirits who plague our world.
STEP 1) With that in mind, start the introduction by holding onto the rosary’s crucifix and make The Sign Of The Cross. Then pray the Apostles’ Creed (see rosary prayers below).
STEP 2) Proceed and hold the first large bead, and say an Our Father.
STEP 3) Advance to the next smaller bead, and say a Hail Mary. Repeat the Hail Mary two more times on the next two beads. These three Hail Marys often represent our need for Faith, Hope and Love.
STEP 4) Hold onto the space between the last Hail Mary bead and the next bead. Pray the Glory Be.
DECADES
The decades is a group of 10 beads that is offset by one large bead. The rosary is made up of five decades and on each decade, we mediate on a particular mystery depending on the day of the week (see The Mysteries of the Rosary below).
STEP 5) Announce the Mystery and say an Our Father.
STEP 6) Proceed past the center medallion and go to the first bead to the right. Pray a Hail Mary on each small bead. Continue to mediate on the mystery while praying ten Hail Marys.
STEP 7) Hold onto the space between the last Hail Mary bead and the larger bead. Pray the Glory Be. Then pray the Famita Prayer. This is the 1st decade of the rosary.
Repeat steps 5–7 for the remaining for decades. Announce the Mystery, pray on Our Father on the larger beads and a Hail Mary on each of the ten smaller beads. This is followed up by praying the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.
CLOSING
After saying the Fatima Prayer in the 5th decade, it is time for the closing of the rosary prayers.
STEP 8) Advance to the center medallion, and say the Hail, Holy Queen prayer. Then say the Rosary Prayer. Finally, make The Sign of the Cross.
Thank you for your prayers. Please pray the rosary daily for our nation at this time of need. May God always bless you.
Rosary Prayers
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will 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.
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.
Hail Mary
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 our death. Amen.
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, 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 vale 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 thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
Rosary 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 by meditating upon 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.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
Joyful Mysteries
Mondays and Saturdays
1st Decade The Annunciation
2nd Decade The Visitation
3rd Decade The Birth of Jesus
4th Decade The Presentation
5th Decade The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesdays and Fridays
1st Decade The Agony in the Garden
2nd Decade The Scourging at the Pillar
3rd Decade The Crowning with Thorns 4th Decade The Carrying of the Cross
5th Decade The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries
Wednesdays and Sundays
1st Decade The Resurrection
2nd Decade The Ascension
3rd Decade The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4th Decade The Assumption
5th Decade The Crowning of Mary Queen of Heaven
Luminous Mysteries
Thursdays
1st Decade The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
2nd Decade The Wedding Feast at Cana
3rd Decade The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4th Decade The Transfiguration of Jesus
5th Decade The Institution of the Eucharist