Praying The Catholic Rosary

The Rosary is a very old, traditional Catholic prayer devotion to Our Lady, the Virgin Mary. It is composed of fifteen sections or “decades.”  (A set of rosary beads has only five decades - the devotions are said three times around to complete the fifteen decades). Each decade consists of the Our Father, ten Hail Marys and the Glory Be. Additionally, each decade is recited in honor of some Mystery  (please see below) in the life of Jesus, Our Lord and the Blessed Mother. In calling to mind these mysteries, we pray that we may learn the virtues that they teach us. The rosary beads themselves are a means of counting and keeping one's place while praying the rosary.

Here’s how the Rosary is prayed by an individual (Note: If the rosary is prayed in group setting, you may want to pray it antiphonally - that is, with a leader and a chorus sharing the prayer, each praying a separate part aloud):

1)  Begin with making the Sign of the Cross. Hold the crucifix in either hand and say: In the name of the Father (touch your forehead), and of the Son (touch your heart), and of the Holy (touch the left shoulder) Spirit (touch right shoulder). Amen.

2)  Say the Apostles’ Creed (some people continue to hold the crucifix or you may move onto the chain before the first bead): I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He shall come again 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.

3) Proceeding to the first bead, say the Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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) On the next three beads, say the Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

5) While holding the third bead (or the chain after it) Say the 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.

6)  Proceeding to the next bead, announce the First Mystery (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous depending on the day and/or season) then say the Our Father.

7) Here we proceed clockwise around the rosary. While meditating on the Mystery, say the Hail Mary on each of the next 10 beads.

8)  Say the Glory Be.

9) When you are at the next bead, announce the next Mystery, and then say the Our Father.

10) Repeat steps #7 thru #9 and in this manner complete the third, fourth and fifth Mysteries proceeding around the rosary.

11) You may then say the 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 sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn the, 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 clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

12) End with 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 meditating upon these mysteries in the most Holy Rosary of The Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Below are the Mysteries. This can seem a little complicated and daunting. Because the rosary and beads are a means for praying with focus, the mysteries merely refine that focus further. There is nothing that says you cannot bring your own cares to each rosary or each rosary decade when you pray it!

The Five (one mystery per rosary decade) Joyful Mysteries (which are typically meditated upon on Mondays & Saturdays; and the Sundays of Advent and after Epiphany till Lent) are:

1)         The Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce she is to be the Mother of God.

2)         The Visitation:  Mary is greeted by her cousin Elizabeth who declares, "Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!"

3)         The Nativity:  The Virgin Mary gives birth to our Savior.

4)         The Presentation:  The Blessed Mother presents the child Jesus in the Temple.

5)         The Finding in the Temple:  The Blessed Mother finds Jesus in the Temple.

The Five (one mystery per rosary decade) Sorrowful Mysteries (which are typically meditated upon on Tuesdays & Fridays; and the Sundays in Lent) are:

1)         The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in Gethsemane

2)         The Scourging at the Pillar:  Pilate has Jesus whipped

3)         The Crowning with Thorns:  Upon Jesus’ head is placed a painful crown of thorns

4)         The Carrying of the Cross:  Jesus carries the heavy cross upon His shoulders to Calvary    

5)         The Crucifixion:  Jesus is nailed to the Cross and agonizes three hours before dying

The Five (one mystery per rosary decade) Glorious Mysteries (which are typically meditated upon on Wednesdays and Sundays after Easter until Advent) are:

1)         The Resurrection: Jesus rises three days after His death

2)         The Ascension:  Jesus ascends into heaven forty days after His resurrection

3)         The Descent of the Holy Spirit:  the Holy Spirit comes upon Mary and the Apostles

4)         The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin:  The Blessed Mother is brought body and soul into heaven to be with her Son

5)         The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mary is crowned Queen of heaven and earth

The Five (one mystery per rosary decade) Luminous Mysteries (meditated upon on Thursdays) are:

1)         The Baptism:  John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the river Jordan

2)         The Self-Manifestation of Our Lord at Cana:  Jesus changes water into wine at the wedding feast

3)         The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God:  Jesus preaches about God’s kingdom and calls for conversion

4)         The Transfiguration:  Jesus is transfigured before the disciples

5)         The Institution of the Eucharist:  Jesus offers His body and blood under the signs of bread and wine.

While not part of the rosary, there is one additional well known prayer devoted to Mary, called

the Memorare that you may wish to recite: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never

was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your

intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you O Virgin of virgins, my

Mother. To you I come. Before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word

Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.