How to pray the Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary is a Scripture based prayer. The purpose of the Rosary is to contemplate and reflect on stories in the life of Jesus and Mary.

The Rosary is made up of five 'decades'. A decade is one Our Father followed by ten Hail Mary's and a Glory Be. During each decade a story (mystery) in the life of Jesus is contemplated to help you grow closer to our Lord.

Before praying the rosary, spend some time thinking of your intentions. Our Lady of Fatima requested a daily rosary to obtain peace in our world.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles Creed holding the crucifix.

On the first large bead, pray an Our Father, then three Hail Mary's on the next three beads followed by a Glory Be and the Fatima prayer.

At the beginning of each decade (starting on the next large bead), announce the mystery to be contemplated, and reflect for a short moment on this mystery. Begin the decade by praying an Our Father, then ten Hail Mary's on the ten small beads, followed by a Glory be and the Fatima prayer. During these prayers continue to contemplate the mystery for that decade.

Continue in this way until all five mysteries have been prayed.

Conclude the Rosary by praying the Hail Holy Queen prayer. You may also choose the pray the St. Michael prayer and the Memorare as extra prayers at the end.

Rosary Prayers:

The Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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.
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, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy 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.

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 on these Mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord.
R. Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael:
Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God, thrust down to hell Satan and all other evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Mysteries:

The Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel
2. The Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary
3. The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
4. The Presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple
5. Finding of the child Jesus in the temple

The Luminous Mysteries (prayed on Thursdays)
1. Christ's Baptism in the Jordan
2. Christ's Self-revelation at the Marriage at Cana
3. Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with His call to Conversion
4. Christ's Transfiguration
5. Christ's Institution of the Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries (prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. Jesus carries His Cross through Jerusalem
5. Jesus dies on the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries (prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection - Jesus rises from the dead
2. The Ascension - Jesus is taken up into Heaven
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
5. The Coronation of our Lady and the Glory of all the Saints

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