How To Pray the Rosary

Many of our customers have forgotten how to pray the rosary -- or they never learned. No worries. It is easy to pray! Simply follow the steps below.

Steps

1. Begin by holding the crucifix in your fingers while making the Sign of the Cross. Then say the Apostle's Creed.
2. Moving to the first bead after the crucifix, say the Lord's Prayer.

3. Moving to the group of three beads after that, say three Hail Marys.

   
   

   Traditionally these 3 prayers are offered to obtain an increase in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity and for the intentions of the Pope.

4. Moving to the chain or cord between the three Hail Mary beads and the next bead, say the Doxology.

5. The next bead is an Our Father, and is the bead which begins the first decade of the mysteries you will be praying. You then arrive at the "centre", the tiny medallion separating this first part of the rosary from the main section, which consists of five groups of ten beads each, separated by another "Our Father" bead between each group.
6. Begin reciting the "Hail Mary" for each bead in the first decade.

7. As you complete the first decade, proceed to the chain or cord that separates it from the next Our Father bead, and say the Doxology. Optionally, at this point you can add the Fatima prayer or/and the prayer for priests; this is done without moving along the beads.

8. Proceed then to the Our Father bead and say the Lord's prayer.

   Continue until you have gone all the way around the chain of beads and meditated on all five Mysteries in the set you have chosen.

9. Reached the center medallion again say the Salve Regina and made the Sign of the Cross again to finish the Rosary.

   
   

   You're done!
   

   
   

   Catholic tradition lets you add prayers at the end. You can make it a personal prayer, or any prayer that appeals to you.

Rosary Prayers

The Apostle's 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; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall 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."

The 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."

The 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 in the hour of our death. Amen."

The Doxology: "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."

The Salve Regina: "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 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 clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!"

Fatima Prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy".

Prayer for Priests: "God, our Father, please send us holy priests, all for the sacred and eucharistic heart of Jesus, all for the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, in union with saint Joseph. Amen."

The Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Five Joyful Mysteries

   Monday & Saturday

   1. The Annunciation: Humility
   2. The Visitation: Charity
   3. The Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world
   4. The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience
   5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety

2. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries

   Tuesday & Friday

   1. The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sins
   2. The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our senses
   3. The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortification
   4. The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crosses
   5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselves

3. The Five Glorious Mysteries

   Sunday & Wednesday

   1. The Resurrection: Conversion of heart
   2. The Ascension: A desire for heaven
   3. The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
   4. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary
   5. The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happiness

4. The Five Luminous Mysteries (New)

   Thursday

   1. The Baptism in the Jordan
   2. The Wedding at Cana
   3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
   4. The Transfiguration
   5. The Institution of the Eucharist