How to Pray The Rosary

Catholics dedicate October to the Rosary. Including the Feast of the Lady of the Rosary on October 7th. As World War I was raging, on October 13, 1917, Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. In this apparition Mary identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary. 

What is the Rosary?

The word Rosary means “crown of roses.” Every Hail Mary we say gives Mary a beautiful white rose, and each completed Rosary, makes her a crown of Roses! 

A Rosary is 3 sets of 5 decades, resulting in praying a total of 150 Hail Marys. Each decade is comprised of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys. Each Hail Mary is a white rose and each Our Father is a Red Rose. 

Mysteries or Rosary Meditations

Catholics and other Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed himself for the forgiveness of our sins (our salvation). The act of praying a Rosary is literally devoting our time and minds to meditating on the life, death and glory of Jesus and Mary (aka the mysteries). There are 15 mysteries to meditate on: Beginning with the annunciation by Angel Gabriel to Mary, and ending with the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Why Pray the Rosary?

Your Rosary prayers show God your personal gratitude for Jesus’s act of love, and is a sacrifice of your time and attention.

Praying the Rosary is one of your most powerful weapons.

You can say a rosary a day, week, or year. It’s up to you and of course only say a rosary as long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties. 

To pray the Rosary you need to have your prayers handy (conveniently included in this post for you!). 

Rosary beads can help focus your mind, but are not necessary. 

See: The 15 Promises of The Rosary According To The Virgin Mary

Rosary Prayers

Prayer Before The Rosary

Did you know, the Rosary can be a powerful prayer for world peace? 

Queen of the Holy Rosary, you have deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three Sheppard children the treasures of grace hidden in the Rosary. Inspire my heart with a sincere love of this devotion, in order that by meditating on the mysteries of our Redemption which are recalled in it, I may be enriched with its fruits and obtain peace for the world, the conversion of sinners, and the favor which I ask of you in this Rosary. [Here mention your request] I ask it for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for the good of souls, especially for my own.

Amen.

How to Pray The Rosary

Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

*praying the Oh My Jesus is optional after each decade. 

1. Make the Sign of the Cross 
2. Holding the cross, pray the Apostle's Creed;
3. On the first bead, pray the Our Father;
4. 3 Hail Marys;
5. Follow by the Glory Be;
6. Announce and meditate on First Mystery  and pray the Our Father  
7. Pray 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be + *Oh My Jesus;
8. Announce/ meditate on Second Mystery + Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be + *Oh My Jesus;
9. Announce/ mediate on Third Mystery + Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be + *Oh My Jesus;
10. Announce/ mediate on Fourth Mystery + Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be + *Oh My Jesus;
11. Announce/ mediate on Fifth Mystery + Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be + *Oh My Jesus;
12. Hail Holy Queen prayer.
13. Say: V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
    R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
14. Prayer for after the Rosary. 

Rosary Prayers

The Five Joyful Mysteries

Mondays and Saturdays (except, during Lent), and the Sundays from Advent to Lent.

1. The Annunciation-Lk 1:28
2. The Visitation-Lk 1:42
3. The Nativity-Lk 2:7
4. The Presentation-Lk 2:28
5. Finding in the Temple-Lk2:45

The Five Luminous Mysteries 

Thursdays (except during Lent).

1. The Baptism of Jesus-Mt 3:13-17.
2. The Wedding at Cana-Jn 2:1-11.
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom-Mk 1:15; Mt 5:1-11. 
4. The Transfiguration-Mt 17:1-8.
5. Institution of the Eucharist-Mt 26:26-30.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries

Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year, and every day from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday.

1. Agony in the Garden-Mk 14:35.

2. Scourging at the Pillar-Mk 15:15.

3. Crowning with Thorns-Mk 15:17

4. Carrying the Cross-Jn 19:17

5. The Crucifixion-Lk 23:33.

The Five Glorious Mysteries

Wednesdays, (except during Lent), and the Sundays from Easter to Advent.

1. The Resurrection-Mk16:6.

2. The Ascension-Mk16:9.

3. Descent of the Holy Spirit-Acts 2:4.

4. Assumption of the B.V.M.Qn 3:15.

5. Crowning of the B.V.M.-Rv12:1.

Prayer After The Rosary

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

O GOD, Whose only-begotten Son, by His Life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech You, that, 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.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
R. Amen.

V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the

mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

Alternate Prayers for After the Rosary

After the prayers of the final decade, conclude with these additional prayers:  

• Hail, Holy Queen
• St. Michael, the Archangel
• Angel of God, my guardian dear  

And this final acclamation:  

“Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ rules!”

On September 29, 2019, on the feast day of St.

Michael the Archangel, Pope Francis asked all Catholics, to recite the rosary, then a Sub tum praesidium and the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Here is the prayer Sub Tuum:

“We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.”