How to Say the Rosary
The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. (ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE)
The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five JOYFUL MYSTERIES, the five LUMINOUS MYSTERIES, the five SORROWFUL MYSTERIES, and the five GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.
- Make the Sign of the Cross and say the “Apostles’ Creed.”
- Say the “Our Father.”
- Say three “Hail Marys.”
- Say the “Glory be to the Father.”
- Announce the First Mystery; then say the “Our Father.”
- Say ten “Hail Marys,” while meditating on the Mystery.
- Say the “Glory be to the Father.”
- Say the “Fatima Prayer.”
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy”.
- Announce the Second Mystery; then say the “Our Father,” Ten “Hail Marys,” “Glory Be,” and “Fatima Prayer.” and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.
After the Rosary:
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!
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 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.
After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.”
As suggested by the Holy Father the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season – The Joyful; Sundays of Lent – Sorrowful)
The Joyful Mysteries
The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATIONThe Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATIONThe Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITYThe Fourth Joyful Mystery
THE PRESENTATIONThe Fifth Joyful Mystery
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
The Luminous Mysteries
The First Luminous Mystery
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORDThe Second Luminous Mystery
THE WEDDING OF CANAThe Third Luminous Mystery
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOMThe Fourth Luminous Mystery
THE TRANSFIGURATIONThe Fifth Luminous Mystery
THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The First Sorrowful Mystery
THE AGONY IN THE GARDENThe Second Sorrowful Mystery
THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLARThe Third Sorrowful Mystery
THE CROWNING WITH THORNSThe Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
THE CARRYING OF THE CROSSThe Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
THE CRUCIFIXION
The Glorious Mysteries
The First Glorious Mystery
THE RESURRECTIONThe Second Glorious Mystery
THE ASCENSIONThe Third Glorious Mystery
THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRITThe Fourth Glorious Mystery
THE ASSUMPTIONThe Fifth Glorious Mystery
THE CORONATION
Additional Prayers
“O God whose only begotten Son has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, Grant that we beseech Thee while meditating upon 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 Amen.”
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”
(The Angel to three children of Fatima, spring 1916)
For the intentions of the Holy Father, one may recite at the end of the Rosary one “Our Father,” one “Hail Mary,” and one “Glory Be.”