The Rosary has been called the preparation for contemplation and the prayer of saints.
While the hands and lips are occupied with the prayers, the mind meditates on the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption represented by the decades. Meditation is the form of prayer by which the one who prays uses the mind and imagination to consider a truth of revelation and uses the will to love it and form resolutions to live it. In this way, the heart, mind, and soul is formed according to the Gospel examples of Jesus and Mary.
"Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”
~St. Padre Pio
How to Pray the Rosary
The Introduction
Begin the Rosary by making the sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then say 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, and 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.
Then say one Our Father, three Hail Marys (for the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity) and one Glory Be:
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, 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 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 Decades and Mysteries
The traditional Rosary is divided into three parts, each having five mysteries: Glorious, Joyful and Sorrowful. In his apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, Pope John Paul II proposed a new set of mysteries, which he called the Luminous, and which concern the period of the public life of Our Lord. For those who wish to say all 20 decades at once during the course of a day, they may be said in the following order: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious.
For each decade of the rosary, announce the mystery and pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and One Glory be while meditating upon some aspect of that mystery.
To pray with us, please select each of the mysteries below.
The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)
The Annunciation
Mary learns from the Angel Gabriel that God wishes her to be the mother of God and humbly accepts. (Luke 1:26-38)
The Visitation
Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth and is praised by her as "blessed among women." (Luke 1:39-56)
The Nativity
Mary gives birth to Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem. (Luke 2:1-20)
The Presentation
Mary and Joseph present Jesus to His Heavenly Father in the Temple of Jerusalem forty days after His birth. (Luke 2:22-39)
The Finding in the Temple
After searching for three days, Mary and Joseph find the twelve-year-old Jesus sitting in the Temple discussing the law with the learned doctors. (Luke 2:42-52).
The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
The Baptism In The Jordan
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the Heavens were opened for him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to Him. And a voice came from Heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Mt.3:16-17)
The Wedding Feast At Cana
On the third
day, there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there... When the wine ran short Mary said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother told the servers, "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:1-11)
The Proclamation Of The Kingdom And The Call To Conversion
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)
The Transfiguration
While Jesus was praying His face changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white. And behold two men were conversing with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus that He was going to accomplish in Jerusalem." (Luke 9:28-31)
The Institution Of The Eucharist
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)
The Agony in the Garden
The thought of our sins and His coming suffering causes the agonizing Savior to sweat blood. (Luke 22:39-44).
The Scourging
Jesus is stripped and unmercifully scourged until His body is one mass of bloody wounds. (Matt. 27:26)
The Crowning with Thorns
Jesus' claim to kingship is ridiculed by putting a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His hand. (Matt. 27:28- 31)
The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus shoulders His own cross and carries it to the place of crucifixion while Mary follows Him sorrowing.
(Luke 23:26- 32)
The Crucifixion
Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies after three hours of agony witnessed by His Mother. (Matt. 27:33-50)
The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)
The Resurrection
Jesus rises from the dead on Easter Sunday, glorious and immortal, as He has predicted. (Matt. 28:1-7).
The Ascension
Jesus ascends into Heaven forty days after His resurrection to sit at the right hand of God the Father. (Luke 24:50-51)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit in the form of fiery tongues on His Apostles and disciples. (Acts 2:2-4)
The Assumption
Mary's soul returns to God and her glorified body is taken up into heaven and reunited with her soul.
The Coronation
Mary is crowned as Queen of heaven and earth, Queen of angels and saints.
After the completion of five mysteries (5 decades), or 15 or 20, the following is customarily said:
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 then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
(Verse) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
(Response) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Rosary Prayer
(Verse) Let us pray,
(Response) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
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