How to Pray the Rosary

“If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” –Pope Pius XI

What is the Rosary?

The rosary is a series of prayers offered to God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Prayed while meditating on the joyful, sorrowful, glorious and luminous mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ, the rosary leads a person to grow in knowledge, love and union with God.  Typically prayed on a string of beads with five decades joined with a Crucifix, the prayer of the rosary helps one “to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ, and experience the depths of his love.” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae,1)

Why Pray the Rosary?

Pope St. John Paul II called the rosary a “genuine training in holiness” as it fosters contemplation of Christ and commitment to prayer, helping one take on the mind and heart of Christ.  The rosary has also been proposed by many popes as a prayer for peace.  In a world that often suffers from hostility and division, the rosary leads one to contemplate Christ, the Prince of Peace, and strive for peace and unity through prayer (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 5-6). 

15 Promises of the Rosary

According to tradition, Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and later to Blessed Alan de la Roche 15 promises for those devoted to the rosary. The 15 promises of the rosary are as follows:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the rosary are my son, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination. (Meaning that devotion to the rosary is a good sign the person is on the path toward heaven.)

(usgraceforce.com/the-rosary/)

What are the Mysteries of the Rosary? 

During the prayer of the rosary, a person meditates on the saving events of the life of Christ and his Paschal Mystery.  There are 20 mysteries of the rosary, including five joyful mysteries of the rosary, five sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, five glorious mysteries of the rosary, and five luminous mysteries of the rosary.   

Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary – Rosary for Monday and Rosary for Saturday

1.     The Annunciation (Lk 1:26-27)
2.     The Visitation (Lk 1:39-42)
3.     The Birth of Our Lord (Lk 2:1-7)
4.     The Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2:21-24)
5.     The Finding of Jesus in the Temple  (Lk 2:41-47)

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary – Rosary for Tuesday and Rosary for Friday

1.     The Agony in the Garden (Mt 26:36-39)
2.     The Scourging at the Pillar (Mt 27,26)
3.     The Crowning with Thorns (Mt 27:27-29).
4.     The Carrying of the Cross (Mk 15:21-22).
5.     The Crucifixion (Lk 23:33-46)

Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary – Rosary for Wednesday and Rosary for Sunday

1.     The Resurrection (Lk 24:1-5)
2.     The Ascension (Mk 16:19)
3.     The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
4.     The Assumption (Lk 1:48-49)
5.     The Crowning of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven (Rev 12:1)

Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary – Rosary for Thursday

1.     The Baptism in the Jordan (Mt 3:16-17)
2.     The Wedding Feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-5)
3.     The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:15)
4.     The Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2)
5.     The Institution of the Eucharist (Mt 26:26)

When to Pray the Rosary? 

The rosary can be prayed anytime as one can always benefit from meditating on the saving events of the life of Jesus Christ. Traditionally the Church proposes that certain mysteries of the rosary be recited on certain days of the week, as follows:

Rosary for Monday: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Tuesday: The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Wednesday: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Thursday: The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Saturday: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Rosary for Sunday: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

How to Pray the Rosary:

1. On the Crucifix, begin by making the sign of the cross, and pray the “Apostles’ Creed”.
2. On the first single bead, pray the “Our Father.”
3. On the set of three beads, pray three “Hail Marys” while meditating on the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. 
4. Next, pray the “Glory Be”.
5. On the next single bead, announce the first mystery of the rosary (ex. ‘the first Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation’) and pray one “Our Father”.
6. On the first decade (set of 10 beads), pray 10 “Hail Marys” while meditating on the first mystery of the rosary.
7. On the next single bead, pray the “Glory Be”, the “Fatima Prayer” (optional) and announce the next mystery of the rosary (ex. ‘the second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation’). Then pray an “Our Father”.
8. On the next decade (set of 10 beads), pray 10 “Hail Marys” while meditating on the second mystery of the rosary. 
9. On the next single bead, pray the “Glory Be”, the “Fatima Prayer” (optional) and announce the next mystery of the rosary (ex. ‘the second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation’). Then pray an “Our Father”.
10. Repeat for the remaining decades of the rosary. 
11. When you come to then end of the decades of the rosary, pray the “Glory Be”, the “Fatima Prayer”, and the “Hail Holy Queen.
12. Pray the Closing Prayer.
13. End with the Sign of the Cross.

PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY

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; the third day He arose 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.

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.

Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Fatima Prayer (Optional):

O my Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Take all souls into heaven, especially, those most in need of thy mercy. Amen.

Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst 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.

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 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.

Closing Prayer:

Let Us Pray

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 imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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