Praying the RosaryRosary comes from the Latin word for “rose garden,” which represents an image of the Virgin Mary in Latin hymns.
The purpose of the Rosary is to help us remember and meditate on the great mysteries of the Catholic faith and to remember the primary events in the history of our salvation. Some of the Popes have referred to the Rosary as a compendium of the Gospel since it is based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Holy Mother. The mysteries of the Rosary are based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgy.
Twenty Mysteries are reflected throughout the Rosary, which are divided into:
Joyful Mysteries (said on Monday and Saturday and Sundays during Christmas)
When one prays the Rosary they are reflecting the whole liturgical cycle that the Church commemorates each year.
How to Pray the Rosary
While holding the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed.
On the first bead and all the single beads, say an Our Father.
Pray one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.
On the next single bead, pray the Glory Be.
Before praying the next set of ten rosary beads (called a decade), first meditate on the first mystery. Announce the mystery, imagine the event, and begin to meditate on it by itself or in association with whatever matter the mystery brings to your heart.
Pray an Our Father.
Pray a Hail Mary on the first bead of the decade, and on each following bead.
After praying the decade, pray the Glory Be. You may also want to add the Fatima invocation.
Reflect on the second mystery, then pray an Our Father on the next single bead.
Pray the Hail Mary on the next ten rosary beads. Repeat the sequence around the rosary.
At the end of the last decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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 the life everlasting.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (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.
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 at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Glory Be (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.
Fatima Invocation
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.
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pope Saint John Paul II suggested the recitation of the Rosary as seen below with: the JOYFUL mysteries on Monday and Saturday, the SORROWFUL on Tuesday and Friday, the LUMINOUS on Thursday, and the GLORIOUS on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception; Sundays of Advent and Christmas – the JOYFUL; Sundays of Lent – the SORROWFUL).
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation of the birth of the Lord to Mary by the archangel Gabriel (Lk 1:26-38).
2. The Visitation of Our Lady with St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:39-56).
3. The Nativity of Our Lord (Mt 1:18-25; Lk 2:1-20).
4. The Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple (Lk 2:22-32).
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-52).
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14:32-42).
2. The Scourging of Jesus (Jn 19:1).
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Mk 15:16-20).
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Jn 19:12-17).
5. The Crucifixion (Mt 27:33-56; Mk 15:22-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:16-30).
The Luminous Mysteries
(Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Mt 3:13-16).
2. The Self-Manifestation of Our Lord at the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-11).
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:14-15).
4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Mt 17:1-8; Lk 9:28-29).
5. The Last Supper, when the Eucharist was Instituted (Mt 26).
The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection (Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20).
2. The Ascension (Lk 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-12).
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Song 2:8-14).
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother (Rev 12:1-4).
