How to Pray the Rosary

If you are unfamiliar with praying the Rosary which is one of the most powerful and oldest prayers of the Catholic church here’s a quick guide.

Please join us to pray the Rosary every Monday at 7 pm Eastern Time at www.MaryLives.com.  All are welcome.  Prior experience is not necessary!!

What you need

• A rosary (optional—you can pray without one)

• A quiet place, if possible

How to Pray the Rosary

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

2. Apostles’ Creed

Pray the Creed on the crucifix.

3. Our Father

Pray it on the first large bead.

4. Three Hail Marys

Traditionally offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.

5. Glory Be

6. Fatima Prayer

The Decades (this is the main part)

A Rosary has five decades. For each decade:

1. Announce the mystery (e.g., “The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation”).

2. Our Father on the large bead.

3. Ten Hail Marys on the small beads.

4. Glory Be.

5.  Fatima Prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…”

Repeat for all five decades.

Closing Prayers

After the five decades, pray:

• Hail Holy Queen

• Final prayer (“O God, whose only begotten Son…”)

• Sign of the Cross

Here are the Mysteries of the Rosary (rotated by day)

Joyful (Mon, Sat)

1. Annunciation

2. Visitation

3. Nativity

4. Presentation

5. Finding in the Temple

Sorrowful (Tue, Fri; Lent Sundays)

1. Agony in the Garden

2. Scourging

3. Crowning with Thorns

4. Carrying of the Cross

5. Crucifixion

Glorious (Wed, Sun)

1. Resurrection

2. Ascension

3. Descent of the Holy Spirit

4. Assumption

5. Coronation of Mary

Luminous (Thu)

1. Baptism of Jesus

2. Wedding at Cana

3. Proclamation of the Kingdom

4. Transfiguration

5. Institution of the Eucharist

Again, please join us each Monday at 7 pm ET to pray the Rosary together at www.MaryLives.com. This wonderful prayer will bring you closer to Christ through this devotion to the Blessed Mother.