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Printable Rosary guide

Print this two-page guide on letter-size paper and keep it with your rosary, or share it with a friend, a prayer group, or a classroom. It is free to print and copy for personal and parish use.

Pray along online

Tip: in the print window, choose “Letter” and “Default” margins, and turn off headers and footers.

LearnGodsLight · learngodslight.com/rosary

How to Pray the Rosary

  1. Holding the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed.
  2. On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
  3. On the next three beads, pray three Hail Marys (for an increase of faith, hope, and charity).
  4. Pray the Glory Be.
  5. Announce the first mystery, then pray the Our Father on the large bead.
  6. On the ten small beads, pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery.
  7. Pray the Glory Be, then the Fatima Prayer.
  8. Repeat steps 5–7 for the second through fifth mysteries.
  9. Close with the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer, then make the Sign of the Cross.

The Mysteries

Joyful Mysteries

Monday & Saturday
Sundays of Advent

  1. The AnnunciationLuke 1:26–38 · Humility
  2. The VisitationLuke 1:39–56 · Love of neighbor
  3. The Nativity of Our LordLuke 2:1–20 · Poverty
  4. The Presentation in the TempleLuke 2:22–38 · Purity of heart and body
  5. The Finding of Jesus in the TempleLuke 2:41–52 · Devotion to Jesus

Luminous Mysteries

Thursday

  1. The Baptism of the Lord in the JordanMatthew 3:13–17 · Openness to the Holy Spirit
  2. The Wedding Feast at CanaJohn 2:1–11 · To Jesus through Mary
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to ConversionMark 1:14–15 · Conversion
  4. The TransfigurationMatthew 17:1–8 · Desire for holiness
  5. The Institution of the EucharistMatthew 26:26–29 · Adoration

Sorrowful Mysteries

Tuesday & Friday
Sundays of Lent

  1. The Agony in the GardenMatthew 26:36–46 · Obedience to God’s will
  2. The Scourging at the PillarMark 15:15; John 19:1 · Mortification
  3. The Crowning with ThornsMatthew 27:27–31 · Courage
  4. The Carrying of the CrossLuke 23:26–32; John 19:17 · Patience
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our LordLuke 23:33–46 · Sorrow for our sins

Glorious Mysteries

Wednesday & Sunday

  1. The ResurrectionLuke 24:1–12 · Faith
  2. The AscensionActs 1:6–11 · Hope
  3. The Descent of the Holy SpiritActs 2:1–4 · Wisdom
  4. The Assumption of MaryLuke 1:48–49 · Devotion to Mary
  5. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and EarthRevelation 12:1 · Grace of a happy death

References and fruits are traditional. The Assumption and the Coronation come from the Church’s Tradition and teaching (Catechism 966); the verses given are for reflection.

The Prayers

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; 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

The 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.

The 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

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 Fatima Prayer (after each Glory Be)

O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Amen.

According to Sr. Lúcia, Our Lady gave this prayer at Fatima on July 13, 1917.

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, hath purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries in 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.

Traditional English texts: Apostles’ Creed, adapted from the Baltimore Catechism (1885) with the modern name “Holy Spirit”; Hail, Holy Queen, My Prayer-Book (1908); closing prayer, Manual of Prayers (1888); Fatima Prayer, an English form. Mysteries by day: St. John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae 38. “Pray the Rosary every day.” (Our Lady of Fatima)