How to pray the Rosary
The Rosary is a meditation on the life of Jesus, prayed with Mary. St. John Paul II described it as a compendium of the whole Gospel (Rosarium Virginis Mariae 1).
Find today's mysteries below
Step by step
You need about 20 minutes and a rosary (or your ten fingers). Before each decade, announce the mystery and picture that moment in the life of Christ while you pray.
- Holding the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.
- On the first bead, pray the Our Father.
- On the next three beads, pray three Hail Marys (traditionally for an increase of faith, hope, and charity).
- Pray the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery, then pray the Our Father on the large bead.
- On the ten small beads, pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery.
- Pray the Glory Be. Many people then add the Fatima Prayer.
- Repeat steps 5–7 for the second through fifth mysteries.
- Close with the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer, then make the Sign of the Cross.
Twenty mysteries of the life of Christ
This is the customary weekly pattern, as given by St. John Paul II in Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002), which added the Luminous Mysteries.
Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity of Our Lord
- The Presentation in the Temple
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Luminous Mysteries
- The Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan
- The Wedding Feast at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Customarily, the Joyful Mysteries may be prayed on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent.
Every prayer of the Rosary
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; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will 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.
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
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.
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 life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.