The Rosary

How to Say the Rosary

1. Begin by making the Sign of the Cross with the Crucifix.
2. Say The Apostles’ Creed.
3. Say the Our Father.
4. Say 3 Hail Marys.
5. Say the Glory Be and Fatima Prayer. Announce the first mystery and say the Our Father.
6. Meditate on the first mystery while saying 10 Hail Marys.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the second, third, fourth, and fifth mysteries.
8. Say Hail Holy Queen and Let Us Pray.
9. Say the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel.
10. Say the Memorare.
11. Make the Sign of the Cross with the Crucifix.

* Refer to the diagram above for using the Rosary and its beads.
* Refer to the mysteries below for which ones to say and what to meditate on during the Hail Marys.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Five Joyful Mysteries Mondays and Saturdays.

1. The Annunciation – The Angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the Mother of God.
2. The Visitation – The Blessed Virgin pays a visit to her cousin Elizabeth.
3. The Nativity – The Infant Jesus is born in a stable at Bethlehem.
4. The Presentation – The Blessed Virgin presents the Child Jesus to Simeon in the temple.
5. The Finding in the Temple – Jesus is lost for three days, and the Blessed Mother finds him in the Temple.

The Five Luminous Mysteries/Mysteries of Light Thursdays.

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
2. The Self Manifestation of Jesus at the Wedding Feast of Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God accompanied with the Call to Conversion
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist as the Sacramental Expression of the Pascal Mystery

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries Tuesdays and Fridays.

1. The Agony in the Garden – Jesus prays in the Garden of Olives and drops of blood break through his skin.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar – Jesus is tied to a pillar and cruelly beaten with whips.
3. The Crowning with Thorns – A crown of thorns is placed upon Jesus’ head.
4. The Carrying of the Cross – Jesus is made to carry his cross to Calvary.
5. The Crucifixion – Jesus is nailed to the cross, and dies for our sins.

The Five Glorious Mysteries Wednesdays and Sundays.

1. The Resurrection – Jesus rises from the dead, three days after his death.
2. The Ascension – Forty days after his death, Jesus ascends into heaven.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Ten days after the ascension, the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles and the Blessed Mother in the form of fiery tongues.
4. The Assumption – The Blessed Virgin dies and is assumed into heaven.
5. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin – The Blessed Virgin is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth by Jesus, her son.

Prayers of the Rosary

Prayer before the Rosary

Queen of the Holy Rosary, you have deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three shepherd children the treasures of grace hidden in the Rosary. Inspire my heart with a sincere love of this devotion, in order that by meditating on the Mysteries of our Redemption which are recalled in it, I may be enriched with its fruits and obtain peace for the world, the conversion of sinners and of Russia, and the favor which I ask of you in this Rosary. (Here mention your request.) I ask it for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for the good of souls, especially for my own. Amen.

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 life everlasting.
Amen.

Our Father/The Lord’s Prayer

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.

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.

Fatima

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.
My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee. I beg pardon for all those, who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee.

Hail Holy Queen/Let Us Pray

Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your 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.

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 you, that meditating upon 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

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O good prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power of God, cast into hell, Satan, and all evil spirits who wander through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother!
To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.

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Last revision: May 20, 2002