Rosary

Recite and Meditate Upon the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

A statue of mary with her hands folded in prayer.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond, known as the Joyful (or Joyous) Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, Glorious Mysteries, and Luminous. Each of these Mysteries contemplates five different stages of Christ's life.

Joyful Mysteries

  • The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: Humility
  • The Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor
  • The Nativity. Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty, Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the Poor
  • The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Gift of Wisdom and Purity of mind and body (Obedience)
  • The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: True Conversion (Piety, Joy of Finding Jesus)

Sorrowful Mysteries

  • The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the Will of God
  • The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification (Purity)
  • The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the world (moral courage)
  • The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
  • The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance in faith, grace for a holy death (Forgiveness)

Glorious Mysteries

  • The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Faith
  • The Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: Hope, Desire for ascension to Heaven
  • The Descent of the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God, Holy Wisdom to know the truth and share with everyone, Divine Charity, Worship of the Holy Spirit
  • The Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death and True Devotion towards Mary
  • The Coronation of the Virgin. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance and increase in virtue (Trust in Mary's Intercession)

Luminous Mysteries

  • The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit, the Healer.
  • The Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary. The understanding of the ability to manifest-through faith.
  • Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in God (Call of Conversion to Messiah)
  • The Transfiguration. Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness.

How to Recite the Holy Rosary

A heart shaped rosary with numbers on it.

1. SAY THESE PRAYERS…

IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  (As you say this, with your right hand touch your forehead when you say Father, touch your breastbone when you say Son, touch your left shoulder when you say Holy, and touch your right shoulder when you say Spirit.)

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 rose again from the dead.  He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God,the Father almighty.  He shall 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, 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, 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 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 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.  Amen.

PRAYERS AFTER ROSARY

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 vale 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.  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Amen.

 

THE MEMORARE

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

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 by 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.

ANNOUNCE each mystery by saying something like, “The third Joyful Mystery is the Birth of Our Lord.” This is required only when saying the Rosary in a group.

  1. IN THIS ORDER…

INTRODUCTION

  1. IN THE NAME…
  2. I BELIEVE IN GOD…
  3. OUR FATHER…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. GLORY BE…
  8. O MY JESUS…

THE FIRST DECADE

  1. ANNOUNCE…
  2. OUR FATHER…
  3. HAIL MARY…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. HAIL MARY…
  8. HAIL MARY…
  9. HAIL MARY…
  10. HAIL MARY…
  11. HAIL MARY…
  12. HAIL MARY…
  13. GLORY BE…
  14. O MY JESUS…

THE SECOND DECADE

  1. ANNOUNCE…
  2. OUR FATHER…
  3. HAIL MARY…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. HAIL MARY…
  8. HAIL MARY…
  9. HAIL MARY…
  10. HAIL MARY…
  11. HAIL MARY…
  12. HAIL MARY…
  13. GLORY BE…
  14. O MY JESUS…

THE THIRD DECADE

  1. ANNOUNCE…
  2. OUR FATHER…
  3. HAIL MARY…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. HAIL MARY…
  8. HAIL MARY…
  9. HAIL MARY…
  10. HAIL MARY…
  11. HAIL MARY…
  12. HAIL MARY…

THE FOURTH DECADE

  1. ANNOUNCE…
  2. OUR FATHER
  3. HAIL MARY…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. HAIL MARY…
  8. HAIL MARY…
  9. HAIL MARY…
  10. HAIL MARY…
  11. HAIL MARY…
  12. HAIL MARY…
  13. GLORY BE…
  14. O MY JESUS…

THE FIFTH DECADE

  1. ANNOUNCE…
  2. OUR FATHER…
  3. HAIL MARY…
  4. HAIL MARY…
  5. HAIL MARY…
  6. HAIL MARY…
  7. HAIL MARY…
  8. HAIL MARY…
  9. HAIL MARY…
  10. HAIL MARY…
  11. HAIL MARY…
  12. HAIL MARY…
  13. GLORY BE…
  14. O MY JESUS…

CONCLUSION

  1. HAIL HOLY QUEEN…
  2. THE MEMORARE
  3. AMEN
A rosary with an orange cross on it.

3. WHILE TOUCHING THESE BEADS TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS…

4. AND SILENTLY MEDITATING ON THESE “MYSTERIES”, OR EVENTS FROM THE LIVES OF JESUS AND MARY…

On Monday and Saturday, meditate on the “Joyful Mysteries”

First Decade (Steps 9-22):  The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Second Decade (Steps 23-36): The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
Third Decade (Steps 37-50): The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
Fourth Decade (Steps 51-64): The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-38)
Fifth Decade (Steps 65-78):  The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

On Thursday, meditate on the “Luminous Mysteries”

First Decade:  The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-16)
Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
Third Decade:  The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Mt 26)

On Tuesday and Friday, meditate on the “Sorrowful Mysteries”                       
First Decade:  The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
Third Decade:  Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
Fifth Decade:  The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew  27:33-56)

On Wednesday and Sunday, meditate on the “Glorious Mysteries”         

First Decade:  The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)                 
Second Decade: 
The Ascension of Our Lord (Luke 24:36-53)                               
Third Decade:
The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)                   
Fourth Decade:
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven                                           
Fifth Decade: 
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

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