The Rosary is a Catholic devotion honoring Mary, focusing on key moments in Jesus’ life through vocal prayer and meditation.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Sign of the Cross & Creed: Holding the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed.
- Opening Beads: Pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys (traditionally for faith, hope, and charity), and one Glory Be.
The Decades (Repeat 5 times):
- Announce the Mystery
- Pray one Our Father on the large bead.
- Pray one Hail Mary on each of the ten small beads.
- Pray the Glory Be.
- Pray the Fatima Prayer
- Conclusion: After five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen.
- Final Sign of the Cross: Finish with the Sign of the Cross
Daily Mysteries
- Joyful (Mon/Sat): Focus on the birth and childhood of Jesus.
- Sorrowful (Tue/Fri): Focus on Jesus’ Passion and Death.
- Glorious (Wed/Sun): Focus on the Resurrection and Heaven.
- Luminous (Thu): Focus on Jesus’ public ministry.
Pray
The “Our Father,” also known as the Lord’s Prayer, is a central Christian prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples as a model for prayer. It addresses God as “Father,” honoring His name, requesting His kingdom, asking for daily bread, requesting forgiveness for sins, and asking for protection from temptation and evil.
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.
[For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.]
Amen
Hail Mary is a central Catholic prayer honoring Mary, mother of Jesus, asking for her intercession. It is also widely used metaphorically to describe a desperate, last-ditch effort with a low probability of success
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” (or Gloria Patri) is a traditional Christian prayer and hymn of praise (doxology) used to praise the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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, also known as the “O My Jesus” prayer, is a short prayer requested by the Virgin Mary to be added to the end of each decade of the Rosary.
The Fatima Prayer (O My Jesus)
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 you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.