“The Rosary has accompanied me in momentsof joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I haveentrusted any number of concerns; in it I havealways found comfort.” — Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae
Why Catholics Say the RosaryThe Rosary as we know it was developed in the Middle Ages. It evolved out of an ancientpractice in which people who could not readScripture recited 150 Our Fathers for the 150Psalms. Strings of beads, called “pater-nosters,” were used to keep track ofthe prayers.
Over time, this practice merged withthe Scriptural greeting to Mary (“HailMary, full of grace…”) and with medita-tions on the lives of Christ and Mary.
In groups or in a family, one personcan say the first half of each prayer,while others respond with the sec-ond half.
The Rosary is, at its heart, a biblical prayer, which iswhy Scripture verses are often used for meditationwith each mystery.
How to Pray the Rosary
❶ Begin with the Sign of the Cross.Pray the Apostles’ Creed while holdingthe crucifix.❷ Pray an Our Father.❸ Pray three Hail Marys.❹ Pray the Glory Be, announcethe first mystery, then pray anOur Father.❺ Pray ten Hail Marys (called adecade). ❻ Pray the Glory Be and theFatima Prayer. ❼ Before each decade,announce the next mystery, fol-lowed by an Our Father.For each set of ten beads, pray tenHail Marys while meditating onthe mystery.❽ After the five decades are completed,pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the concludingRosary Prayer.
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Prayers of the Rosary
Apostles’ CreedI 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 thepower of the Holy Spirit and born ofthe Virgin Mary. He suffered underPontius 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 theright hand of the Father. He will come again
to judge the living and the dead. I believe inthe Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness ofsins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.
Our FatherOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thyname; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earthas it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; andforgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tres-pass against us; and lead us not into temptation, butdeliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail MaryHail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessedart thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thywomb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for ussinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be (The Doxology)Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to theHoly Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, andever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima PrayerO my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires ofhell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those whohave most need of your mercy.
Hail, Holy QueenHail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail, ourlife, our sweetness, and our hope. To you dowe cry, poor banished children of Eve. To youdo we send up our sighs, mourning, and weep-ing in this valley of tears. Turn, then, mostgracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towardus; and after this, our exile, show unto us theblessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement,O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of GodR. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
Concluding Rosary PrayerO God, whose only begotten Son, by His life,death, and resurrection, has purchased for usthe rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseechThee, that meditating upon these mysteries ofthe Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed VirginMary, we may imitate what they contain andobtain what they promise, through the sameChrist Our Lord. Amen.
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The Joyful Mysteries
Prayed on Mondays and SaturdaysThe events surrounding the coming of Our Lord, Godmade man, are a cause for intense joy. We meditate onthese mysteries asking Our Lady to help us discoverthe secret of Christian joy — the coming of Our LordJesus Christ in the flesh.
The Annunciation of the LordThe angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galileenamed Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whosename was Joseph.... And he came to her and said, “Hail,O favored one, the Lord is with you!” — Luke 1:26-28
The VisitationIn those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hillcountry, to a city of Judah.... And when Elizabeth heardthe greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. — Luke 1:39-41
The Nativity of the LordAnd she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped himin swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, becausethere was no place for them in the inn. — Luke 2:7
The Presentation of the LordAnd when the parents brought in the child Jesus … he tookhim up in his arms and blessed God and said,“Lord, nowlettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” — Luke 2:27-30
The Finding in the TempleAfter three days they found him in the temple, sittingamong the teachers, listening to them and asking themquestions; and all who heard him were amazed. — Luke 2:45-47
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Prayed on Tuesdays and FridaysThe Passion and death of Our Lord reveal how muchGod loves us. We meditate on these mysteries askingOur Lady to help us comprehend this love and toexperience its life-giving power.
The Agony in the GardenAnd going a little farther [Jesus] fell on his face and prayed,“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” — Matthew 26:39
The ScourgingThen [Pilate] released for them Barabbas, and havingscourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. — Matthew 27:26
The Crowning with ThornsAnd they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him,and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, andput a reed in his right hand. — Matthew 27:28-29
The Carrying of the CrossAnd when they had mocked him, they stripped him of therobe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away tocrucify him.… They came upon a man of Cyrene, Simonby name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. — Matthew 27:31-32
The CrucifixionAnd Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up hisspirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn intwo, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and therocks were split. — Matthew 27:50-51
The Luminous Mysteries
Prayed on ThursdaysThe public life of Our Lord reveals what the reign ofGod’s Kingdom is like — both in the miracles Heworked and in His preaching. We meditate on thesemysteries asking Our Lady to help us to allow His lightto shine in our darkness.
The Baptism of JesusAnd when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediatelyfrom the water, and behold, the heavens were opened andhe saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove. — Matthew 3:16
The Wedding Feast of CanaJesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do withme? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to theservants, “Do whatever he tells you.” … This, the first ofhis signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee. — John 2:4-5, 11
The Preaching of the KingdomJesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, andsaying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is athand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:14-15
The TransfigurationAnd as [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his counte-nance was altered, and his raiment became dazzlingwhite.… And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “Thisis my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” — Luke 9:29-35
The Institution of the EucharistNow as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed,and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take,eat; this is my body.” — Matthew 26:26-27
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The Glorious Mysteries
Prayed on Wednesdays and SundaysIn triumph, Our Lord empowers us to follow Himcourageously. We meditate on these mysteries askingOur Lady to intercede for us, that we may always keepin mind the glory of God as we seek to do His willhere on earth.
The ResurrectionThen the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, alsowent in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did notknow the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. — John 20:8
The Ascension of the LordHe said to them, “It is not for you to know times or sea-sons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. Butyou shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has comeupon you.” … When he had said this, as they were lookingon, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of theirsight. — Acts 1:7-9
The Descent of the Holy SpiritThere appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed andresting on each one of them. And they were all filled withthe Holy Spirit. — Acts 2:3-4
The Assumption of Our Blessed MotherFor since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, evenso, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who havefallen asleep. — 1 Thessalonians 4:14
The Crowning of Mary as Queen of HeavenA great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed withthe sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head acrown of twelve stars. — Revelation 12:1
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