How to pray the rosary
Rosary guide
(how to pray the rosary) pdf download
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How to Pray the Rosary: Step by Step Guide
What You’ll Need
- Rosary Beads (optional): A Rosary has a crucifix, five decades (sets of ten beads), and a few extra beads to guide you through the prayers.
- If you don’t have beads, you can use your fingers or any method to keep track of the prayers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Sign of the Cross
- Hold the crucifix (if using beads) or simply make the gesture with your hand.
- Say:
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Recite the Apostles’ Creed
- Still on the crucifix, pray the full 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.”
Pray the Our Father
- Move to the first bead after the crucifix (or mark it with your fingers).
- Pray the full 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.”
Pray Three Hail Marys
- On the next three beads (or count three prayers), say the full Hail Mary for each one. These are often offered for faith, hope, and charity.
- Each 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.”
(Repeat this prayer three times, one for each bead or count.)
Pray the Glory Be
- After the three Hail Marys, pray the full 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.”
Pray the Our Father
- Move to the first bead after the crucifix (or mark it with your fingers).
- Pray the full 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.”
Pray Three Hail Marys
- On the next three beads (or count three prayers), say the full Hail Mary for each one. These are often offered for faith, hope, and charity.
- Each 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.”
(Repeat this prayer three times, one for each bead or count.)
Pray the Glory Be
- After the three Hail Marys, pray the full 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.”
Pray the Five Decades
- The Rosary includes five decades, and each decade consists of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be. Here’s how to do each one:For Each Decade:
- Repeat this process for all five decades.
Pray the Hail Holy Queen
- After the five decades, pray the full 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.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.”
(Optional) Pray the Rosary Prayer
- You can conclude with this traditional prayer:
“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, 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.”
Make the Sign of the Cross
- Finish the Rosary by making the Sign of the Cross:
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Parts & Mysteries
Meditation
An image and a short meditation from Holy Scripture will help you immerse yourself in prayer as you go through the beads
Joyful Mysteries
Part One
The Annunciation
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.”- Luke 1:26-27
Fruit of the mystery: Humility
The Visitation
“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'” - Luke 1:39-42
Fruit of the mystery: Love of Neighbor
The Nativity
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:1-7
Fruit of the mystery: Poverty
The Presentation
“When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
"When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,' and to offer the sacrifice of 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,' in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” - Luke 2:21-24
Fruit of the mystery: Purity of Heart and Body
The Finding in the Temple
“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.” - Luke 2:41-47
Fruit of the mystery: Devotion to Jesus
Luminous Mysteries
Part Two
The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
“After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” - Matthew 3:16-17
Fruit of the mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit
The Wedding Feast at Cana
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' [And] Jesus said to her, 'Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servers, 'Do whatever he tells you.'” - John 2:1-5
Fruit of the mystery: To Jesus through Mary
Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
“'This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'” - Mark 1:15
Fruit of the mystery: Conversion
The Transfiguration
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” - Matthew 17:1-2
Fruit of the mystery: Desire for holiness
The Institution of the Eucharist
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.'” - Matthew 26:26
Fruit of the mystery: Adoration
Sorrowful Mysteries
Part Three
The Agony in the Garden
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, 'My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.' He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.'” - Matthew 26:36-39
Fruit of the mystery: Obedience to God’s Will
The Scourging at the Pillar
“Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.” - Matthew 27:26
Fruit of the mystery: Mortification
The Crowning with Thorns
“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'” - Matthew 27:27-29
Fruit of the mystery: Courage
The Carrying of the Cross
“They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull).” - Mark 15:21-22
Fruit of the mystery: Patience
The Crucifixion and Death
"It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit'; and when he had said this he breathed his last.”- Luke 23:44-46
Fruit of the mystery: Sorrow for our Sins
Glorious Mysteries
Part Four
The Resurrection
“But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, 'Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.'” - Luke 24:1-5
Fruit of the mystery: Faith
The Ascension
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’"- Acts 1:6-14
Fruit of the mystery:Hope
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” - Acts 2:1-4
Fruit of the mystery: Wisdom
The Assumption
“Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.” - Luke 1:48-49
Fruit of the mystery: Devotion to Mary
The Coronation of Mary
A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to deliver a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a scepter of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days." - Revelation 12:1-6
Fruit of the mystery:Grace of a happy death