How to Pray the Rosary

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The Rosary

The Rosary is the meditation of the chief mysteries of the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ and of His Blessed Mother.

 

JOYFUL MYSTERIES

The archangel Gabriel announces to the Blessed Virgin Mary that She is to be the Mother of God

Our Lady visits Her cousin, St. Elizabeth

The birth of Our Savior in a stable in Bethlehem

St. Joseph and Our Lady present the child Jesus in the temple

St. Joseph and Our Lady find the child Jesus teaching in the temple

 

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES (optional)

The Baptism of the Lord

The Wedding at Cana

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

The Transfiguration

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

 

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

Jesus suffers the agony in the garden of Gethsemane

Jesus is scourged at the pillar

Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns

Jesus carries the cross

Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross

 

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead

The ascension of Jesus into Heaven

The descent of the Holy Ghost upon Our Lady and the apostles

The assumption of Our Lady, body and soul, into Heaven

The coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth

 

 

How to pray the Rosary
 


 

Follow the numbered sections below with the diagram above.  The format below is how we pray the Rosary at Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers Shrine:

 

1. Make the sign of the Cross and recite the Apostles Creed:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

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 Ghost, 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, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

 

2. Say one 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.

 

3. Say three Hail Marys for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity:

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.

 

4. Say the Glory be:

GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

O MY JESUS, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power of God, cast into hell satan and all evil spirits who wander throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

 

5. Announce the mystery to be meditated. Say one Our Father.

 

6. Then say ten Hail Marys.

 

7. Finish the decade by saying the Glory be, the Fatima prayer, and the St. Michael prayer (short exorcism):

GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

O MY JESUS, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power of God, cast into hell satan and all evil spirits who wander throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

Our Lady told Veronica of the Cross on October 6, 1978, "I ask that no variations be made on the process of speaking and telling the beads. Saint Michael the Archangel, and the prayer given to the children [of Fatima] will be sufficient. Neither add to nor detract from the beads."

 

8. Repeat steps 5 and 7 until you complete the group of 5 mysteries.

 

9. Say the concluding prayers:

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.

V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V: 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 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.

ETERNAL REST grant unto them, O Lord.  And May perpetual light shine upon them.  And may their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

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.

 

For the intentions of the Holy Father to gain the Rosary indulgence: one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

 

Finish by making the sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

 

Click here for the Closing Prayers said at the Rosary Vigils and Sunday Holy Hours

 


We invite you to attend an upcoming Rosary Vigil or Sunday Holy Hour:  c lick here for directions and the prayer service schedule.

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