How to pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross

The prayer begins with the Sign of the Cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

It is the gesture that opens the time of prayer and reminds us to whom we are speaking.

2. The Creed

The Creed, the Church’s profession of faith, is prayed as the foundation of everything that will be contemplated.

3. Intentions

Before beginning, a moment of silence is kept to place our personal intentions before God: people, situations, requests and thanksgiving.

4. Choosing the Mysteries of the day

Each day of the week has its own Mysteries: Joyful on Mondays and Saturdays, Sorrowful on Tuesdays and Fridays, Glorious on Wednesdays and Sundays, Luminous on Thursdays.

One group of five Mysteries is prayed in each Rosary.

5. Contemplating each Mystery

Before each decade, the Scripture passage of the Mystery and a short meditation are read. To contemplate is to look at the scene with Mary, without hurry.

6. Each decade: Our Father, ten Hail Marys and Glory Be

Each Mystery is prayed with one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and the Glory Be.

The Hail Marys are the rhythm that sustains contemplation: the lips pray, the heart looks at the Mystery.

7. Short prayers at the end of each decade

After the Glory Be, the short invocations are prayed: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”, “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.”, “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.”, “Queen of Peace, pray for us.” and “Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, pray for us.”.

8. Three final Hail Marys

When the five decades are finished, three Hail Marys are prayed: in honour of Our Lady’s purity, in reparation for all the offences and outrages committed against her Immaculate Heart and for Pope Leo and for the whole Holy Church.

9. Hail, Holy Queen and Consecration

The prayer concludes with the Hail, Holy Queen and the Consecration to Our Lady, entrusting to her everything that has been prayed.

The Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Consecration to Our Lady

O my Lady, O my Mother, I offer myself entirely to you, and in proof of my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, and my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, O good Mother, as I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.