How to Pray the Rosary

Meditation on the mysteries of Christ is proposed in the Rosary by means of a method designed to assist in their assimilation. It is a method based on repetition. ... The Rosary helps us to be conformed ever more closely to Christ until we attain true holiness.

 (Pope Saint John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 26)

To Begin the Rosary

A Rosary is a string of beads with a crucifix. To pray the rosary you should use one. A short string of five beads is attached to the crucifix which leads to a large circular length of beads made of five sets of one large bead and ten smaller beads, called decades. You begin on the crucifix with the sign of the Cross and an Apostles' Creed. Say an Our Father on the large bead and one Hail Mary for each of the following smaller beads, and end the decade with the Glory Be. These prayers are given below.

While reciting each decade, we meditate upon the Mystery of Salvation. There are twenty mysteries in the whole Rosary.

To finish, the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin, the Hail Holy Queen or the Salve Regina may be added.

The Twenty Mysteries

Five Joyful Mysteries:

The Annunciation of Our Lord, The Visitation, The Nativity of Jesus, The Presentation in the Temple, The Finding in the Temple. (to be said on Mondays and Saturdays)

Five Luminous Mysteries:

The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, Jesus at the Wedding Feast of Cana, The Lord Jesus Proclaims of the Coming of the Kingdom of God, The Transfiguration, The Institution of the Eucharist. (to be said on Thursdays)

Five sorrowful mysteries:

The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, The Crucifixion and Death. (to be said on Tuesdays and Fridays)

Five glorious mysteries:

The Resurrection of Our Lord, The Ascension into Heaven, The Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Assumption of Mary, The Coronation of Mary. (to be said on Wednesdays and Sundays)

Prayers

Profession of Faith

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

[bow during the next two lines]

by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of 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.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

(Nicene Creed)

Or:

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;

the third day, he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

sits at the right hand of God; the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe the Holy Spirit,

the Holy Catholic Church

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting.

Amen.

(Apostles' Creed)

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.