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The Rosary remains one of the most popular devotions of Catholics around the world. However, not everyone knows how to pray the Rosary, especially the younger generations.
Here is a short guide for those interested in how to pray the Rosary, but who were never taught how to pray it by their parents, grandparents or religious educators.
How to Pray the Rosary
Each rosary (the string of beads) has a crucifix at the end of a short extension below the loop. Begin by holding the crucifix and making the sign of the cross.
The very first prayer of the Rosary is the Apostles’ Creed.It is a short profession of faith, affirming your beliefs in the Catholic Church. Recite this prayer while holding the crucifix.
A large bead follows after the crucifix. On this bead recite the Our Father.
Pray three Hail Marys on the following three beads. There is at least one tradition that suggests a person should pray for the theological gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity on these beads.
Before the next bead, holding onto the chain of the Rosary, pray the Glory Be.
Mysteries of the Rosary
At the next large bead, meditate on the first mystery of the Rosary and pray the Our Father.
The Rosary is divided up into five sections known as "decades," so called because each decade contains 10 small beads. During these decades it is customary to mediate on a "mystery" from the life of Christ. Tradition assigns different mysteries of the Rosary to each day of the week, but individual piety is not bound to it.
Mondays and Saturdays
The Joyful Mysteries surrounding Christ's birth: The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38); The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56); The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1–21); The Presentation of Jesus (Luke 2:22–38); The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)
Tuesdays and Fridays
The Sorrowful Mysteries center on Jesus' passion and death: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–56); The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26); The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27–31); The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32); The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–56).
Wednesdays and Sundays
The Glorious Mysteries reflect on the Resurrection and other heavenly episodes: The Resurrection (John 20:1–29); The Ascension (Luke 24:36–53); The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1–41); The Assumption of Mary into Heaven; The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Thursdays
St. John Paul II made the most recent addition to the Rosary with the Mysteries of Light, also called the Luminous Mysteries. They fill a gap in the life of Jesus that wasn't covered by the traditional mysteries of the Rosary: The Baptism in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13–16); The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1–11); The Preaching of the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15); The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8); The Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26).
After meditating on the first mystery, pray a Hail Mary on each of the 10 beads that follow. At the end of each decade pray the Glory Be. Some Catholics add the Fatima Prayer at the end of each decade, reciting the words taught by Our Lady of Fatima.
Repeat the above instructions for each mystery until reaching the end of the five decades.
At the end of the Rosary the next prayer is the Hail, Holy Queen. You may pray this prayer while holding the medal that joins the crucifix extension to the loop of the rosary.
To conclude the Rosary some pray the St. Michael Prayer, and then end with the following invocation.
End by making the Sign of the Cross.
