Each day of the week has its own set of mysteries for the Holy Rosary. Find today below, then tap the mysteries to pray them.
| Day | Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Monday | Joyful Mysteries |
| Tuesday | Sorrowful Mysteries |
| Wednesday | Glorious Mysteries |
| Thursday | Luminous Mysteries |
| Friday | Sorrowful Mysteries |
| Saturday | Joyful Mysteries |
| Sunday | Glorious Mysteries |
New to the Holy Rosary? Start with How to Pray the Holy Rosary.
Monday: The Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity
- The Presentation
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Tuesday: The Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries β
Wednesday: The Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary
Pray the Glorious Mysteries β
Thursday: The Luminous Mysteries
- The Baptism of Jesus
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
Pray the Luminous Mysteries β
Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries β
Saturday: The Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity
- The Presentation
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Sunday: The Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary
Pray the Glorious Mysteries β
Sundays in Special Seasons
By tradition, many Catholics change the Sunday mysteries to match the season of the Church year:
| Season | Sunday Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Advent and Christmas | Joyful |
| Lent | Sorrowful |
| The rest of the year | Glorious |
Why the Days Are Arranged This Way
The weekly schedule follows the life of Christ:
- Friday is the day Jesus died, so it is kept for the Sorrowful Mysteries.
- Sunday is the day He rose, so it is kept for the Glorious Mysteries.
- Saturday has long been dedicated to Mary, so it is kept for the Joyful Mysteries, which center on her.
- Thursday recalls the Last Supper, so it is kept for the Luminous Mysteries, which end with the Institution of the Eucharist.
The Older Schedule
Before 2002, the Holy Rosary had only 15 mysteries, and the days were arranged differently:
| Day | Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Monday and Thursday | Joyful |
| Tuesday and Friday | Sorrowful |
| Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday | Glorious |
When Pope St. John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries in 2002, he suggested the current schedule. Some Catholics still pray the older one, and both are faithful ways to pray the Holy Rosary.
Common Questions
Do I have to follow the schedule? No. The weekly schedule is a beautiful custom, not a rule. You may pray any set of mysteries on any day, for example the Sorrowful Mysteries when you are going through a hard time.
What if I want to pray all the mysteries? You can pray all twenty in one day, one set after another. Many people pray one set in the morning and others later in the day.
What should I do after the five mysteries? Close with the Hail Holy Queen, the Holy Rosary Closing Prayer, and the Sign of the Cross.