Catholic Prayer Room

How to Pray the Holy Rosary

The rosary is a prayer of the Church that walks with Mary through the life of Jesus. On each set of beads, we pray familiar prayers while meditating on a moment in the Gospel, called a mystery.

A full rosary of five decades takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You don't need beads to begin. You can count on your fingers.

What You Need

The Prayers of the Holy Rosary

Before you begin, it helps to know these prayers. Tap any of them to read the full text.

Step by Step

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Hold the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross.

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

2. Pray the Apostles' Creed. While still holding the crucifix, pray the Apostles' Creed.

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; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

3. Pray one Our Father. On the first large bead, pray the 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.

4. Pray three Hail Marys. On the next three small beads, pray the Hail Mary three times, traditionally for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

5. Pray the Glory Be. On the chain before the next large bead, pray the 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.

6. Announce the first mystery and pray the Our Father. Name the first mystery of the day (for example, "The first Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation"), then pray the Our Father on the large bead.

7. Pray ten Hail Marys. On the ten small beads (one decade), pray ten Hail Marys while thinking about the mystery.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

8. Pray the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. After the tenth Hail Mary, pray the Glory Be, then the Fatima Prayer.

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.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

9. Repeat for all five decades. Announce the next mystery, then pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer. Do this five times in all.

10. Close the rosary. After the fifth decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen and the Rosary Closing Prayer, then end with the Sign of the Cross.

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.

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 by 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.

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

Which Mysteries to Pray Each Day

Day Mysteries
Monday Joyful
Tuesday Sorrowful
Wednesday Glorious
Thursday Luminous
Friday Sorrowful
Saturday Joyful
Sunday Glorious

By tradition, many Catholics pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent.

The 20 Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

Monday and Saturday

  1. The Annunciation: the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the Mother of God (Luke 1:26–38)
  2. The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
  3. The Nativity: Jesus is born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1–20)
  4. The Presentation: Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22–38)
  5. The Finding in the Temple: the child Jesus is found teaching in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

Pray the Joyful Mysteries β†’

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Tuesday and Friday

  1. The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46)
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus is whipped (John 19:1)
  3. The Crowning with Thorns: the soldiers mock Jesus as king (Matthew 27:27–31)
  4. The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus carries His cross to Calvary (John 19:17)
  5. The Crucifixion: Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:33–46)

Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries β†’

The Glorious Mysteries

Wednesday and Sunday

  1. The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead (Matthew 28:1–10)
  2. The Ascension: Jesus ascends into heaven (Acts 1:6–11)
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4)
  4. The Assumption: Mary is taken body and soul into heaven
  5. The Coronation of Mary: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (Revelation 12:1)

Pray the Glorious Mysteries β†’

The Luminous Mysteries

Thursday

  1. The Baptism of Jesus: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13–17)
  2. The Wedding at Cana: Jesus works His first miracle (John 2:1–11)
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls all to repentance (Mark 1:14–15)
  4. The Transfiguration: Jesus is revealed in glory on the mountain (Matthew 17:1–8)
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus gives us His Body and Blood at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26–29)

Pray the Luminous Mysteries β†’

Common Questions

Do I need rosary beads? No. Beads help you keep count, but you can pray on your fingers.

Can I pray only one decade? Yes. A single decade is a good start if you're new or short on time.

Can I pray the rosary in parts? Yes. You can pray some decades in the morning and the rest later in the day.

When were the Luminous Mysteries added? Pope St. John Paul II added them in 2002, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.

Can I pray the rosary in Tagalog? Yes. See Mga Dasal sa Tagalog.

Oremus: let us pray.