The Rosary
The Rosary is a form of prayer in the Catholic tradition that involves the repetition of prayers and the meditation on specific events (called mysteries) from the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. It is one of the most popular devotional practices in the Catholic Church and is often prayed for personal spiritual growth, for intercession, or for specific intentions.
Structure of the Rosary:
The Rosary consists of a set of prayers said while meditating on 20 key events, or mysteries, in the lives of Jesus and Mary. These mysteries are grouped into four sets:
The Joyful Mysteries (Meditations on the early life of Jesus and Mary)
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Meditations on the suffering and death of Jesus)
The Glorious Mysteries (Meditations on the resurrection and glory of Jesus and Mary)
The Luminous Mysteries (Meditations on the public ministry of Jesus, introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002)
Each of the mysteries is typically reflected upon during specific days of the week, but the Rosary can be prayed at any time.
The Prayers of the Rosary:
The Rosary uses several traditional prayers, which are said in a specific sequence as you move through the beads of the Rosary.
The Sign of the Cross: The prayer begins with the Sign of the Cross, followed by an Apostles’ Creed.
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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will 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."
The Our Father (Lord's Prayer): This prayer is said on the large bead that begins each decade (a set of 10 small beads).
"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."
The Hail Mary: This prayer is said on each of the small beads, 10 times in each decade. After each decade, you meditate on one of the mysteries.
"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: This prayer is said at the end of each decade, following the Hail Marys.
"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."
Fatima Prayer (optional): After the Glory Be, it is common to add the Fatima Prayer, which was given by the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.
"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."
Hail, Holy Queen: After completing all five decades, the Rosary ends with the Hail, Holy Queen prayer.
"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."
Final Prayer (optional): "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."
How to Pray the Rosary:
Start with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed.
Say the Our Father on the large bead.
Say 10 Hail Marys, while meditating on the first mystery.
Say the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.
Repeat the process for each of the next four decades (sets of 10 beads), reflecting on each mystery as you go.
After completing all five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, and any final prayers.
The Mysteries of the Rosary:
Each decade of the Rosary is dedicated to a specific mystery from the life of Jesus or Mary. The mysteries are grouped as follows:
The Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)
The Annunciation – Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive Jesus.
The Visitation – Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
The Nativity – The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
The Presentation in the Temple – Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple.
The Finding in the Temple – Jesus is found teaching in the Temple after being lost for three days.
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)
The Agony in the Garden – Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest.
The Scourging at the Pillar – Jesus is scourged by the Roman soldiers.
The Crowning with Thorns – Jesus is crowned with a crown of thorns by the soldiers.
The Carrying of the Cross – Jesus carries His cross to Calvary.
The Crucifixion – Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross.
The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)
The Resurrection – Jesus rises from the dead.
The Ascension – Jesus ascends into heaven.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles at Pentecost.
The Assumption of Mary – Mary is assumed into heaven, body and soul.
The Coronation of Mary – Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)
The Baptism of Jesus – Jesus is baptized in the River Jordan.
The Wedding at Cana – Jesus performs His first miracle by turning water into wine.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom – Jesus preaches the coming of God’s kingdom.
The Transfiguration – Jesus is transfigured on the mountaintop before Peter, James, and John.
The Institution of the Eucharist – Jesus institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
Praying the Rosary is a powerful way to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the role of Mary in the salvation story. It is a prayer that helps deepen one’s faith, strengthens devotion to Christ and Mary, and brings peace and spiritual healing. Regularly praying the Rosary can be a way to grow closer to God, experience His grace, and seek His intercession through the Virgin Mary.