How to Pray the Rosary

The Rosary is the most common of all Catholic devotions, bar none. In the past few hundred years, the Rosary has become synonymous with Catholicism: many priests wear one as part of their clerics or religious habits, many of the lay-faithful wear it on their persons and decorate their houses, cars, and other spaces with them, churches and societies are named after them, and the liturgical calendar even includes a feast day devoted to it. Many refer to the Rosary as the premier weapon in our spiritual arsenal against the forces of Satan and his demonic forces. It cannot be stressed enough: the Rosary is central to Catholic devotion.

That being said, if we want people to pick up and pray the Rosary, they need to know how to do it. While there are several variations on how to pray the Rosary, there is one common way that you'll find at pretty much any public recitation of the Rosary. This post serves as a basic run-down of how to pray the most common Catholic devotion:

Layout of the Rosary:

All sets of rosary beads will be laid out in the same way: at the bottom of it is a cross or a crucifix, affixed to a strand of five beads: one large bead, three smaller ones, and another large bead or some sort of centerpiece, normally of Mary or of another saint. After this are five sets of ten small beads, with one large bead dividing each set. These five sets are called decades because of the set of ten beads that constitute them.

Beginning Prayers:

To begin the Rosary, hold the crucifix in your right hand and use it to make the Sign of the Cross. Touch your forehead, then the center of your chest, then your left shoulder, and finally your right shoulder, while piously saying "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen"

While still holding the Crucifix, recite 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 is seated 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Grab the first large bead and recite the Our Father, also known as the Lord's Prayer: 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.

Once this has been prayed, recite the Hail Mary once on each of the small beads, offering each prayer to God through the intercessory prayers of Mary. Offer these prayers for an increase in the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The Hail Mary is recited thusly: 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.

After this, on the next large bead, recite the Glory Be in adoration of the Most Holy Trinity: 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

The Five Decades of the Rosary

Stay on this large bead and announce the first mystery which you will be praying. We'll list the Mysteries of the Rosary later in the article. After the mystery is announced, pray the Our Father. Following this, pray one Hail Mary on each of the ten smaller beads. Once you have reached the next large bead, recite a Glory Be. If you are praying an ordinary Rosary, it is appropriate and commonplace to recite the Fatima Prayer, or the O My Jesus Prayer, after it: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen. Repeat this pattern until you have completed all five decades.

Concluding the Rosary

After having prayed the fifth decade, end the Rosary by praying the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen), any additional pre-written prayers, and then the Collect of the Rosary, also called the concluding prayer.

The Salve Regina goes: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail 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 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.

Two prayers to say between the Salve Regina and the Collect are the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saint Michael prayer, both of which will be typed out at the end of the article.

The Collect goes: O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that, 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.

After this, concluded by making the Sign of the Cross once more with the crucifix.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Rosary has two purposes: the first is to seek the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the second is to meditate on the several Mysteries of the Rosary. These Mysteries are taken from the life of Christ and the Blessed Virgin, and all but two of them are found explicitly in the Bible itself. When the Rosary was first developed, there were three sets of five mysteries, and each of these mysteries is thought to have a spiritual fruit attached to them. The original fifteen mysteries and their fruits are:

The Joyful Mysteries:

First Mystery: The Annunciation (Humility)

Second Mystery: The Visitation of Blessed Mary to St. Elizabeth (Love of Neighbor)

Third Mystery: The Nativity of our Lord (Spirit of Poverty)

Fourth Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple (Obedience)

Fifth Mystery: The Finding of the Christchild in the Temple (Piety, Joy in Finding Christ)

The Sorrowful Mysteries:

First Mystery: The Agony in the Garden (True Contrition)

Second Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar (Purity)

Third Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns (Hatred of the World)

Fourth Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross (Patience)

Fifth Mystery: The Crucifixion of our Lord (Final Perseverance)

The Glorious Mysteries:

First Mystery: The Resurrection of our Lord (Faith)

Second Mystery: The Ascension of our Lord (Hope)

Third Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Charity)

Fourth Mystery: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven (Grace of a Happy Death)

Fifth Mystery: The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin as Queen of Heaven and Earth (True Devotion to Mary)

In 2003, Pope St. John Paul II approved five additional mysteries in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae focussing on the life of Christ called the Luminous Mysteries or the Mysteries of Light:

First Mystery: The Baptism of our Lord (Openness to the Holy Spirit)

Second Mystery: The Wedding of Cana (To Jesus through Mary)

Third Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Call to Conversion)

Fourth Mystery: The Transfiguration (Desire for Holiness)

Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist (Adoration)

We cover the different mysteries in more depth in different articles, all of which are linked to this one.

The month of October is designated as the Month of the Holy Rosary. There is no better time to pick up the Rosary and make it a part of your daily routine than right now. We hope that this introduction will assist you in your prayers and help you consider picking up this spiritual weapon. May God bless and keep you in your prayers!

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Appendix: The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the St. Michael Prayer

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us. (repeat after each line)

Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church, Mother of mercy, Mother of divine grace, Mother of hope, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Savior, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory,

House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comfort of Migrants, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of Families, Queen of Peace,

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray, Grant, we beseech Thee, Lord God, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow to delight in joy eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Michael Prayer

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen