In the beliefs of the Roman Catholic faith, the Rosary is one of the most beautiful, powerful, and holy prayers. The Rosary is devotion to God through devotion to the Virgin Mary. The Rosary is evangelical, Christ-centered, and the twenty events in it reflect the life of Jesus Christ. The Rosary gives hope when life feels so heavy. Keep reading for instructions on how to pray the Rosary.
Step
Method 1 of 7: Opening
Step 1. Start by touching the Cross and making the Sign of the Cross
To make the Sign of the Cross, touch your forehead with your right hand, then touch your chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder. It doesn't matter if you don't have a Rosary necklace. You can follow it by heart. When making the Sign of the Cross, say:
- English: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
-
Latin: In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Touch your forehead when you say "Father", touch your breastbone when you say "Son", touch your left shoulder when you say "Holy Spirit", and touch your right shoulder when you say "Amen"
Step 2. Pray the Apostles' Creed
If you are praying with the Rosary necklace, keep the necklace on the cross. With a bowed head and a contemplative attitude, say:
- English: I believe in God, Almighty Father, Creator of heaven and earth; and of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; who suffered in the reign of Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried; who descended to the waiting place on the third day rose from the dead; who ascended into heaven, sits 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, eternal life. Amen.
- Latin: Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
Step 3. On the first large Rosary bead, say the Lord's Prayer
- English: Our Father who is in Heaven, glorified be Your name, come: Your kingdom, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, give us sustenance today. And forgive us our iniquities, as we forgive those who have wronged us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
- Latin: Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Old Fiat voluntas, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
Step 4. On each of the next three beads, say the Hail Mary
These three prayers should be said with the intention of increasing faith, hope, and love.
- English: Hail Mary, full of grace, God be with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your body, Jesus. Saint Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and when we die. Amen.
- Latin: Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Step 5. On the next large bead, say the Glory prayer
Technically, this prayer is said at the distance between the previous three beads with the large bead; large beads signify the Lord's prayer.
- English: Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as at the beginning, now, always and forever. Amen.
- Latin: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Scutes in principio, et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Method 2 of 7: First Decade
Step 1. Announce the Event
This is only necessary if you pray the Rosary together in a group. If you pray for it alone, you can choose to reflect on the event. There are several individually selected ways to recite an Event. Choose the way that touches your heart the most.
- Traditional rules encourage contemplation of the Joyful Events on Mondays, the Sad Events on Tuesdays, and the Glorious Events on Wednesdays. The same pattern is repeated for Thursday through Saturday, and then continues with the Happy Events again on Sunday.
- The Pope proposes a different schedule for those who wish to pray 5 decades each day. Monday - Happy, Tuesday - Sad, Wednesday - Noble, Thursday - Light, Friday - Sad, Saturday - Happy, Sunday - Noble.
-
Depending on the day, select the appropriate Event:
- First Joyous Event: Mary receives good news from the Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38)
- First Light Event: Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17)
- The first Sad Event: Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven in the sacrat of death (Matthew 26:36-56)
- First Glorious Event: Jesus rose from the dead (John 20:1-29)
Step 2. On the first Rosary bead, say the Our Father
You will be on the large bead that precedes the pendant part.
Step 3. On each of the next ten beads, say a Hail Mary
One Hail Mary for each bead. Move from bead to bead counterclockwise, pointing to the right of the pendant.
Step 4. Before the next big bead, pray for Glory
After that, you can also choose to pray the Fatima Prayer, which is recited as follows:
- English: Dear Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fire of hell, and send souls to heaven, especially those who are in dire need of Your mercy, Amen.
- Latin: (it should be noted, however, that there is no standard Latin translation of the Prayer of Fatima.): Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordiae tuae maxime indigent.
Method 3 of 7: Second Decade
Step 1. Announce the second Event
Again, select the Event that corresponds to the day from the following options:
- Second Joyous Event: Mary visits her sister Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
- Second Light Event: Jesus reveals Himself at the wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1-11)
- Second Sad Event: Jesus was scourged (Matthew 27:26)
- Second Glorious Event: Jesus ascends to heaven (Luke 24:36-53)
Step 2. On a separate large bead, pray the Lord's Prayer
Are you starting to see the pattern? Apart from the opening and closing sections, the pattern remains the same. The large bead represents the Lord's Prayer, the smaller bead represents the Hail Mary prayer, and at the end of each decade series (10 Hail Marys) is the Glory prayer, and the Fatima Prayer if desired.
Step 3. Pray for the second decade
That is ten more Hail Marys, once for each bead.
Step 4. End the second decade with the Prayer of Glory, and if desired the Fatima Prayer can be said in this section
Method 4 of 7: Third Decade
Step 1. Announce the third Event
Again, choose a different event according to the day. Choose one of the following alternatives:
- Third Joyous Event: Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-21)
- Third Light Event: Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God and calls for repentance (Mark 1:14-15)
- Third Sad Event: Jesus is crowned with thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
- Third Glorious Event: The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles (Acts 2:1-41)
Step 2. Pray for the Our Father on the first big bead of the decade
Try to maintain a contemplative atmosphere, even if the same prayer is repeated over and over again. Concentrating on the intention of the prayer will go a long way. Are you praying for a sick friend? To beg for strength? Think about your own intentions too.
Step 3. Pray the next ten Hail Marys
Each time you complete one prayer, move on to the next bead. You're halfway there! If you don't have a rosary necklace, the number of fingers you have just happens to be equal to the number of prayers to be said.
Step 4. End the decade with a prayer of Glory
And what's next? That's right, the optional Fatima prayer. Pope Pius XII was the first to start using it.
Method 5 of 7: Fourth Decade
Step 1. Announce the fourth Event
Surely you already know what to do. Look at your calendar to determine the Event that corresponds to the day. Choose from the following alternatives:
- Fourth Joyous Event: Jesus is offered in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)
- Fourth Light Event: Jesus manifests His glory (Matthew 17:1-8)
- Fourth Sad Event: Jesus carried His cross on Mount Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
- Fourth Glorious Event: Mary was taken to heaven
Step 2. With the large bead in hand, pray for the Our Father
Prayer in the form of song is also worthy in God's eyes. If you know a song version of the prayer, sing it!
Step 3. Say ten more Hail Marys
Just a decade to go! Try to keep it in mind and not say it in a hurry. Listen to every word as you say it silently though. What do these words really mean?
Step 4. Finish the decade with the prayer of Glory and the prayer of Fatima
Just a decade to go! You should be 4/5 of the way around the Rosary and back toward the pendant section.
Method 6 of 7: Fifth Decade
Step 1. Announce the fifth Event
The last event, but certainly not the least significant. Choose from the following alternatives:
- Fifth Joyous Event: Jesus is found in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
- Fifth Light Event: Jesus institutes the eucharist (Matthew 26)
- Fifth Sad Event: Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:33-56)
- Fifth Glorious Event: Mary is crowned in heaven
Step 2. Say the last Our Father
Live it seriously, because this is the last! Let every word be so meaningful.
Step 3. Pray the last ten Hail Marys
Your fingers should be getting closer to the cross. Are you still holding on to contemplation? Great.
Step 4. Close the last decade with a prayer of Glory
You can still do one more Fatima prayer and you are ready to start new prayers.
Method 7 of 7: Closing
Step 1. Pray for the Queen of Heaven
You have reached the pendant part. Pray as follows:
- English: HAPPY HEAVENLY QUEEN, greetings, O Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our consolation and hope. We are all praying, we are very difficult, complaining, validating in this valley of sorrow. O Mother, O our protector, bestow Your great love upon us. And Jesus, Your blessed Son, may You show us. O Queen, O mother, O Mary, Mother of Christ. Pray for us, O Saint Mother of God. So that we may enjoy the promise of Christ.
- Latin: Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae; vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae; ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrymarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; et Jesum, benedict fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. Amen.
Step 2. Say the last prayer of the Rosary (optional)
Holding the pendant, say the following:
- English: O Allah, Your Son has earned for us the reward of eternal life through His life, death and resurrection. We ask that by meditating on the mystery of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may live up to its meaning and obtain what it promises. For Christ, our Lord. Amen.
- Latin: Oremus: Deus, cujus Unigenitus, per vitam, mortem et resurrectionem luam nobis salutis aeternæ praemia comparavit: concede, quaesumus; ut, haec mysteria sanctissimo beatae Mariae Virginis Rosario recolentes; et imitemur quod continent, et quod promittunt, assequamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Step 3. Pray for Memorare (optional)
This is the part that is least prayed for, but provides a sweet finishing touch to end your intimate time.
- English: Remember, dear Virgin Mary, that it has never been heard of you abandoning those who seek your protection, who seek your help, who seek your intercession. Driven by that belief, we come to take refuge in you, O Virgin of virgins and Mothers. I come to you, I am a sinner lying in front of you complaining. Mother of the Word, do not refuse my request, but listen willingly and grant it. Amen.
- Latin: Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, a saeculo non esse auditum, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verb mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.
Step 4. Pray the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (optional)
This prayer consists of a series of requests or appeals. The litany opens with a series of "Have mercy on us" to Christ and the Triune God (each Divine Self is called) followed by a series of exclamations to Mary (under various epithets such as "Mirror of Holiness"). The prayer concludes with a version of the call to Christ as the Lamb of God as read before Holy Communion at Mass. You can read this prayer text in its entirety here.
Step 5. Pray for the Pope and/or those who have passed away (optional)
Catholics sometimes also add an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a prayer of Glory to the reigning Pope, asking for his physical and spiritual blessings. Sometimes, there are also those who read these prayers for those who have passed away, such as loved ones, and especially the souls who are in purgatory.
Step 6. Finish by making the Sign of the Cross
Lift your head, feel the enlightenment and spend the rest of your day in prayer and contemplation. Wasn't the 20 minutes just so meaningful?
Tips
- Say a decade to someone in need. You only need to mention the name of the person at the end of the decade (eg by saying: Father, this decade of the Rosary I pray for [name of person in need] because of [the situation that caused the person to need prayer assistance].
- If you're feeling anxious about an event, say a decade to yourself on your way to the venue or while you're waiting in line for your turn. Knowing that Our Lady and Jesus Christ are there with you will be truly comforting.
- You don't actually need a Rosary necklace or ring to pray the Rosary. You can pray for it by using your ten fingers for counting or using another method of counting.
