How to Pray the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

Monday and Saturday

The childhood of Christ, from the angel's word to Mary to the boy found teaching in the Temple.

1. 1.
   The Annunciation The angel Gabriel comes to a girl in Nazareth, and she says yes without knowing what it will cost. Fruit: Humility.
2. 2.
   The Visitation Mary goes into the hill country to help Elizabeth, who is old and pregnant and needs her. Fruit: Love of neighbour.
3. 3.
   The Nativity God is born in a stable, to poverty, under an occupation, and the first to be told are shepherds. Fruit: Poverty of spirit.
4. 4.
   The Presentation Simeon takes the child and tells his mother that a sword will pierce her own soul too. Fruit: Obedience.
5. 5.
   The Finding in the Temple Three days lost, and they find him among the teachers, doing his Father's business. Fruit: Piety.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Tuesday and Friday

The Passion, from Gethsemane to the cross.

1. 1.
   The Agony in the Garden He sweats blood and asks for the cup to pass, and then asks for the Father's will instead. Fruit: Sorrow for sin.
2. 2.
   The Scourging at the Pillar Tied and beaten by men doing a job, for a crime the governor had already called nothing. Fruit: Purity.
3. 3.
   The Crowning with Thorns They dress him as a king to mock him, and are more right than they know. Fruit: Moral courage.
4. 4.
   The Carrying of the Cross The road through the streets, the falls, his mother, Simon, the women who wept. Fruit: Patience.
5. 5.
   The Crucifixion Three hours of darkness, forgiveness offered from the cross, and then it is finished. Fruit: Perseverance.

The Glorious Mysteries

Wednesday and Sunday

The Resurrection and what followed from it.

1. 1.
   The Resurrection The stone is rolled back from the inside, and death has been made to work backwards. Fruit: Faith.
2. 2.
   The Ascension He blesses them and is taken up, and they are told to stop staring at the sky and get to work. Fruit: Hope.
3. 3.
   The Descent of the Holy Spirit Wind and fire in a locked room, and men who had hidden go out and speak. Fruit: Love of God.
4. 4.
   The Assumption Mary is taken up body and soul, the first to receive what is promised to everyone. Fruit: Grace of a happy death.
5. 5.
   The Coronation of Mary She is crowned queen of heaven, which is a mother's reward and not a mother's ambition. Fruit: Trust in Mary's intercession.

The Luminous Mysteries

Thursday

The public ministry. Added by Pope John Paul II in 2002, so many older Catholics were never taught them.

1. 1.
   The Baptism in the Jordan The heavens open and the Father names him beloved, before he has done anything publicly at all. Fruit: Openness to the Holy Spirit.
2. 2.
   The Wedding at Cana His mother says they have no wine, and he does what she asks though he says it is not his hour. Fruit: To Jesus through Mary.
3. 3.
   The Proclamation of the Kingdom Repent and believe. The whole ministry in four words, repeated for three years. Fruit: Repentance and trust.
4. 4.
   The Transfiguration Three of them see him as he is, for a moment, and are told to listen to him. Fruit: Desire for holiness.
5. 5.
   The Institution of the Eucharist On the night he was betrayed he took bread, and left them the thing they would most need. Fruit: Adoration.

The Sign of the Cross

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

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 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

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

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.

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.

The Fatima Prayer

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

The Hail Holy Queen

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. Amen.