How to Say the Rosary

Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and as you hold the cross, say the "Apostle's Creed."
On the first bead, say the "Our Father."
On each of the next three beads, say a "Hail Mary."
On the link before the next bead, say the "Glory be to the Father."
Think of the First Mystery for that day; and on the next bead say the "Our Father."
On each of the beads of the decade following, say a "Hail Mary," while meditating on the First Mystery.
On the link before the next bead, say the "Glory be to the Father."
After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."

On the next bead, consider the Second Mystery for that day; then say the "Our Father."
Repeat the Hail Mary's on the next decade, the Glory Be on the link and continue in this manner for each mystery until you have completed the circle.

Note: The Mysteries are described below. One circle is 5 Mysteries, in order to do the full Rosary, you will do three circles, focusing on a different set of Mysteries with each circle. See the Mysteries below for more information.

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

On Praying the Rosary

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

The Year of the Rosary

The Promise of Fatima

Indulgences of the Rosary

The 54-day Novena

How to Say the Rosary

The Mysteries of the Rosary

How to Make a Rosary

Make a Traditional Cord Rosary

Mary Apparitions

Valuable Links

Hail, Holy Queen

After the Rosary say this 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!

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 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.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

With the proclamation of the Year of the Rosary for of the period October 2002 to October 2003, Pope John Paul added the five Luminous Mysteries, (the Mysteries of Light) to the traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary. Meditate on the Mysteries while praying the Rosary. As a rule the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - the Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful).

	The Joyful Mysteries	The Luminous Mysteries	The Sorrowful Mysteries	The Glorious Mysteries
1	The Annunication to Mary - the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary	The Baptism in the Jordan: The Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.	The Agony in the Garden - Jesus in Gethsemane contemplating the world's sins	The Resurrection of Our Lord - After three days, Christ rises immortal
2	The Visitation of Mary - Mary and St Elizabeth visit	The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.	The Scourging at the Temple - Christ is cruelly whipped	The Ascension of Our Lord - He ascends into Heaven, bodily
3	The Nativity of Our Lord - the birth of the Christ Child	The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust.	The Crowning with Thorns - A crown of thorns is placed on His head	The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles - Mary and the Apostle are touched by the Holy Spirit appearing in tongues of fire
4	The Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple - Mary and Joseph go to the temple to present Jesus to God	The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.	The Carrying of the Cross - Jesus carries His cross in His final moments	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven - Mary rises body and soul into Heaven
5	The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple - Mary and Joseph find Jesus teaching in the temple	The Institution of the Eucharist: Christ offers his body and blood as food	The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord on the Cross - Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies in agony	The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth - Mary is gloriously crowned as our Queen

Read about the Year of the Rosary

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

Rosary Indulgences

A plenary indulgences is granted, if the Rosary is recited in a church or public oratory or in a family group, a religious Community or pious Association: a partial indulgence is granted in other circumstances.

To earn the plenary indulgence, it is required that:

At least 5 decades of the Rosary are vocally recited continuously.
The recitation is accompanied by fervent meditation on the mysteries.

In public recitation the mysteries must be announced in the manner customary in the place; for private recitation, however, it suffices if the recitation is accompanied by meditation on the mysteries.

The 54 Day Novena

The practice of saying the Rosary nine times in the form of a Rosary Novena in petition or thanksgiving is another way of heeding Our Lady of Fatima’s admonition to Pray the Rosary.

The 54 Day Novena Devotion which originated in 1884 at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei, consists of the daily recitation of five decades of the Rosary for twenty-seven days in petition and five decades for twenty-seven additional days in thanksgiving. In reality you will be making three Novenas in petition for a particular favor and three Novenas in thanksgiving for a particular favor.

1st day say 5 Joyful Mysteries.
2nd day say the 5 Sorrowful Mysteries.
3rd day say the 5 Glorious Mysteries.
4 day begin again the 5 Joyful Mysteries, etc.

Fatima is a call from the Mother of God for a renewed fidelity to penance and prayer, which basically is the message of the Gospel. Too, it brings out the desire of Our Lord that His Mother be better known, loved and venerated through devotion to her Immaculate Heart.