The Holy Rosary
2 September 2026
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as received from the Roman Catholic Church
The Holy Rosary is a contemplative prayer practice, made accessible with a liturgy practiced by many generations of believers and a physical prompt to help groups pray together.
A rosary can have a variety of shapes but is usually encountered as a string of beads which appears something like a necklace with a crucifix hanging from it. As commonly used, above the crucifix there is one bead, then three, then one. Around the circumference of the “necklace” there are five sets of ten beads (decades), separated by a bead in between each decade.
The prayer finds its root in the greeting of the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Mother at the Annunciation. In 590AD, Pope Gregory the Great invited Christians to echo the angel’s words of greeting and reverence on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Through the centuries, this simple greeting has been expanded and amplified. The form that is used today was fixed by the Roman Catholic Church in 1568AD.
The Rosary is repetitive by design: it is intended to allow one’s lips and intentions to utter holy words while giving one’s mind space to listen. Special intentions (listed at the bottom of this page) may guide each decade.
The Rosary may be prayed alone or in community, silently or aloud.
All sit quietly in preparation.
Introductory Prayers
1. Apostles’ Creed
While holding the crucifix, make the sign of the cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
2. Lord’s Prayer
On the first bead above the crucifix, pray the Our Father:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
Amen.
3. Hail Mary
On each of the three small beads pray the Hail Mary:
3x:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
4. Gloria Patri:
On the final bead, pray the Gloria Patri:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
or:
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Decades
5. Our Father
On the first bead of the decade pray the Our Father.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
Amen.
6. Hail Mary (x10)
On each bead of the decade, pray the Hail Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
7. Gloria Patri & Fatima Prayer
After the last bead of the decade, pray the Gloria Patri and the Fatima Prayer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
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.
Amen.
Continue in this manner (steps 5-7) through all five decades.
The Closing Prayers
Having reached the joint between the three strands of beads, finish with:
8. Salve Regina
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.
10. The Rosary Prayer
O God whose only begotten Son has purchased for us
the rewards of eternal life,
Grant that we beseech Thee,
while meditating upon these mysteries
of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may both imitate what they contain
and obtain what they promise,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Special Intentions For Meditation
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (Monday & Saturday)
-
The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
Mary is chosen to be the mother of Jesus. -
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of our Lord. -
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus is born and laid in a manger. -
The Presentation of our Lord
Jesus is presented in the Temple of Jerusalem. -
Finding Jesus in the Temple
At age 12 Jesus is found discussing God’s laws in the temple.
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary (Tuesday & Friday)
-
The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
Jesus prays when confronted with the sins of the world. -
The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus is whipped before His execution. -
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Jesus is mocked with a painful crown of thorns. -
Jesus Carried the Cross
Jesus carries the weight of our sins to His crucifixion. -
The Crucifixion of our Lord
Jesus Christ dies to save all mankind.
Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary (Wednesday & Sunday)
-
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus rises triumphant over death. -
The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
As Jesus ascends, He gives us a special task. -
The Descent of the Holy Ghost
At Pentecost the Church is born. -
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
The Virgin Mary is gloriously assumed into heaven. -
Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Mary is honored above all creatures.
Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary (Thursday)
-
The Baptism in the Jordan
God proclaims Jesus is His Son. -
The Wedding at Cana
Jesus performs a surprising miracle at a wedding. -
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Jesus calls us to do something important. -
The Transfiguration
Jesus is gloriously transformed. -
The Institution of the Eucharist
Jesus shares His Body and Blood for our salvation.