THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

The Traditional Holy Rosary

A traditional guide to praying the Rosary, meditating on the fifteen mysteries, and using the familiar prayers of this Marian devotion.

How to pray the Rosary

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed.
2. Pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be.
3. Announce the first mystery; pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and one Glory Be.
4. Continue through the five mysteries assigned to the day, meditating on each while praying the decade.
5. Conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen and the customary concluding prayer.

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity of Our Lord
4. The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection of Our Lord
2. The Ascension of Our Lord
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Traditional days for the mysteries

Joyful: Monday and Thursday; Sorrowful: Tuesday and Friday; Glorious: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Local customs and liturgical seasons may influence devotional practice.

Prayers of the Rosary

Find the Sign of the Cross, Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Hail Holy Queen in the Prayer Library.

Traditional scope: This page presents the traditional fifteen mysteries and does not include the Luminous Mysteries introduced in 2002. It is a devotional guide; consult a priest or an approved prayer book for local customs and indulgence conditions.