Saints LightGuide
How to pray the Rosary
The Rosary is a prayer of the whole Gospel: while the lips repeat the Hail Mary, the heart looks at one scene from the life of Christ. You do not need beads to begin; ten fingers work.
The pattern
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed.
- Pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity), and one Glory Be.
- For each of the five mysteries: name the mystery, pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer if you like.
- End with the Hail Holy Queen and the Sign of the Cross.
The mysteries and their days
- Joyful (Monday and Saturday): the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, the Finding in the Temple.
- Sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday): the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion.
- Glorious (Wednesday and Sunday): the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption, the Coronation of Mary.
- Luminous (Thursday): the Baptism of the Lord, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist.
Watch out for
- Racing. One decade prayed slowly is better than five rattled off.
- Thinking you must feel something. Distraction is normal; gently come back to the mystery.
- Starting too big. Begin with one decade a day for a week.
Your next step
Other guides
- How to learn with Saints Light
- How to go to Confession
- Going to Mass for the first time
- Examination of Conscience
- How to start reading the Bible
- Becoming Catholic, or coming home
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