Sacred Devotions · The Holy Rosary

Pray with
Our Lady.

The Rosary is the most beautiful of Catholic prayers — twenty mysteries of the life of Christ, contemplated with the Blessed Virgin Mary as our guide and intercessor.

"The Rosary is the weapon for these times."
St. Padre Pio
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of the Rosary
✦︎ ✝︎ ✦︎

How to Pray the Rosary

A prayer of
contemplation.

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer centered on the life of Christ. It is made up of five decades, each consisting of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be — prayed while meditating on a mystery from the Gospel.

There are four sets of mysteries: Joyful (Monday & Saturday), Sorrowful (Tuesday & Friday), Glorious (Wednesday & Sunday), and Luminous (Thursday). Each set reflects a different season of Christ's life.

The Rosary takes about 15–20 minutes. Pray it alone, with family, or in a group — while walking, driving, or in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

How to Pray — Step by Step
Start at the Crucifix
Sign of the Cross, then the Apostles' Creed.
1
1 large bead
Pray the Our Father.
3
3 small beads
Hail Mary × 3 (Faith, Hope, Charity) then Glory Be.
M
Announce the Mystery
State the mystery and spend a moment in meditation.
1
1 large bead
Pray the Our Father.
10
10 small beads
Hail Mary × 10, meditating on the mystery.
G
Glory Be + Fatima Prayer
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…" then announce next mystery.
×5
Repeat for all 5 decades
Each decade: mystery → Our Father → 10 Hail Marys → Glory Be → Fatima Prayer.
Closing
Hail Holy Queen → Closing Prayer → Sign of the Cross.
✦︎ ✝︎ ✦︎

✦︎A Sacred Tradition

The beads themselves
are a school of prayer.

Each bead is a resting place — a moment to pause, to breathe, to be present to God. The repetition is not monotony but music: the same words deepened by each mystery, each decade a door into the life of Christ.

St. Louis de Montfort called the Rosary "the most excellent of all prayers." Pope St. John Paul II wrote: "The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer."

"The Rosary is the weapon for these times."

St. Padre Pio

Our Lady of Fatima

Ntra. Sra. de Fatima

✦︎ ✝︎ ✦︎

✦︎The Twenty Mysteries

The life of Christ,
contemplated with Mary.

Monday & Saturday

I
The Annunciation
Luke 1:26–38
Fruit: Humility
II
The Visitation
Luke 1:39–56
Fruit: Charity toward neighbor
III
The Nativity
Luke 2:1–20
Fruit: Poverty of spirit
IV
The Presentation
Luke 2:22–38
Fruit: Obedience
V
Finding in the Temple
Luke 2:41–52
Fruit: Piety

Tuesday & Friday

I
Agony in the Garden
Luke 22:39–46
Fruit: Contrition
II
The Scourging
John 19:1
Fruit: Mortification
III
Crowning with Thorns
Matt 27:27–31
Fruit: Moral courage
IV
Carrying the Cross
John 19:17
Fruit: Patience
V
The Crucifixion
Luke 23:33–46
Fruit: Salvation

Wednesday & Sunday

I
The Resurrection
Mark 16:1–8
Fruit: Faith
II
The Ascension
Acts 1:9–11
Fruit: Hope
III
Descent of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1–4
Fruit: Wisdom
IV
The Assumption
Rev 12:1
Fruit: Holy death
V
The Coronation
Rev 12:1
Fruit: Trust in Mary

Thursday · Added by St. John Paul II, 2002

I
The Baptism of Jesus
Matt 3:13–17
Fruit: Openness to the Spirit
II
Wedding at Cana
John 2:1–11
Fruit: Marian trust
III
Proclamation of the Kingdom
Mark 1:15
Fruit: Repentance
IV
The Transfiguration
Matt 17:1–8
Fruit: Desire for holiness
V
Institution of the Eucharist
Matt 26:26–28
Fruit: Eucharistic adoration
✦︎ ✝︎ ✦︎

✦︎The Prayers of the Rosary

Every prayer,
written out.

Apostles Creed
On the Crucifix

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; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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.

Our Father
Pater Noster · On each large bead

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.

Hail Mary
Ave Maria · On each small bead

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.

Glory Be
Gloria Patri · After each decade

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.

Fatima Prayer
After the Glory Be · Each decade

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.

Hail Holy Queen
Salve Regina · After all five decades

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 towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Closing Prayer
After the Hail Holy Queen · Conclude with the Sign of the Cross

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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 by meditating on 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.