How to Pray the Rosary

Rosary Prayers

Download the printable Rosary guide (PDF, 4 pages)

You can pray a five-decade Rosary with this page, even if you do not know the prayers by heart. Choose a set of mysteries, follow the steps, and use the full texts below. Allow about twenty minutes; there is no need to race.

Prayer order · Mysteries by day · All prayer texts · Today’s Rosary

How the beads guide you

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed on the crucifix.
  2. Pray the Our Father on the first large bead. Pray one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads, traditionally for faith, hope and charity. Then pray the Glory Be.
  3. Announce the first mystery. Pause to picture the event or read its Scripture reference. Pray the Our Father.
  4. Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on that mystery. This group of ten is a decade.
  5. Pray the Glory Be. Many Catholics add the Fatima Prayer.
  6. Repeat steps 3–5 for the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries of the same set.
  7. Conclude with the Hail Holy Queen and closing prayer, then make the Sign of the Cross.

Which mysteries should I pray?

DayUsual mysteries
MondayJoyful
TuesdaySorrowful
WednesdayGlorious
ThursdayLuminous
FridaySorrowful
SaturdayJoyful
SundayGlorious

This is the usual weekly arrangement, not an obligation. Some families use Joyful mysteries on Sundays in Advent and Christmas, and Sorrowful mysteries on Sundays in Lent. You may choose a set suited to a feast or intention.

The twenty mysteries

Joyful Mysteries

  1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38)
  2. The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56)
  3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1–20)
  4. The Presentation (Luke 2:22–38)
  5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

Sorrowful Mysteries

  1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–46)
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar (John 19:1)
  3. The Crowning with Thorns (John 19:2–3)
  4. The Carrying of the Cross (John 19:16–17)
  5. The Crucifixion (John 19:18–30)

Glorious Mysteries

  1. The Resurrection (John 20:1–18)
  2. The Ascension (Acts 1:6–11)
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–13)
  4. The Assumption of Mary (Catholic teaching; CCC 966)
  5. The Coronation of Mary (Catholic teaching; CCC 966; compare Revelation 12:1)

Luminous Mysteries

  1. The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17)
  2. The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11)
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14–15)
  4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–36)
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Luke 22:14–20)

Complete Rosary prayers

Traditional English devotional forms are given below. Wording varies slightly between prayer books. These are not a reproduction of the current Roman Missal.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed

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 rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there 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

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

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

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 (customary after each decade)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

Hail Holy Queen

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.

Closing Prayer

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.

If you are new or become distracted

Begin with one decade if five feels overwhelming. Return gently to the mystery when your attention wanders; losing concentration does not mean you must start again. If you lose count, choose a reasonable place to continue. You can pray without beads by counting on your fingers.

With children, announce one event in simple language and let different family members lead. A short quiet pause can help more than a long explanation. The aim is prayer with Christ, not a flawless performance.

Praying with Scripture

Read a reference before each decade if you wish. The Assumption and Coronation are mysteries of Catholic faith; the Bible does not narrate them as it narrates the Nativity. A suggested biblical comparison is not a direct account.

Sources and further reading

Prepared by Catholic Repository. Sources checked 12 September 2026. A lay educational resource, not an official Church publication.