How to Pray the Rosary: A Complete and Comprehensive Guide
In 2012, I walked into a bookstore in Florence, SC, searching for spiritual reading material. As I entered the store, a voice almost whispering said, “I want you to meet my family.” Being Presbyterian at that time, I selected a book titled “Our Lady of Kibeho” for some reason and began reading it a couple of weeks later. I could not put it down. It had such an effect on me that I took it upon myself to start praying the Rosary of my own accord. A week later, I experienced the Odor of Sanctification in my five by ten foot bathroom.
A couple of weeks afterward, Our Lady requested that I start praying daily and that the prayer to use would be the Holy Rosary. I enthusiastically obliged her. Her request became a verification of what I had initially started.
For the next five years, I followed Our Lady’s direction, and my spiritual life flourished greatly, although I had an alcohol addiction that I could not break.
In 2017, I had a widowmaker heart attack on a golf course near my home. Roughly a month later, I had open-heart surgery. I have recovered 100 percent and am catholic today, addiction free. If it were not for Our Lady, I probably would not be here.
All of this started with the Rosary. I am walking proof that the Rosary can be a life-changing prayer depending on what I chose to do with it. If you choose as I have, your life may become filled with dreams to come true that you could never dream and experiences that you could never imagine, as mine has. Choose wisely.
Read my story, A Marian Journey into the Church – Condensed Version.
We have Rosary Guides for all mysteries available for your use. These are free to download and share. They can be printed and used when praying the Rosary and are an excellent aid for anyone, novice to expert. The guides were indispensable to the author when he began praying the Rosary daily ten years ago, and he still uses them to this day.
Introduction
The Rosary is one of the greatest prayers ever assembled. After having started praying this prayer as a non-Catholic, I have experienced more blessings than I can count. I am a living testament to the power of the Rosary. Not only have I recovered completely from health issues when I coded on a golf course after suffering from a widow-maker heart attack, but my life has been enriched beyond my imagination. I would never have started this website and said the things that I have said if it were not the absolute truth. If you want to enhance your spiritual life and have never used The Holy Rosary as a daily prayer, you might want to give it a look.
This article addresses how to pray the Rosary. What actually is the Rosary?
What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a system of prayers interlaced with scripture that was given to us over one thousand years ago (according to the Secret of the Rosary it was 1214) by the Virgin Mary and has been practiced by many people ever since. It is biblically based and includes some of the oldest prayers dating back to the first century.
The Our Father that has its origin in the scriptures in Matthew 6 versus 9-13.
The Apostles’ Creed, a quick synopsis and statement of faith with reference to the virgin birth and crucifixion of Christ under Pilate.
The Hail Mary is derived from Luke 1:28 and Luke 1:42.
In the Name of the Father (prayed twice in the Rosary), baptismal prayer used by Jesus comes straight from Matthew 28:49, word for word.
Every Decade (scriptural events in the lives of Jesus and Mary) comes from scripture, except one (the Assumption of Mary comes from the book of Judith), because the events in the rosary (of which there are twenty in all) are scriptural events.
This prayer is prayed by millions every day and its power I cannot deny.
Where did the Rosary come from?
The Trinity gave the Rosary through the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic in 1214, as designated below. The following quote comes from “The Secret of the Rosary,” written by St. Louis de Montfort before 1716, the year of his death.
According to St. Louis de Montfort(Wikipedia), who lived in the 1700s (from the Secret of the Rosary)
It was only in the year 1214, however, that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the method we use today. It was given to the Church by St. Dominic, who had received it from the Blessed Virgin as a means of converting the Albigensians and other sinners. I will tell you the story of how he received it, which is found in the very well-known book De Dignitate Psalterii, by Blessed Alan de la Roche.
Saint Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people’s sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse, where he prayed continuously for three days and three nights. During this time, he did nothing but weep and do harsh penances in order to appease the anger of God. He used his discipline so much that his body was lacerated, and finally he fell into a coma.
At this point our Lady appeared to him, accompanied by three angels, and she said, “Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?”
“Oh, my Lady,” answered Saint Dominic, “you know far better than I do, because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation.”
Then our Lady replied, “I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the principal weapon has always been the Angelic Psalter, which is the foundation-stone of the New Testament. Therefore, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter.”
What is a Mystery of the Rosary?
The Mysteries of the Rosary are groups of prayers and events in the life of Jesus and Mary. Each Mystery covers an important period of events. There are four of them.
Joyful Mysteries – Group of five events covering the Life of Jesus and Mary until Jesus was twelve.
Sorrowful Mysteries – Group of five events covering the Crucifixion of Jesus and Mary’s involvement.
Glorious Mysteries – Group of five events covering the resurrection of Jesus.
Luminous Mysteries – Group of five events covering illuminating events in the Life of Jesus and Mary.
It is essential to understand that mysteries of the Rosary are groups of events in the life of Jesus and Mary.
What is a Section of the Rosary?
The Sections (our definition in order to explain them), listed below, are the three different parts of each Rosary Mystery. Each section contains prayers. Most do not point out sections of the Rosary, but we do because we feel very strongly that it is easier to learn and that there really are three sections to it.
Opening Prayers
Decades
Closing Prayers
What are the prayers of the Rosary?
All prayers of the Rosary are listed below. Some of these It is important to note that the prayers never change regardless of which Mystery they are used in. Click the icon to the left of each title to expand the view.
O My Dearest Mother Mary, behold me your child in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I humbly request in This Rosary.
(Mention your request here)
I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. I ask it for the greater glory, of GOD, for your honor, and the good of all Souls. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek GOD’s Holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul. Sweet heart of Mary be my Salvation, Amen.
In the Name Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (As you say this, with your right hand touch your forehead when you say Father, touch your breastbone when you say Son, touch your left shoulder when you say Holy, and touch your right shoulder when you say Spirit.)
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, and sits 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, 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, 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 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.
“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.”
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.
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.
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You. Amen.
What are the Decades of each Rosary Mystery?
Joyful Mysteries (Birth of Jesus)
The Annunciation of Mary
The Visitation to Elizabeth
The Nativity of Jesus
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Circumcision)
Finding Jesus in the Temple (Age 12)
Sorrowful Mysteries (Crucifixion of Jesus)
Agony in the Garden
Scourging at the Pillar
Crowning with Thorns
Carrying the Cross
Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries (Resurrection of Jesus)
The Resurrection
The Ascension
Pentecost
Assumption of Mary
Coronation of Mary (Revelation 12)
Luminous Mysteries (other important events)
Baptism of Jesus
Wedding at Cana
Declaring the Kingdom of God
Transfiguration
Eucharist
Structure of the Rosary - The Joyful Msyteries
Opening Prayers
Our Request
In the Name of the Father
The Apostle’s Creed
The Our Father
Hail Mary (3)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
Decades
Closing Prayers
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
In the Name of the Father
Prayer After the Rosary
Fatima Prayer No. 2
How is the Rosary Prayed?
In the First Stage, Opening Prayers, we will Pray the following prayers in order (it makes things a lot easire to download the guides, that way you will have all of the prayers in front of you when you begin)
1. Our Request
2. In the Name of the Father
3. Apostles Creed
4. Our Father
5. Hail Mary (3 Times)
6. Glory Be to the Father
7. Fatima Prayer
In the next stage, we will pray the Decades and their accompanying prayers.
For each Decade, we either announce the title and/or read the scriptures. Following we will pray the accompanying prayers.
1. Annunciation of Mary
Our Father
Hail Mary (10 times)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
2. Visitation to Elizabeth
Our Father
Hail Mary (10 times)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
3. Nativity of Jesus
Our Father
Hail Mary (10 times)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
4. Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Our Father
Hail Mary (10 times)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
5. Finding Jesus in the Temple with the Doctors (scholars)
Our Father
Hail Mary (10 times)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
In the Last Stage, we will pray the Closing Prayers
1. Salve Regina
2. In the Name of the Father
3. Final Rosary Prayer
4. Second Fatima Prayer
On Which Day of the Week is the Rosary Prayed?
There are two methods to praying the rosary and both involve which rosary to pray on which day of the week. The modern approach appears to be the more popular as far as webpages are concerned. Webpages almost always refer to the Modern method.
When the virgin mary gave the Rosary to St. Dominic in 1214, the mysteries were part of this gift. As St. Louis de Montfort claims, the Rosary was given in its current form and it stayed that way until 2002, when Pope John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries as part of the Rosary. Some believe this to be destructive to the original three mysteries.
Traditional
Monday Rosary is the Joyful Mysteries.
Tuesday Rosary is the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Wednesday Rosary is the Glorious Mysteries.
Thursday Rosary is the Joyful Mysteries.
Friday Rosary is the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Saturday Rosary is the Glorious Mysteries.
Sunday Rosary is the Joyful Mysteries First Sunday of Advent until First Sunday of Lent, Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed during Lent, and Glorious Mysteries is Easter Sunday until Sunday before Advent begins
Modern
Monday Rosary is the Joyful Mysteries.
Tuesday Rosary is the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Wednesday Rosary is the Glorious Mysteries.
Thursday Rosary is the Luminous Mysteries.
Friday Rosary is the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Saturday Rosary is the Joyful Mysteries.
Sunday Rosary is the Glorious Mysteries.
Rosary Beads
The purpose of Rosary beads, although they come in all different flavors and price ranges, is to keep up with where you are in the Rosary without losing count of prayers. It usually takes a few times praying it to get the hang of this. The important thing is to start. Below is a brief video explaining how to use them.
How to use Rosary Beads
How to Pray from the Heart
The Rosary is made up of two things: mental prayer and vocal prayer. In the Rosary mental prayer is none other than meditation of the chief mysteries of the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ and of his blessed Mother. Vocal prayer consists in saying fifteen decades of the Hail Mary, each decade headed by an Our Father, while at the same time meditating on and contemplating the fifteen principal virtues which Jesus and Mary practiced in the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. In the first five decades we must honor the five Joyful Mysteries and meditate on them; in the second five decades, the Sorrowful Mysteries; and in the third group of five, the Glorious Mysteries. So the Rosary is a blessed blending of mental and vocal prayer by which we honor and learn to imitate the mysteries and the virtues of the life, death, passion and glory of Jesus and Mary.
Mary
I put before you choices of life and death. I am not speaking of earthly life and death, but of eternal life or eternal death. These are the choices made each day. Does a person wish to live with God forever or are they willing to lose eternal life because of some earthly satisfactions that are illicit? These are the daily decisions, life with God or life without God.
How horrible is life without God. (That darkness begins on earth.) How blessed is life with God. (That happiness begins on earth.) This is why I speak. I want to lead many into eternal life.
God is not far away. You need not travel a thousand miles to find him. He is already in your heart. Wherever you go, even when you flee from him, he is there, waiting for you to turn to him. That is the secret. That is all you need to do to find God. Really God finds you. Just turn your thoughts to him. I will show you how. Picture for a moment, a story from the gospel. You know some stories. If not, then read the gospels of Jesus.
Praying with the Imagination
Picture Jesus as a baby in my arms, or as a young boy in the temple, or being baptized in the Jordan, or preaching to the crowds, or praying in the Garden or dying on the cross. Any of these scenes will do, whatever you are attracted to. Use your imagination for a few moments and speak to Jesus from your heart. It might only be a short prayer but it will be from the heart. Congratulations. You have begun to walk the road of divine light. Be led to do this often. Just a short prayer where you picture Jesus and speak to him from your heart. That is truly a turning to God. Do not forget, I will always be there with you.
Comment: The teachings these past few days have led the person from darkness into light, and now Mary explains how to walk in that light.
Fiftieth Rose
Various Methods of Praying the Rosary
There are two methods discussed in the Secret of the Rosary, by St. Louis de Montfort, that may be worthy of mention. He refers to these methods as a good and holy way of saying the Rosary. He also calls them “methods of saying the Most Holy Rosary so as to draw upon our souls the grace of the mysteries of life, passion and Glory of Jesus and Mary.” These are found in the Fiftieth Rose. The first method is to make an offering to Our Lord in exchange for a virtue.
First Method - How to Offer Each Decade
Joyful Mysteries
First Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this first decade in honor of Thine Incarnation and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy most Holy Mother, a profound humility.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Incarnation, come down into my soul and make it truly humble.
Second Decade Offering
Before the Second Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this second decade in honor of the Visitation of Thy Holy Mother to her cousin Saint Elizabeth, and we ask of Thee through this mystery and through Mary’s intercession, a perfect charity towards our neighbor.
After the Second Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Visitation come down into my soul and make it really charitable.
Third Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Child Jesus, this third decade in honor of Thy Blessed Nativity, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, detachment from things of this world, love of poverty and love of the poor.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Nativity come down into my soul and make me truly poor in spirit.
Fourth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourth decade in honor of Thy Presentation in the temple by the hands of Mary, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, the gift of wisdom and purity of heart and body.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Purification, come down into my soul and make it really wise and really pure.
Fifth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifth decade in honor of Thy Finding in the Temple among the learned men by Our Lady, after she had lost Thee, and we ask Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, to convert us and help us amend our lives, and also to convert all sinners, heretics, schismatics and idolaters.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, come down into my soul and truly convert me.
Sorrowful Mysteries
Sixth Decade Offering
Before the Sixth Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honor of Thy mortal Agony in the Garden of Olives and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, perfect sorrow for our sins and the virtue of perfect obedience to Thy Holy Will.
After the Sixth Decade Prayers: Grace of Our Lord’s Agony, come down into my soul and make me truly contrite and perfectly obedient to Thy Will.
Seventh Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honor of Thy Bloody Scourging and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, the grace to mortify our senses perfectly.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of Our Lord’s Scourging, come down into my soul and make me truly mortified.
Eighth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honor of Thy cruel crowning with thorns, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, a great contempt of the world.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of Our Lord’s crowning with Thorns, come down into my soul and make me despise the world.
Ninth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honor of Thy carrying Thy Cross and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, to give us great patience in carrying our cross in Thy footsteps every day of our life.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the carrying of the Cross, come down into my soul and make me truly patient.
Tenth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honor of Thy Crucifixion on Mount Calvary, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, a great horror of sin, a love of the Cross and the grace of a holy death for us and for those who are now in their last agony.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Death and Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, come down into my soul and make me truly holy.
Glorious Mysteries
Eleventh Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eleventh decade in honor of Thy triumphant Resurrection and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, a lively faith.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the Resurrection come down into my soul and make me really faithful.
Twelfth Decade Offering
Before the Twelfth Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this twelfth decade in honor of Thy glorious Ascension, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, a firm hope and a great longing for Heaven.
After the Twelfth Decade Prayers: Grace of the mystery of the Ascension of Our Lord, come down into my soul and make me ready for Heaven.
Thirteenth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Holy Spirit, this thirteenth decade in honor of the mystery of Pentecost, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Mary, Thy most faithful Spouse, Thy holy wisdom so that we may know, really love and practise Thy truth, and make all others share in it.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of Pentecost, come down into my soul and make me really wise in the eyes of Almighty God.
Fourteenth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fourteenth decade in honor of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Thy holy and Blessed Mother, body and soul, into Heaven, and we ask of Thee, through these two mysteries and through her intercession, the gift of true devotion to her to help us live and die holily.
After Decade Prayers: Grace of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary, come down into my soul and make me truly devoted to her.
Fifteenth Decade Offering
Before Decade Prayers: We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this fifteenth and last decade in honor of the glorious crowning of Thy Blessed Mother in Heaven, and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through Her intercession, the grace of perseverance and increase of virtue until the very moment of death and after that the eternal crown that is prepared for us. We ask the same grace for all the just and for all our benefactors.
After Decade Prayers: We beseech Thee, dear Lord Jesus, by the fifteen mysteries of Thy life, death and passion, by Thy glory and by the merits of Thy Blessed Mother, to convert sinners and help the dying, to deliver the Holy Souls from Purgatory and to give us all Thy grace so that we may live well and die well—and please give us the Light of Thy glory later on so that we may see Thee face to face and love Thee for all eternity. Amen. So be it.
Second Method
In the Second Method, we use a shorter way than the first to commemorate the life, death and Glory of Jesus and Mary in the Most Holy Rosary and to curb our imagination and to lessen distractions. To do this we must add a word or two to the end of each Hail mary (depending upon the decade) anjd tghis will help remind us which Mystery we are commemorating. This word or words should be added after the phrase “And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus”
At the First Decade … Jesus Incarnate”
At the Second Decade “. . .” Jesus sanctifying;
At the Third Decade “. . .” Jesus born in poverty;
At the Fourth Decade “. . .” Jesus sacrificed;
At the Fifth Decade “. . .” Jesus, Saint among Saints;
At the Sixth Decade “. . .” Jesus in His agony;
At the Seventh Decade “. . .” Jesus scourged;
At the Eighth Decade “. . .” Jesus crowned with thorns;
At the Ninth Decade “. . .” Jesus carrying His Cross;
At the Tenth Decade “. . .” Jesus crucified;
At the Eleventh Decade “. . .” Jesus risen from the dead;
At the Twelfth Decade “. . .” Jesus ascending to Heaven;
At the Thirteenth Decade “. . .” Jesus filling Thee with the Holy Spirit;
At the Fourteenth Decade “. . .” Jesus raising Thee up;
At the Fifteenth Decade “. . .” Jesus crowning Thee.”
Sorrowful Mysteries
Opening Prayers
Our Request
In the Name of the Father
The Apostle’s Creed
The Our Father
Hail Mary (3)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
Decades
Closing Prayers
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
In the Name of the Father
Prayer After the Rosary
Fatima Prayer No. 2
Glorious Mysteries
Opening Prayers
Our Request
In the Name of the Father
The Apostle’s Creed
The Our Father
Hail Mary (3)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
Decades
Closing Prayers
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
In the Name of the Father
Prayer After the Rosary
Fatima Prayer No. 2
Luminous Mysteries
Opening Prayers
Our Request
In the Name of the Father
The Apostle’s Creed
The Our Father
Hail Mary (3)
Glory Be to the Father
Fatima Prayer
Decades
Closing Prayers
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
In the Name of the Father
Prayer After the Rosary
Fatima Prayer No. 2
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