Tuesday Rosary: A Complete Guide to the Sorrowful Mysteries
Which Mysteries do we recite for the Tuesday Rosary?
For the Tuesday Rosary, the Sorrowful Mysteries, is prayed. It consists of Opening Prayers, five decades, or events, from scripture concerning the life of Jesus and Mary and each followed by Decade Prayers, and finally Closing Prayers.
Devotion to the Rosary itself will aid in building faith and in decreasing sin and spiritual poverty. Blessings will ensue. Together, these prayers and decades make up one of the world’s most popular prayers and are said millions of times daily.
Be Devoted.
A Few Suggestions concerning the Tuesday Rosary
- Pray early in the morning before you start your day. That way, you may notice things going on in your day related to the Rosary. Why pray it at the end of the day or before you go to sleep?
- Read the scriptures out loud. Don’t just announce the decade, but read the scriptures that accompany the prayers.
- Additionally, if a primer on Rosary Beads and how to use them is needed, one is available here.
Rosary Guides
We also have Rosary Guides for all mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious 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, especially for beginners. The author still uses them to this day.
To download or view the Tuesday Rosary guide only, click the Icon below.
Why pray the Tuesday Rosary?
Its Power
In 2012, I began praying this prayer of my own accord, which changed my life completely. Its power is real, and I have experienced it first hand. I have had tremendous spiritual experiences that came at this time and were beyond anything I could have imagined. I believe these experiences have happened because of my devotion to prayer and recitation of the Rosary in particular (although I do not think that devotion and prayer guarantee that experiences, as I had, will happen to everyone). A Marian Journey into the Church, a condensed version of my conversion, occurred from 2012 until 2019 when I joined the church, something I had no desire to do before.
Our Lady asks us to
Another reason to pray the Tuesday Rosary is that Our Lady asks us to; this should be all the reason we need. Fatima is one of the most popular apparitions where Our Lady asks us to pray her Rosary. The Blessed Virgin Mary came to the children with the Rosary in hand. But that is not the only apparition; she also requested the Rosary at Lourdes, Akita, Japan, San Nicolas in Argentina, and Kibeho, Rwanda. All of these are apparitions approved by the church.
In 2019, I visited an unapproved apparition site where Our Lady repeatedly requested the Rosary over the years. That site is Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where many miracles and prayers are answered, and lives are changed forever.
But is Our Lady asking a lot of us? No, not really. Just a few minutes every day. The real question is, “How can I be so self-centered and self-serving, that I do not care one iota about what the one person (and she is a person, a real live person) who cares more about me, desires for me?” And the outcome is all to my benefit? It’s not that hard; I did it for 57 years. The Rosary changed everything.
What are the Rosary Mysteries for Tuesday?
The Tuesday Rosary is the Second mysteries of the Rosary and contain five gospel events in the life of Jesus and Mary. What are the decades (more often called Mysteries)? They are listed below and each contains a brief description and a little insight in the the event. When praying the Rosary, these mysteries can and should be read aloud.
Luke 22:39-46
Jesus agonizes with the crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane as the apostles sleep from grief. Suffering, his sweat becomes blood. An angel sent, appears and strengthens Him.
Matthew 27:11-26
Jesus appears before Pilate and is questioned by him concerning the charges of the Priests and ancients. The Priests keep the crowd stirred up and Jesus is sentenced to death.
Matthew 27:27-31
Jesus is mocked at the hand of Pilate’s soldiers and is crowned with a crown of thorns.
Luke 23:26-33
Jesus suffering and not being able to carry the cross any further, a man (Simon of Cyrene) is pulled from the crowd to carry the cross. Jesus addresses the crowd.
John 19:25-27
The Crucifixion. Jesus addresses Mary, his mother and John, his disciple at the foot of the cross on Golgotha (Calvary).
What are the Prayers of the Tuesday Rosary?
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.
“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.”
What are Scripturally-based Rosaries?
Scripturally-based Rosaries are Rosaries where the Scriptures are read, usually aloud. I do it this way everytime I pray the Rosary because I feel like it is more complete and I get more out of it. It is my personal preference.
Any Rosary, whether it be the Tuesday Rosary or what have you, can be said scripturally, it just takes longer. Where I attend Mass, the mystery titles are announced for the sake of time and then the prayers follow. It takes roughly twenty minutes to complete. The longer version, where all scriptures are read, takes me between forty and forty-five minutes to complete.
For me personally, the longer route is the way to go.
Decade Offering (from the Secret of the Rosary)
There is a text available written by St. Louis de Montfort titled The Secret of the Rosary that is called by some “the greatest book ever written on the Rosary.”
In this text, writtern in the 1700s, there is a section that addresses the methods of saying the Most Holy Rosary so as to draw upon our souls the Grace of the Mysteries of Life. They are an offering of each decade of the three original mysteries, the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. There is an offering before and after the rosary prayers for each decade. The offerings in this Rosary are designated by the title, “Decade Offering (optional from the Secret of the Rosary).”
We feel they are a welcome addition to each decade, but if you want to omit them, feel free to do so.
How to pray the Tuesday Rosary
Opening Prayers
Our Request
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)
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
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.)
The 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 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
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.
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.
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
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
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. Amen.
Five Decades
Agony in the Garden
And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him.
And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast; and kneeling down, he prayed, Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation.
Decade Prayers
Decade Offering (optional)
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honour 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.
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
Repeat 10 Times
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
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
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. Amen.
Decade Offering (optional)
Grace of Our Lord’s Agony, come down into my soul and make me truly contrite and perfectly obedient to Thy Will.
Scourging at the Pillar
And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee? And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask for Barabbas, and take Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children. Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.
Decade Prayers
Decade Offering (optional)
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honour 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.
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
Repeat 10 Times
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
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
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. Amen.
Decade Offering (optional)
Grace of Our Lord’s Scourging, come down into my soul and make me truly mortified.
Crowning with Thorns
Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band; And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews. And spitting upon him, they took the reed, and struck his head. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him.
Decade Prayers
Decade Offering (optional)
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honour 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.
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
Repeat 10 Times
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
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
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. Amen.
Decade Offering (optional)
Grace of the mystery of Our Lord’s crowning with Thorns, come down into my soul and make me despise the world.
Carrying the Cross
And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country; and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.
And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.
But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Decade Prayers
Decade Offering (optional)
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honour 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.
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
Repeat 10 Times
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
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
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. Amen.
Decade Offering (optional)
Grace of the mystery of the carrying of the Cross, come down into my soul and make me truly patient.
The Crucifixion
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
Decade Prayers
Decade Offering (optional)
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honour 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.
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
Repeat 10 Times
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
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
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. Amen.
Decade Offering (optional)
Grace of the mystery of the Death and Passion of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, come down into my soul and make me truly holy.
Closing Prayers
The Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
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.
In The Name Of The Father
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.)
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.
Fatima Prayer #2
“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.”
Additional Prayers to the Tuesday Rosary
From time to time, I like to append a couple of prayers to the Tuesday Rosary to Our Lady. One is a prayer taken from the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows. The other is the Memorare.
From Our Lady of Sorrows
Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love: sorrow, to endure every sorrow for thee; love, to despise every love for thee.
From Our Lady of Sorrows
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.
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