how to pray the Rosary
“The beads converge upon the crucifix, which both opens and closes the unfolding sequence of prayer. The life and prayer of believers is centered upon Christ. Everything begins from him, everything leads toward him, everything, through him, in the Holy Spirit, attains to the Father.” —Pope St. John Paul II, 16 October 2002
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; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will 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.
the 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.
the 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.
the 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.
The Fatima Prayer
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.
the 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.
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 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.
Rosary prayer videos
Many people designate certain days of the week for praying a particular set of mysteries, but any mystery or set of mysteries may be prayed at any time. The following schedule is one of several different schedules that can be used when praying five decades of the Rosary each day.
If you’d like to pray the Rosary but never learned the prayers or are uncertain about the correct order in which to pray them, you can watch this short how-to video by Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino and her daughter Anne Marie to learn more about these powerful prayers.
Clicking on an individual mystery below will open a corresponding prayer video.
The Joyful Mysteries may be prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, on Sundays during Advent, and on Sundays from Epiphany to Lent. These are the mysteries traditionally associated with Advent.
the Annunciation
the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
the Nativity
the Presentation in the Temple
Finding Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries may be prayed on Tuesday, Fridays, and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. They traditionally are associated with the season of Lent.
Agony in the Garden
Scourging at the Pillar
Crowning with Thorns
Carrying the Cross
the Crucifixion
The Glorious Mysteries may be prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year. They Mysteries traditionally are associated with the liturgical season of Easter.
the Resurrection
the Ascension
Descent of the Holy Spirit
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Luminous Mysteries may be prayed on Thursdays throughout the year. They are associated with Ordinary Time on the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan
the Wedding at Cana
Proclamation of the Kingdom
the Transfiguration
Institution of the Eucharist
saints devoted to the Rosary
Throughout the history of the Church, there has been a strong link between saints and the Rosary. To learn more about some of them, visit saints & the Rosary.