How to pray the Rosary

The Holy Rosary For centuries, the Holy Rosary has been a treasured devotion in the Catholic Church.  A deeply contemplative prayer, the Rosary contains a summary of the Christian faith in language and prayers inspired by the Holy Scriptures.  When praying the Rosary, Catholics recall the most important events in the lives of Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary.  These events are called “Mysteries” and are divided into four groups of five decades: the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.  Each decade consists of one “Our Father”, ten “Hail Mary’s”, and one “Glory be to the Father”.

How to Say the Rosary 1. Begin on the Crucifix and say the “Apostle’s Creed”. 2. On the first bead, say one “Our Father”. 3. Say one “Hail Mary” on each of the next three beads. 4. Say one “Glory Be to the Father”.  5. At the beginning of each decade, announce the Mystery to be contemplated. For example, the first Joyful Mystery is “The Annunciation”. After a short pause for reflection, say one “Our Father” on the large bead. 6. Recite ten “Hail Mary’s” on the ten smaller beads, followed by one “Glory be to the Father”. An invocation may be added after each decade. 7. Announce the second Mystery and continue in the same manner until each of the five Mysteries of the selected group is said. 8. Conclude by saying the “Hail Holy Queen”. At the end  of the Rosary, the “Prayer to St. Michael” or some other Marian prayer is recited.