Home / Other Prayers / Praying the Holy Rosary

Have you experienced so much in vain – if it really was in vain? ~ Galatians 3:4

Praying the Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary is one of three Sacramentals that the Blessed Virgin Mary has given to the Holy Catholic Church. In the thirteenth century, Mary gave the Rosary as a powerful weapon to mankind to combat the evils that were in this world as a result of the spiritual battle that is taking place between Satan and God. Since then, the blessings received through this Sacramental are beyond man's count.
STEP 1: Make the sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
STEP 2: Say the Apostle's Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He will come again 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.
STEP 3: Say 1 "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.
STEP 4: Say 3 "Hail Mary's": (For the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity)
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 death.
Amen.
STEP 5: Say 1 "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.
STEP 6: The Rosary Breakdown:
The Holy Rosary consists of 20 decades.
A decade consists of: 1 Our Father 10 Hail Mary's 1 Glory Be.
To pray an entire Rosary, you must pray 20 times the "Our Father," 10 "Hail Mary's" and the "Glory Be" in that order.
The Rosary is been divided into 4 parts of 5 decades each. Each of the four parts are called a Chaplet.
To pray an entire Chaplet, you must pray 5 times the "Our Father," 10 "Hail Mary's" and "Glory Be" in that order.
The general practice of Catholic is to commit themselves to praying one Chaplet per day.
STEP 7: The Mysteries of the Rosary:
While praying a decade, you reflect on a mystery. There are specific mysteries for each day of the week.
For example, when praying the Holy Rosary on a Monday, you meditate on the Joyful Mysteries.
During the recitation of first decade, you meditate on the Annunciation of Mary. During the recitation of the second decade, you meditate on the Visitation. During the recitation of the third decade, you meditate on the Nativity of Jesus. Etc...
The following is a list of the Mysteries:
Joyful Mysteries - Monday and Saturday
1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation 3. The Nativity 4. The Presentation 5. The Finding in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries - Tuesday and Friday
1. The Agony in the Garden 2. The Scourging at the Pillar 3. The Crowning with Thorns 4. The Carrying of the Cross 5. The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries - Wednesday and Sunday
1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit 4. The Assumption 5. The Crowning of Mary
Mysteries of Light - Thursday
1. Baptism in the Jordan 2. Self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana 3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion 4. The Transfiguration 5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist
STEP 8: The "Fatima Prayer": After the completion of one decade, you recide the "Fatima Prayer": O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy. STEP 9: The "Hail Holy Queen": After the completion of one Chaplet (5 decades which represents 5 mysteries), you pray the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer. 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 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. STEP 10: The Sign of the Cross: You conclude the Rosary by doing the Sign of the Cross. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

More Acts of Prayers

A Prayer before the Examination of Conscience Most merciful God, Father in heaven, relying on Thy goodness and mercy, I come t...

A Prayer for a New Church Heavenly Father, author and inspirer of all things holy, hear our prayers for ou...

A Prayer for a New Church # 2 Yahweh, Divine Architect, Creator of our Human Family; Risen Jesus, Cornerstone ...

A Prayer for Candlemas Day Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true Light enlightening every soul born into this...

A Prayer for Church Unity Almighty and eternal God, You have promised that there will someday be but one f...

Aspirations and Thoughts 1. O God! Who knows what fate awaits me? 2. I shall be either eternally happy o...

Campus Evangelization Prayer Father in Heaven and Lord of all, establish Your sovereignty on the university c...

Canticle of the Three Youths Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all foreve...

Canticle of Zechariah Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them f...

Fifth Centenary Prayer Your Word of Life, O God, reached these lands five centuries ago, and calls us s...

Haiku Prayer 10 "Haiku" prayers, in Japanese poetical form, have their origin in the fourteenth ...

Prayer for a Holy Church and Priests O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light...

Prayer for Church Leaders Lord Jesus Christ, watch over those who are leaders in your Church. Keep them fa...

Prayer for Holiness Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Ho...

Prayer for the Bishop Heavenly Father, in these trying times when the spirit of the age threatens Chri...

Prayer for the Bishop's Annual Appeal Loving and gracious God You gave us your Son, Jesus Christ. He gave of Himself,...

Prayer for the Church # 1 We pray You, O almighty and eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed ...

Prayer for the Church # 2 Heavenly Father, look upon our community of faith which is the Church of your So...

Prayer for the Church # 3 Ordered by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, to be recited, kneeling, after every Low ...

Prayer for the Church the Authorities, Etc... (Composed by Archbishop Carroll in 1800.) We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal G...

Prayer for the Church Unity Octave Antiphon. That they may all be one, as You, Father, in Me and I in You; that th...

Prayer to the Immaculata O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and Earth, refuge of sinner and most Loving Mother...

Prayer to the Most Holy Wounds An Act of Contrition As I kneel before Thee on the Cross, most loving Saviour o...

Prayer to the Sacred Heart When the Clock Strikes O most sweet Jesus, I commend to Thy Divine Heart all that I have done in the ho...

Prayer to the The Infant of Prague O Divine Child of Prague, and still the great omnipotent God, I implore through ...

Prayer when using Holy Water By this holy water and by Your Precious Blood, wash away all my sins, O Lord....

Prayers between Ascension and Pentecost Father: God ascends amid shouts of joy, Alleluia. Family: The Lord, amid trum...

Prayers for Christian Unity # 2 PRAYERS FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY # 2 you have called us to be your one Church. Make u...

Prayers for Christian Unity # 3 Lord Jesus, Son of God, our brother and our saviour, we give your glory. Protect...

Prayers for the Holy Souls Prayer for Sunday O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which ...

Praying the Holy Rosary STEP 1: Make the sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son an...

Regina Coeli Queen of heaven, rejoice. Alleluia. For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alle...

Remind Me, Lord Remind me, Lord. I keep forgetting, that You are powerful enough to single-hande...

Renew Prayer Lord, We are Your people, the sheep of Your flock. Heal the sheep who are wounde...

Rite of Eucharistic - Reposition Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God an...

Rogation Day Prayers "All we can do is worth nothing Unless God blesses the deed; Vainly we hope for ...

Serenity Prayer O God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to...

Shrove Tuesday Prayer Lord, give us grace to inaugurate with holy fasting the defenses of Christian wa...

Sub Tuum Praesidum We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God. Listen to our prayers and hel...

Take From Me My Heart of Stone O Lord, take away my heart of stone, my hardened heart, my uncircumcised heart a...

Te Deum Laudamus We praise Thee, O God: We acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth w...

The Akita Prayer Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my...

The Canticle Of Simeon (In honor of the Presentation of Jesus and the Purification of Mary) Now, Master...

The Clown's Prayer As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dis...

The Crown of Twelve Stars Let us offer praise and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity, Who has shown us ...

The Doxology Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the...

The Great Commandment You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul...

The Hearken O Lord (Attende Domine) Prayer Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee. Crying, we ra...

The Heart's Prayer. As down in the sunless retreats of the ocean Sweet flowers are springing no mort...

The Holy Face # 1 O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a man o...

The Holy Face # 2 O Blessed Face of my kind Saviour, by the tender love and piercing sorrow of Our...

The Holy Water Bottle Prayer Oh God, grant that this creature (water) may be endowed with Divine grace to dri...

The Millennium Prayer God of love and mercy, you call us to be your people, you gift us with your abun...

The Miracle Prayer Lord, Jesus, I come before You, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent o...

The Miraculous Medal O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to...

The Motorcyclist's Prayer O, dear Father, I ask for you to watch over me as I ride from point a to b. Help...

The Motorist's Prayer Grant me O Lord a steady hand and watchful eye. That no one shall be hurt as I p...

THE O Sacred Banquet (O Sacrum Convivium) PRAYER O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is rene...

The Prayer "As I am the Lord" Because I am obnoxious, forgive me Lord. Because I am dishonest, forgive me Lord...

The Prayer "others" Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way, That even when ...

The Prayer Look Upon the Face O Almighty and Eternal God, look upon the Face of Thy Son Jesus. We present It t...

The Prayer Renewal of Confirmation (By Rev. Bernard Stokes, O.F.M.) All: Sing the hymn Veni Creator (Come Holy Ghost). Father: Reads the Lesson from...

The Prayer Rorate Caeli Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One. Be ...

The Prayer Stabat Mater Dolorosa At the Cross her station keeping Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jes...

The Prayer Te Deum O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord. Everlasting ...

The Prayer the Royal Banners Forward Go The royal banners forward go; The Cross shines forth in mystic glow, Where Life ...

The Prayer Whatsoever You Do When I was hungry, you gave me to eat; when I was thirsty you gave me to drink. ...

The Prayer, Majestic Queen of Heaven Majestic Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the Angels, thou didst receive from God...

The Prayer, O Queen of Heaven O Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia; For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Al...

The Prayer, O Saving Victim O saving Victim, open wide The gate of heaven to man below! Our foes press on fr...

The Prayer, of They Tender Mercy, We Beseech Thee Of Thy tender mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, loose the bonds of our sins, and t...

The Prayer, Spiritual Armor of Prayer Heavenly Father, We ask You today for Your truth, As a belt tight around our wai...

The Prayer, The Golden Sequence Come, holy Ghost, and bring from above The splendor of thy light. Come, father ...

The Prayer, to Jordan's Water To Jordan's water, to Jordan's water Christ comes to be baptized. John the Forer...

The Prayer, Very Bread, Good Shepherd, Tend Us. Very Bread, good Shepherd, tend us, Jesus, of Thy love befriend us, Thou refresh...

The Prayer, We Fly to Thy Patronage We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our ...

The Salve Regina [In the Morning] Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. hail our life, our sweetness...

The Splendor of Truth Veritatis Splendor, August 6, 1993. O Mary, Mother of Mercy, watch over all peop...

Throw Your Cares On the Lord O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; Truly, I would ...

Various Aspirations Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you. Save souls. St. Joseph, foster father of C...

Veni Creator # 1 Veni Creator Come, O Creator Spirit blest! And in our souls take up Thy rest; Co...

Veni Creator # 2 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come. From thy bright heavenly throne! Come, take pos...

Visit to a Picture of the Sacred Heart (INDULGENCES gaines by the faithful, who visit a picture of the Sacred Heart of ...

When in Desolation Lord, listen to my prayer, turn your ear to my appeal. You are faithful, you are...