Growing in Prayer

The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events in the history of our salvation. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five Joyful Mysteries (said on Monday and Saturday), the five Luminous Mysteries (said on Thursday), the five Sorrowful Mysteries (said on Tuesday and Friday), and the five Glorious Mysteries (said on Wednesday and Sunday). As an exception, the Joyful Mysteries may be said on Sundays during Advent and Christmas, while the Sorrowful Mysteries may be said on the Sundays of Lent.

The question is sometimes asked, why, of all the incidents in our Lord’s life, the Rosary only considers these particular twenty. The mysteries of the Rosary are based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgy. There is a parallel between the main feasts honoring our Lord and his Mother in the liturgical year, and the twenty mysteries of the Rosary. Consequently, one who recites the twenty mysteries of the Rosary in one day reflects on the whole liturgical cycle that the Church commemorates during the course of each year. That is why some of the Popes have referred to the Rosary as a compendium of the Gospel. One cannot change the mysteries of the Rosary without losing the indulgences that the Church grants for the recitation of the Rosary.

All the prayers of the Rosary are available (in multiple languages). ROSARY PRAYERS

The steps to praying the Rosary are:

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the “Apostles’ Creed”
2. Say the “Our Father”
3. Say three “Hail Marys” for Faith, Hope, and Charity
4. Say the “Glory Be”
5. Announce the First Mystery and then say the “Our Father”
6. Say ten “Hail Marys” while meditating on the Mystery
7. Say the “Glory Be” (Optional: Say the “O My Jesus” prayer requested by Mary at Fatima)
8. Announce the Next Mystery; then say the “Our Father” and repeat these steps (6 through 8) as you continue through the remaining Mysteries.
9. Say the closing prayers: the “Hail Holy Queen” and “Final Prayer”
10. Make the “Sign of the Cross”

Pope Saint John Paul II suggested the recitation of the Rosary as follows:

We offer several different modes of praying the Rosary, listed here.

For more information on the Rosary, please visit our page What is the Rosary?

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is
preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing
prayer.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross
   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
   
2. Optional Opening Prayers
   You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened
   up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world
   and empty Yourself out upon us.
   
   (Repeat three times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!

3. 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.
   
4. Hail Mary
   Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
   
5. 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. Amen.
   
6. The Eternal Father
   Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son,
   Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
   
7. On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade
   For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
   
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
   Saying the “Eternal Father” (6) on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His
   sorrowful Passion” (7) on the following “Hail Mary” beads.
   
9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
   Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
   
10. Optional Closing Prayer
    Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look
    kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair
    nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is
    Love and Mercy itself.