The Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary

—The faithful traditionally pray the five decades of the Rosary with specific mysteries on certain days of the week, and as follows:

• Monday: Joyful Mystery.
• Tuesday: Sorrowful Mystery.
• Wednesday: Glorious Mystery.
• Thursday: Luminous Mystery.
• Friday: Sorrowful Mystery.
• Saturday: Joyful Mystery.
• Sunday: Glorious Mystery.
  

 

—Begin with “the Apostles Creed" (said while holding the Crucifix): 

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.

—On the first bead, pray an Our Father, then on the following three beads pray a Hail Mary on each (for an increase in faith, hope, and love).  Conclude this first part with a "Glory Be."  

—At the conclusion of each “decade” pray a “Glory Be” and the “Oh My Jesus (aka Fatima)” prayer: 

Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. 

The Joyful Mysteries--Monday and Saturday.

1.  The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary (Mary is chosen to be the mother of Jesus). 

2.  The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of our Lord). 

3.  The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (the infant Jesus is born and placed in a very humble manger in Bethlehem). 

4.  The Presentation of our Lord (the baby Jesus is presented in the Temple of Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph). 

5.  The finding of the child Jesus in the Temple (the boy Jesus is found by May and Joseph discussing God's laws in the temple).

The Luminous Mysteries (i.e. "of Light")--Thursday. 

1.  The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan (God the Father proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son). 

2.  The Wedding Feast at Cana (at his mother Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first public miracle). 

3.  The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom). 

4.  The Transfiguration of Jesus (Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor). 

5.  The Institution of the Eucharist (Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper).  

The Sorrowful Mysteries--Tuesday and Friday.

1.  The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (In the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays when confronted with the sins of the world).

2.  The Scourging at the pillar (Jesus is whipped before His execution).

3.  The crowning of Jesus with thorns (Jesus is mocked with a painful crown of thorns).

4.  Jesus Carries his Cross (Jesus carries the weight of our sins to his crucifixion).

5.  The Crucifixion of our Lord (Jesus Christ dies to save all humankind). 

The Glorious Mysteries--Sunday.

1.  The Resurrection (God the Father raises Jesus from the dead).

2. The Ascension (Jesus returns to his Father in heaven). 

3.  The coming of the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples). 

4.  The Assumption of Mary (at the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven). 

5. The Coronation of Mary (Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth).

—At the conclusion of the Rosary pray 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 the 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.

—And then some also pray the "Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel".

Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

—Conclude the Rosary with the following prayer: 

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech thee, that 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. Amen.