How to Pray the Holy Rosary
A prayer anyone can learn in an afternoon and carry for a lifetime. Here is the whole of it, step by step.
What the rosary is
The Rosary is the Gospel prayed on beads. With Our Lady at your side, you walk through the life of her Son — his coming, his suffering, his rising — one mystery at a time, while the prayers repeat quietly underneath.
The beads exist for one reason: so your hands can keep the count while your mind is free to contemplate. You are not counting prayers. You are keeping company with Christ through the eyes of his Mother.
The order of prayer
Begin at the crucifix and work your way around.
It happens to everyone, and it undoes nothing. Simply pick up where you think you were and carry on — the Lord is not keeping score of the beads.
The mysteries, by day
Five mysteries are prayed each day, according to the day of the week.
The prayers
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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.
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. Amen.
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. Amen.
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. Amen.
The Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
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. Amen.
An honest word
The Rosary is not a formula, and Our Lady has never promised that reciting words while thinking of nothing will change a life. Repetition without attention is only noise, and the saints who loved this prayer said so plainly.
What the Rosary is, is a place to put the day. The mysteries give your mind somewhere to rest; the beads give your hands something to do; and Our Lady, who prays with you, carries the whole of it to her Son. Pray it imperfectly and often, and it will do its quiet work.
Good to know
How long does it take?Around fifteen to twenty minutes for five decades, once you are familiar with it. Many pray it while walking, driving or waiting.
Must I pray all five decades at once?No. A single decade prayed with attention is worth more than five prayed in a hurry. Begin with one if that is what your day allows.
What if my mind wanders?It will. Return to the mystery whenever you notice, without frustration. The returning is itself part of the prayer.
Does my rosary need to be blessed?It is not required in order to pray, but a blessing sets it apart for sacred use. Ours are blessed in prayer before they ship, and any priest will gladly bless one.
Am I praying to Mary instead of God?No. We ask Our Lady to pray with us and for us, as you might ask a friend — every prayer of the Rosary is directed, through her, to her Son.
What if my rosary breaks?Repair it or replace it and continue. If it came from us, our lifetime guarantee covers it — simply reach out.
"The Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest of all prayers to the Mediatrix of all grace."
Pope St. Pius XBegin with the Rosary of Jerusalem
Hematite beads with real weight in the hand, and soil from the Holy Land set within the centrepiece medallion — made to be prayed with daily, not kept in a drawer.
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