The Holy Rosary

THE START:

1. Bless yourself: Hold the Crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross;

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

2. Then pray the Apostles’ Creed.

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty maker 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, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. 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 thence He shall 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 the life everlasting. Amen.”

THE ENTRANCE:

1. On the first large bead, pray 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.”

2. On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys.

“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.”

3. Pray 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 DECADES

The Rosary is divided into five “decades” (sets of ten beads).

For each decade:
 1. Announce the Mystery (e.g., “The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation”).
 2. Pray one 1x Our Father on the large bead.
 3. Pray ten 10x Hail Marys on the small beads while meditating on the mystery.
 4. Finish the decade with the Glory Be.

5. Optional – the Fatima Prayer:

“O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.”

THE CONCLUSION:

After five decades, pray the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) and the concluding 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 vale 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.”

Final Prayer

“O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, 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.”

Bless yourself:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”