How to Pray the Rosary

Getting Down to Basics

How to Pray the Rosary

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If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, this article will give you the basics; and, if you’re returning to the Rosary after a long time away, you can use this article as a "refresher course." Keep in mind, though, that there are no "Rosary police" checking up on you to make sure that you’re doing it "the right way."

In the long run, you may pray the Rosary however you prefer to pray it. The main objective of the Rosary is the same as any method of prayer—to nourish your intimacy with the triune God and with the communion of saints in this world and the next. So whatever serves that purpose is good.

If you want to pray the Rosary in the customary manner, however, there is a traditional way to go about it. The prayers of the Rosary will be provided here, in case you don’t already know them.

Because praying the Rosary involves repetitive prayer, it’s a good idea to have a rosary. If you don’t have a religious goods store in your area, you can find several sources on the Internet—some of which even offer free rosaries.

There are two basic ways to pray…

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Comments (Join the discussion)

  1. RSCabrera's avatar
    RSCabrera

    Thank you! - for so long I’ve searched for an explanation of how to “Pray the Rosary”. This brief and succinct article in your ” Prayer Resource” has provided the answer that I have seek. While other sources just made reference as though the reader should know the “how”. I know thirst to know more about each of the mysteries… I’m sure “The Word Among Us” will also help me find these answers!.... Thank you!

  2. cozycalico's avatar
    cozycalico

    RSCabrera

    Here are the mysteries of the rosary: You can find more about them in the bible.

    The Five Joyful Mysteries
    Monday & Saturday

      1. The Annunciation: Humility
      2. The Visitation: Charity
      3. The Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world
      4. The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience
      5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety

    The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
    Tuesday & Friday

      1. The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sins
      2. The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our senses
      3. The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortification
      4. The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crosses
      5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselves

    The Five Glorious Mysteries
    Wednesday & Sunday

      1. The Resurrection: Conversion of heart
      2. The Ascension: A desire for heaven
      3. The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
      4. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary
      5. The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happiness

    The Five Luminous Mysteries
    Thursday

      1. The Baptism in the Jordan
      2. The Wedding at Cana
      3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
      4. The Transfiguration
      5. The Institution of the Eucharist

  3. gueroestrada's avatar
    gueroestrada

    this is one of the best prayers iv came across

  4. RSCabrera's avatar
    RSCabrera

    COZYCALICO

    Thank you for providing the mysteries of the rosary. I will continue to look for and pray the Holy Spirit will help me to understand the mysteries. You suggest to look to the Bible - how? I read the New Jerusalem Bible with footnotes & cross references but it has no indexes or references to the mystery headings. What Bible version you suggest I look in?

  5. ljgass's avatar
    ljgass

    There are two great websites for more information on the Rosary, the first is http://www.rosary-center.org - click on the “Rosary” link at the top and it will give you the mysteries as well as each meditation for each decade and each meditation for each Hail Mary.
    The second is http://www.marion.org/mary/rosary - this will also give the meditations for each mystery ans a Bible verse to correspond to each mystery. The pictures associated with the meditations (on the website) help me to “get into the scene”, and have a deeper meditation as I recite the Rosary.
    The Bible verses from the second suggestion are based on the “NAB - New American Bible”.
    I was at a Catholic Men’s conference recently and one of the speakers described praying the Rosary in these words:
    “Third Joyful Mystery - The Nativity / The Birth of Jesus
    Imagine yourself there in the cave (stable), you can smell the animals, you watch Jesus being born, and you watch good Joseph - Joseph holding Christ in his hands… the first person ever to receive communion in his hands.
    He holds Jesus in his arms and he gives Him to Mary and there’s Mary holding Jesus in her arms.
    And you’re watching this and meditating on this, and as you’re watching this Mary looks directly at you and says “Here… would you like to hold Him?”
    And then you take the God of the universe in your hands and you hold the body of Christ.
    That’s how you say the Rosary.”
    I motivated me into a deeper meditation and understanding of the Rosary.

    I hope this is of some help.

  6. peternwaokoh's avatar
    peternwaokoh

    It is a very good one.saying it in this traditional way without modification and dilution will give us the full blessings therein.nothing like doing things the right way!

  7. jellybean's avatar
    jellybean

    Thank you for this page. I get up ever morning now and pray the rosary and will be with more meaning and thought.  As time goes I will have a deeper understanding and motivate me .  Just as my walk does every morning and see what God has created.

  8. cs's avatar
    cs

    I pray the rosary daily along with a church in California… it’s a beautiful site that will walk you through each mystery on the right day. Easy for beginners… I have been using it for two years:

    http://comepraytherosary.org

    People worldwide will be praying with you.

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