PRAYER

PRAYER

How To Pray The Rosary

The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five JOYFUL MYSTERIES, the five LUMINOUS MYSTERIES, the five SORROWFUL MYSTERIES, and the five GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.

rosary with numbers

Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed."
Say the "Our Father."
Say three "Hail Marys."
Say the "Glory be to the Father."
Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
Say the "Glory be to the Father."
Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father." Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.

After the Rosary:

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!

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. 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.

After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."

The Five Luminous Mysteries
Thursday

I.	The Baptism in the Jordan
II.	The Wedding at Cana
III.	The Proclamation of the Kingdom
IV.	The Transfiguration
V.	The Institution of the Eucharist

The Five Joyful Mysteries
Monday & Saturday

I.	The Annunciation: Humility
II.	The Visitation: Charity
III.	The Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world
IV.	The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience
V.	The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesday & Friday

I.	The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sins
II.	The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our senses
III.	The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortification
IV.	The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crosses
V.	The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselves

The Five Glorious Mysteries
Sunday & Wednesday

I.	The Resurrection: Conversion of heart
II.	The Ascension: A desire for heaven
III.	The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
IV.	The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary
V.	The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happiness