The Holy Rosary: how to pray it, and today’s mysteries

Which mysteries to pray today

Saint John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries in 2002. Since then, each day of the week has its own mysteries. · Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002), 19 and 38 (vatican.va)

How to pray the Rosary, step by step

1. On the crucifix: the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles’ Creed.
2. On the first large bead, an Our Father. On the next three small beads, three Hail Marys, asking for faith, hope, and charity. Then a Glory Be.
3. On each large bead, announce a mystery and pray an Our Father.
4. On the ten small beads that follow, pray ten Hail Marys while thinking about that mystery. At the end, a Glory Be. This is called a decade.
5. Pray five decades this way. At the end, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and, if you wish, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
6. When praying with others, one person says the first part of each prayer and everyone else answers with the second.

The twenty mysteries

Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation Luke 1:30-31
2. The Visitation Luke 1:42
3. The Nativity Luke 2:7
4. The Presentation in the Temple Luke 2:22
5. The Finding in the Temple Luke 2:49

Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan Matthew 3:17
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana John 2:5
3. Jesus’ Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God Mark 1:14-15
4. The Transfiguration Luke 9:35
5. The Institution of the Eucharist Luke 22:19

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden Mark 14:36
2. The Scourging at the Pillar John 19:1
3. The Crowning with Thorns John 19:2
4. The Carrying of the Cross John 19:17
5. The Crucifixion and Death Luke 23:46

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection Luke 24:6
2. The Ascension Acts 1:9
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:4
4. The Assumption Luke 1:48-49
5. The Coronation of Mary Revelation 12:1

The prayers of the Rosary

• Our Father
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be
• The Apostles’ Creed
• Hail, Holy Queen
• The Sign of the Cross
• O My Jesus
• Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
• The Litany of Loreto