To pray the rosary, hold the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles' Creed. Move to the first bead for the Our Father, pray a Hail Mary on each of the next three beads, and a Glory Be. Then pray five decades. Each decade is one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be, while you meditate on a Mystery from the life of Christ. Close with the Hail Holy Queen and the Sign of the Cross. A full rosary takes about twenty minutes and uses a string of fifty nine beads.
That is the short answer. Below is the full walk through, the prayers written out, which Mysteries belong to each day, and answers to the questions people ask most. Whether you are praying the rosary for the first time or returning to a practice you set down years ago, this guide will carry you all the way through.
What the rosary is
The rosary is a Christian prayer of meditation that has been prayed for more than eight hundred years. The word comes from the Latin rosarium, a crown of roses. As you pass each bead through your fingers, you pray a set prayer and quietly reflect on a moment from the life of Jesus and his mother Mary. The beads are simply a way to keep count so your mind is free to pray.
A standard rosary holds fifty nine beads arranged in a loop with a short tail. On the tail sits a crucifix, one bead, a set of three beads, and one more bead. The loop holds five groups of ten beads, called decades, each separated by a single bead. A centerpiece medal joins the loop to the tail. If you would like the fuller history and origin of the devotion, see our guide to everything you need to know about rosaries.
The prayers you will need
Six prayers carry the entire rosary. If you learn these, you can pray it anywhere.
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. 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 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. Amen.
How to pray the rosary step by step
- Make the Sign of the Cross. Hold the crucifix, and pray the Apostles' Creed.
- Pray the Our Father. Move to the first single bead above the crucifix.
- Pray three Hail Marys. One on each of the next three beads, for an increase of faith, hope, and love.
- Pray the Glory Be. Then move to the centerpiece medal.
- Announce the first Mystery. Choose the set for today from the table below, and pray the Our Father on the large bead.
- Pray ten Hail Marys. One on each of the ten beads of the decade, while you meditate on the Mystery you announced.
- Pray the Glory Be at the end of the decade. Many add the Fatima Prayer here: 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.
- Repeat for all five decades. Announce a new Mystery before each one, pray the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.
- Close the rosary. Pray the Hail Holy Queen, and make the Sign of the Cross.
When you finish, you will have prayed fifty three Hail Marys, six Our Fathers, and meditated on five Mysteries. The rhythm becomes natural after only a few times through.
The Mysteries by day of the week
The Mysteries are twenty moments from the life of Christ and Mary, gathered into four sets. Praying them on their traditional days carries you through the whole story across a week.
| Day | Mysteries | What you meditate on |
|---|---|---|
| Monday and Saturday | Joyful | The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple |
| Tuesday and Friday | Sorrowful | The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion |
| Wednesday and Sunday | Glorious | The Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption, and the Coronation of Mary |
| Thursday | Luminous | The Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist |
How long does it take to pray the rosary
A full five decade rosary takes about twenty minutes at a calm pace. A single decade takes about four minutes, which makes it easy to pray in the car, on a walk, or before sleep. There is no rule that you must pray all five decades at once. Many people pray one decade at a time through the day.
Tips for praying the rosary for the first time
- Do not worry about speed. The rosary is meant to slow you down, not to be rushed.
- Let the beads do the counting. Your fingers keep the place so your mind can rest on the Mystery.
- Picture the scene. As you pray each decade, imagine the moment from the life of Christ you announced.
- Keep a rosary where you will see it. A rosary kept by the bed or carried in a pocket is a rosary you will actually pray.
- Start with one decade. If five feels long, pray one well. The habit grows from there.
A rosary from the land where the story happened
For more than twenty five years, the Christian families of Bethlehem have carved rosaries by hand from the olive wood that grows in the hills around the town where Christ was born. Each bead is shaped, smoothed, and strung in the Holy Land itself, then carried to Christian homes across America. To hold an olive wood rosary from Bethlehem while you pray is to keep your hands on the very land of the Gospel. You can see the rosaries our artisans carve in our olive wood rosary collection, and explore the wider story of Holy Land craftsmanship across our handmade Bethlehem collection.
Frequently asked questions
How many beads are on a rosary?
A standard rosary has fifty nine beads. Fifty of them are arranged in five decades of ten, for the Hail Marys. The remaining beads carry the opening prayers and join the decades together, along with the crucifix and the centerpiece medal.
What do the beads on a rosary mean?
Each bead marks a prayer. The ten small beads of a decade each hold a Hail Mary, while the single beads between decades each hold an Our Father. The grouping turns prayer into a rhythm you can follow with your fingers while your mind meditates on the life of Christ.
How long does it take to pray a full rosary?
About twenty minutes for all five decades at an unhurried pace. A single decade takes roughly four minutes, so you can pray part of the rosary in small moments through the day.
Which Mysteries do I pray today?
Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. Each set holds five Mysteries, one for each decade.
Can I pray the rosary if I am new to it?
Yes. The rosary is built for beginners. Learn the six prayers, follow the steps above, and let the beads guide you. Start with a single decade if five feels like a lot, and grow into the full rosary over time.
Do I need a special rosary to pray?
No. Any rosary will do, and you can even pray on your fingers. Many people find that a rosary made by hand, such as an olive wood rosary carved in Bethlehem, becomes a treasured part of the practice because it connects the prayer to the land where the Gospel took place.
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