1. While holding the crucifix in your hand, make the Sign of the Cross, followed by reciting The Apostles’ Creed.
2. On the first bead next to the crucifix, recite the Our Father (that’s the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.)
3. On the three small beads, recite the Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope, and charity.
4. Next on the big bead, recite the Glory Be.
5. Stay on the big bead. You must now decide which set of Mysteries you will pray on. There are four different Mysteries for the Rosary which I will color differently:
Joyful Mysteries (usually said on Monday and Saturday):
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Luminous Mysteries (this is usually prayed on Thursday):
Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan
The Wedding of Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Transfiguration of Jesus
The Institution of the Eucharist
Sorrowful Mysteries (this is usually prayed on Tuesday and Wednesday):
The Agony of the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning of Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries (this is usually prayed on Sunday and Wednesday):
The Resurrection
The Ascension of Jesus
The Decent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary
The Crowning of Mary
6. After you pick which Mystery you want, using the big bead you are paused on recite the first mystery. Reflect on it briefly.
7. Staying on the big bead, recite the Our Father.
8. Move upwards to choose a side you want to start on. Each set is called a decade. Keeping in the mind the first mystery. On each small bead of a decade, pray recite the Hail Mary meanwhile, meditate on the first mystery. (For example, if I wanted to pray the Glorious Mysteries rosary, I could meditate on The Resurrection for the first decade, while reciting the Hail Mary for each bead.)
9. When you are finished the tenth Hail Mary, notice there is a bead that separates the start of the second mystery. Recite the Glory Be (I like to make the sign of the cross with the crucifix when I do this) and then recite the Fatima Prayer.
10. Now you start the second mystery. Recall the second mystery, meditate on it briefly, recite the Our Father. Move onto the new set of decades and repeat the steps above until you are finished making your way around.
11. Go to the big bead. Recite Hail Holy Queen and concluding prayer. I’ve seen people do different ones but I like the Rosary Prayer {Verse) Let us pray, (Response) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.}.
12. To finish, use the crucifix to make the sign of the cross.
13. I personally like to kiss the crucifix afterwards as to say thank You to Jesus, but that’s not really required lol.
How to Pray the Rosary with Bishop Barron
Why Pray the Rosary?
The Power of Praying the Rosary
Those are just some of many videos that describe it. I love to follow along with Mother Angelica and her nuns. The videos made on EWTN show pictures as they pray on each mystery and really helps my visual mind stay focused. Here’s a link to one of the four:
The Glorious Mysteries led by Mother Angelica
When you say your Rosary, don’t rush through it like you’re reading a newspaper. There is no race. It’s no contest. This is your time to develop your spirituality and holiness. Some people have trouble finishing the rosary due to its repetition, especially when tired. One of them is me if I say it before bed. It is better to meditate one or two decades than to pray nicely on one and rush the rest. Try to make each mystery like a movie in your head. Also, don’t wear the Rosary around your neck like souvenir. It must be treated with respect, as the devil sees it as a sword.
Here’s some quotes about the Rosary:
“The rosary is a means given by the Virgin for contemplating Jesus and, meditating on his life, for loving and following him always more faithfully.” - Pope Benedict XVI
“The Rosary is my favorite prayer.” - St. Pope John Paul II
“You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.“ - Mary to Blessed Alan de la Roche
“The Rosary is the best therapy for these distraught, unhappy, fearful, and frustrated souls, precisely because it involves the simultaneous use of three powers: the physical, the vocal, and the spiritual…” - Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
““Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practice black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and will save your soul, if—and mark well what I say—if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins.” - St. Louis de Montfort
“When you say your Rosary, the angels rejoice, the Blessed Trinity delights in it, my Son finds joy in it too, and I myself am happier than you can possibly guess. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is nothing in the Church that I love as much as the Rosary.” - Our Lady to Blessed Alan de la Roche
There are a lot of amazing stories of the Rosary. I think my absolute favorite story of the Rosary is how it effected a man called Blessed Bartolo Longo!
Edit: I also highly recommend do not pray the Rosary while you are driving. I don’t want to hear about you dying. Keep your eyes alert at all times. (Don’t use your phone in your hands either. Texting can wait. If you have the ability to use it hands free for a phone call, then of course that is ok if you really need it.) Anyway, follow your laws and stay safe! God bless!
