How is the Rosary prayed?

The Rosary is a Marian prayer composed of twenty "mysteries" (events or significant moments) of the lives of Jesus and Mary, which, pursuant to the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, are divided into four Crowns.

The first Crown of the Rosary includes the Joyful Mysteries (recited on Mondays and Saturdays), the second the Luminous (Thursdays), the third the Sorrowful (Tuesdays and Fridays) and the fourth the Glorious (Wednesdays and Sundays).

"This indication is not intended, however, to limit a convenient freedom in personal and communal meditation, depending on spiritual and pastoral needs and especially on liturgical coincidences that may suggest appropriate adaptations" (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, no. 38).

How is the Rosary prayed?

At the beginning of the Rosary, one can make a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, reciting three times

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

And finish the Visit with a Spiritual Communion:

"I wish, Lord, to receive You with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your Most Holy Mother received You, with the spirit and fervor of the Saints. Amen."

After the Visit one may recite the Creed and make the sign of the Cross and invoke the Lord:

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, open my lips.

And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning and is now and ever shall be,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Now the "mystery" is enunciated for each decade, for example, in the first Joyful Mystery we contemplate: "The Annunciation".

After a brief pause for reflection, the following are recited: an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, a Glory Be and the Prayer of Fatima.

At the end of the Rosary, the Litany of Loreto, or other Marian prayers are recited.

You can pray the Rosary while walking, while in traffic, at home, outdoors, with other people, or alone.

We have prepared an audio version of the Rosary just to facilitate this devotion.

Click on each crown to listen to the audio Rosary.

Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Saturday)

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday)

Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)