How to Pray the Rosary with Rosary Mysteries

Since October, 2002, by the decision of Pope John Paul II, the Rosary is now made up of 203 Hail Mary's. For each decade of the rosary, we meditate successively on the 20 main Mysteries of the infancy, public life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

How to Pray the Rosary

First, choose a set of mysteries according to the day of the week (See below the four set of 5 decades), and then follow as indicated on the opposite card. Don't forget to meditate on each mystery, and the petition attached to it.

Sign of the Cross

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

The Apostle's 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; the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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.

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.

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.

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.

Fatima Prayer

(At Fatima in 1917, Our Lady taught the three little seers to repeat this prayer after each decade of the Rosary:)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.

Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

(This prayer is said at the end of the Rosary, after the five decades)

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

The 20 Rosary Mysteries