Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description.”

Praying the Rosary includes three parts:

  • The Preparation – the beads from the crucifix to the five decades
  • The Heart – the beads of the five decades
  • The Conclusion

The Preparation

Start by Making the Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then recite 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, and 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 Sprit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Then pray …
•    An “Our Father”
•    Three “Hail Marys” (for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity)
•    A “Glory Be”

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, 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 death. Amen.

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 Heart

The Rosary is essentially the decades and their associated mysteries, and only these must be prayed to “pray the rosary”.

While meditating on the Mysteries, pray:
•    An “Our Father” (large bead)
•    Ten “Hail Marys” (small beads)
•    A “Glory Be”
•    A “Fatima Prayer”

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

Please use the following audio to accompany your prayer of the Rosary…

Click on the play button below for each to proceed.

Rosary Glorious Mysteries

Rosary Sorrowful Mysteries

Rosary Joyful Mysteries

The Conclusion

After Completing the Five Mysteries pray …
(All) 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 us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

(Leader) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

(All) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

(Leader) Let us pray,

(All) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. 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.

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

(All) Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.