The Rosary is a Catholic devotion that consists of meditating on the life of Christ while reciting vocal prayers. It is a beautiful way to spend time with the Lord and His Blessed Mother, helping you deepen your relationship with them. Perhaps Pope St. John Paul II put it best when he wrote, “To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae 3).
If you’re interested in learning how to pray the Rosary, here’s some good news: it’s not a hard devotion to learn! The Rosary has been prayed by millions of Christians in various forms over the centuries. Typically associated with St. Dominic, the Rosary as we know it today dates back to the Middle Ages. It consists of five decades, and each decade is dedicated to a Mystery of the Rosary. The 20 Mysteries are major events from the life of Christ based on Scripture, such as the Nativity and Crucifixion.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to pray the devotion more often, see below for a simple, step-by-step guide on how to pray the Holy Rosary.
You can also click the button below to download the following guide as a printable PDF:
How to Pray the Rosary in 12 Steps
1. Start with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Hold the crucifix and pray 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 from the dead; 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.
3. Move to the first bead and pray 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.
4. On the next three beads, pray 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.
5. On the next bead, pray the Glory Be.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
6. Announce the Mystery and pray the Our Father.
All 20 Mysteries of the Rosary can be found at the end of this guide.
7. On the next ten beads, pray the Hail Mary as you meditate on the Mystery for that decade.
8. After completing the decade, pray the Glory Be on the large bead. Then, pray the Fatima prayer.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 for the next four decades.
10. After praying all five decades, pray 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.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
11. Finish with the concluding prayer.
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, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
12. End with the Sign of the Cross.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
Here are the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary, along with the recommended days for meditating on each set:
The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays & Saturdays)
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding in the Temple
The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays & Fridays)
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays & Sundays)
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption
The Coronation
Conclusion
The Rosary is a beautiful Catholic devotion that allows us to meditate on the life of Christ alongside His Blessed Mother. If you’re new to saying the Rosary, don’t worry about memorizing the structure and Mysteries right away. It will become more familiar to you with time and practice.
Prefer a printable version of this guide? Check out our How to Pray the Rosary PDF.
If you struggle with staying focused, here are a few helpful tips for praying the Rosary when you feel distracted.
And if you’d like to incorporate sacred art into your prayer, take a look at The Rosary with Sacred Art, which features paintings for all 20 Mysteries of the Rosary alongside short, Scripture-based reflections to help you meditate on the life of Christ.