Catholic
Character
A spiritual resource for Catholics
The Rosary
How to pray
1. Make the Sign of the Cross (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen)
2. Say the Apostles' Creed
3. Out loud, Say, "For a Holy Prelate, for an increase in Faith, Hope, and Charity, and for the intentions of the Holy Father." Then say an Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's, and a Glory Be
4. Say five decades, each consisting of an Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, a Glory Be, and a Fatima Prayer. While saying each decade, meditate on one mystery of each set of five mysteries of Jesus' life. Click here to see the sets of mysteries, and each type of mystery
5. Say the Hail Holy Queen
Click here to see how to pray each prayer
The Rosary takes about 15 minutes to pray. Many miracles have been documented on account of the laity and religious praying the Rosary.
Mysteries of the Rosary
The Rosary is both a vocal prayer and mental prayer, which means you both use your mouth and your intellect to pray. The instructions to pray the Rosary in the beginning was the part of the Rosary that was the vocal prayer. Meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary during each decade is the mental prayer. Below is a list of the mysteries of the Rosary, and what to meditate on in each mystery. (Note: it is very helpful spiritually that you meditate on the mysteries during the Rosary.)
If saying the Rosary on:
Monday, say the Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday, say the Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday, say the Glorious Mysteries
Thursday, say the Luminous Mysteries
Friday, say the Sorrowful Mysteries
Saturday, say the Joyful Mysteries
Sunday, say the Glorious Mysteries
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Each set of the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries contain five mysteries in each.
The Five Joyful Mysteries:
The Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
The Nativity (birth of Our Lord) (Luke 2:1-21)
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
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The Five Luminous Mysteries:
The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordon (Matthew 3:13-16)
The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11)
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper (Matthew 26)
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries:
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The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
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The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
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The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
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The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32)
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The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)
The Five Glorious Mysteries:
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The Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)
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The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven (Luke 24:36-53)
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The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-41)
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The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
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The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
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All you have to do is recognize, "Is today Wednesday? or Saturday?" and, according to the chart above, pray the set of mysteries for that day, and meditate on one of the five mysteries in that set of mysteries during each decade. For example, say I am praying the Rosary on Saturday. I will then meditate on the Joyful Mysteries. Then, on the first decade, I will meditate on the Annunciation, and on the second the Visitation, and so forth.
Prayers
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; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sits 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 amongst 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
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
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.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.