To pray the rosary, hold the crucifix, make the sign of the cross and pray the Apostles Creed. Then pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Next, announce the first mystery of the day and pray an Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Do that five times, and close with the Hail Holy Queen.
All you need today is a rosary, or even just your fingers, and fifteen to twenty five minutes. If you searched for how to pray the rosary for dummies, this is that guide, without the talking down.
What you need to pray your first rosary
Very little, and you don't have to buy anything today. You can pray the rosary on your fingers. A rosary does help when you're starting out, because the beads keep count for you.
A five decade rosary. The regular kind you see in almost every parish.
See the wood rosary- The mysteries for the day. You'll find them further down this page. After a week, you won't need to look.
- A quiet spot. A chapel is lovely, but a kitchen table at six in the morning works just as well.
- A Bible within reach, if you like. Reading the Bible passage for a mystery before you pray it gives you something to think about during that decade. Our Catholic Bibles have footnotes for each scene, and our guide on how to choose a Catholic Bible compares the editions.
A five decade rosary. The regular kind you see in almost every parish.That's it. You don't need anything else.
How to pray the rosary beads: what every part is for
Once you hold a rosary in your hands, it makes sense quickly. A five decade rosary has fifty nine beads: fifty three for the Hail Marys and six for the Our Fathers.
- The crucifix. This is where you start and finish. Here you make the sign of the cross and pray the Creed.
- The first single bead. One Our Father.
- The three small beads. Three Hail Marys. Many people offer them to grow in faith, hope and love.
- The second single bead. It sits right before the centerpiece. This is where you pray the Our Father of the first decade.
- The centerpiece. The small medal where the short strand with the crucifix meets the loop. It usually has an image of Mary, and it marks where the circle starts and ends.
- The five decades. Each decade is one Our Father on a large bead, then ten Hail Marys on the small beads. The first decade uses the second single bead, and the other four large beads sit on the loop. The Glory Be goes in the gap before the next large bead.
Move your thumb one bead for each prayer. When you get back to the centerpiece, you've finished all five decades.
How to pray the rosary step by step
Here is the full order. The first time, take it slow. Every prayer is written out further down this page.
- Take the crucifix and make the sign of the cross. Say: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” If you're praying for someone, say so now, in your own words. For example: “I offer this rosary for my dad.”
- Pray the Apostles Creed, still holding the crucifix. It begins: “I believe in God, the Father almighty.”
- On the first single bead, pray one Our Father.
- On the three small beads that follow, pray three Hail Marys.
- Pray one Glory Be in the gap after the three small beads.
- Announce the first mystery of the set for today. On a Monday, for example, you say: “The first joyful mystery, the Annunciation.” Then pause for a moment and picture the scene.
- Pray an Our Father on the large bead, then ten Hail Marys on the ten small beads. For the first decade, the large bead is the second single bead, just before the centerpiece. Keep that mystery in mind as you go.
- Close the decade with a Glory Be. Many families add the Fatima prayer here, which begins: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins.”
- Repeat steps six, seven and eight with the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
- Finish with the Hail Holy Queen, which begins: “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.” Then make the sign of the cross again.
When you pray in a group, many people also add a litany of Mary and a prayer for the Pope's intentions. These are customs, not requirements, so it's fine to leave them out. If you're praying for someone who has died, many families add a short prayer after each Glory Be. It goes like this: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”
The four sets of mysteries and which day to pray each one
Each decade is about one moment in the life of Jesus and his mother, Mary. There are twenty in all, in four sets of five. The joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries have been prayed for centuries. The luminous mysteries are newer: Pope John Paul II proposed them on October 16, 2002, and also suggested the weekly plan most people follow today.
- Monday and Saturday, the joyful mysteries. The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, and the finding of the child Jesus in the Temple.
- Tuesday and Friday, the sorrowful mysteries. The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion and death of the Lord.
- Wednesday and Sunday, the glorious mysteries. The Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and her Coronation as Queen of Heaven.
- Thursday, the luminous mysteries. The Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.
This weekly plan is a guide, not a rule. If you'd rather pray a different set on a given day, on your own or with your family, you're free to do so.
The prayers of the rosary, written out in full
Here is every prayer you'll need, word for word. If you don't know them by heart yet, keep this page open while you pray. If someone in your family prays in Spanish, the same guide is here: cómo rezar el rosario paso a paso.
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.
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. 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.
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. Amen.
How to pray the rosary daily without giving up on it
If you've tried before and stopped, you're not alone. Each of the usual reasons has an easy fix.
- Attach it to something you already do. Your drive to work, your walk after dinner, or the twenty minutes once the house is asleep. If your rosary doesn't have a set time, it's easy to skip.
- Pray one decade when five won't happen. One decade prayed slowly is better than five rushed.
- Pray it with someone. Your family or a parish group will keep you going on the nights you'd skip on your own.
If you lead a group, it helps when everyone has the same rosary. A catechism class or a parish prayer group with matching rosaries can follow along without anyone losing their place. The easiest way is to order them all together, and that's what our wholesale orders page is for. Children often learn the rosary by watching the adults around them, and many families start around First Communion. Our guide for parents walks you through that time.
If you'll pray every day for years, pick a rosary that's built to last. How it's made matters more than how it looks. Check how the beads are joined: doubled links that close all the way, or waxed cord knotted tight, hold up to daily use. Our Mexican rosaries are made that way, one bead at a time.
Rosaries and Bibles for praying every day
A wood or crystal rosary for your hands and a Bible to read the scene behind each mystery.
Arrives in 2 to 4 days. Free shipping on orders over $35.
Frequently asked questions about how to pray the rosary
What are the mysteries of the rosary and which day is each prayed?
There are twenty mysteries in four sets of five, one for each decade. Pray the joyful on Monday and Saturday, the sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, the glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and the luminous on Thursday. Pope John Paul II suggested this weekly plan in 2002 as a guide, not a rule.
How long does a full rosary take?
A five decade rosary takes about fifteen to twenty five minutes, depending on your pace and on whether you add a litany at the end. In a group it takes closer to half an hour, because everyone prays more slowly. If you only have five minutes, pray one decade calmly instead of rushing through all five.
Do you need blessed rosary beads to pray?
No. What matters is the prayer, not the beads, and a rosary that hasn't been blessed works exactly the same. Many people have their rosary blessed by a priest or deacon, and it's a good custom. Just ask your priest or deacon after Mass. But you don't need a blessing to pray.
What is the difference between the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet?
You pray them on the same beads, but they are different prayers. In the rosary, you think about moments from the life of Jesus and his mother while you pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. The Divine Mercy chaplet comes from the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, focuses on the Passion and God's mercy, and is shorter.
Can you pray the rosary without the beads?
Yes, and lots of people do. Count the ten Hail Marys on your fingers, one finger per prayer, and remember which mystery you announced to keep track of the decade. Drivers, nurses on shift and parents walking a baby around the room pray this way every day. The beads help you keep count, but they are not required.
What do you pray on the three Hail Marys at the beginning?
Three regular Hail Marys, one on each small bead between the first Our Father and the centerpiece. Many people offer them to grow in faith, hope and love, one for each bead. It's a custom, not a rule, so you can offer them for any intention you like.
Is the Fatima prayer part of the rosary?
It's an optional prayer, not part of the basic rosary. You pray it after the Glory Be at the end of each decade, and it begins: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins.” It became common after the 1917 apparitions at Fatima, in Portugal, and most parishes include it today.
How do you build the habit of praying the rosary daily?
Tie it to something you already do every day: your drive to work, your walk after dinner, or the quiet once the house is asleep. On days when you can't pray all five decades, pray one, and the habit stays alive. Your mind will wander, and that's normal: when you notice, just go back to the mystery.
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