All credit goes to Catholic.com, they're the ones who have published the How to pray the Rosary [www.catholic.com]. I would like to thank them, and may God bless them. I would also like to thank the following websites for helping me create this guide:

https://www.catholictradition.org/Children/mysteries-rosary.htm
https://blessedcatholicmom.com/virtues-for-each-mystery-of-the-rosary/
https://rosarycenter.org/the-luminous-mysteries-without-distractions

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Pray Apostle's Creed (Whilst holding the Crucifix):
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. On the first large bead, 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 small beads, pray a Hail Mary for each: 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. Pray the 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.

6. Announce the First Mystery

Say the name of the first mystery from the set assigned to today’s day (see above). You may also take a moment to reflect on it silently or read a short meditation.

7. On the next large bead, pray the Our Father

8. On the ten small beads that follow, pray a Hail Mary for each

As you pray, meditate on the mystery you just announced.

9. After the tenth Hail Mary, pray the Glory Be

10. 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 most in need of thy mercy.

11. Repeat steps 6–10 for the remaining four mysteries

Each new mystery begins with announcing it, then praying an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer.

Closing Prayers
12. 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.

13. Final Rosary Prayer

Let us pray. 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.

14. End with the Sign of the Cross

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

First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
The Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary and asks her to be the mother of the Savior.

Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Mary visits Elizabeth, who the Archangel told her was expecting a baby.

Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Jesus is born in a stable.

Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation
Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the Temple for His presentation.

Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Joseph and Mary find the child Jesus in the Temple after searching for Him for three days.

First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats blood and suffers in the garden after the Last Supper.

Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus is cruelly scourged.

Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns: The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus carries His cross to Calvary.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the Cross: Jesus is crucified, suffers for three hours, and dies on the cross.

First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead three days after His crucifixion.

Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension: Jesus ascends into Heaven forty days after His Resurrection.

Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit descends as tongues of fire upon the disciples and Mary nine days after Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven.

Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary: Mary is assumed into Heaven.

Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth.

First Luminous Mystery: The Baptism of Jesus: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.

Second Luminous Mystery: The Wedding at Cana: Jesus performs His first public miracle at the wedding feast by turning water into wine.

Third Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God.

Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration: Jesus is transfigured on the mountain in front of His apostles Peter, James, and John.

Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper-the first Mass.

Traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary and asks her to be the mother of the Savior.

Virtue: Humility

The Visitation: Mary visits Elizabeth, who the Archangel told her was expecting a baby.

Virtue: Love of neighbor

The Nativity: Jesus is born in a stable.

Virtue: Detachment

The Presentation: Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the Temple for His presentation.

Virtue: Obedience

The Finding in the Temple: Joseph and Mary find the child Jesus in the Temple after searching for Him for three days.

Virtue: Greater commitment and devotion to Jesus


Traditionally prayed on Thursdays.

The Baptism of Jesus: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.

Virtue: openness to the Holy Spirit

The Wedding at Cana: Jesus performs His first public miracle at the wedding feast by turning water into wine.

Virtue: Mary’s intercession

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God.

Virtue: Christian witness and conversion

The Transfiguration: Jesus is transfigured on the mountain in front of His apostles Peter, James, and John.

Virtue: courage to bear the cross

The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper-the first Mass.

Virtue: greater love for the Holy Eucharist

Traditionally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats blood and suffers in the garden after the Last Supper.

Virtue: trust in God

The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus is cruelly scourged.

Virtue: purity; mortification

The Crowning with Thorns: The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head.

Virtue: moral courage; fortitude

The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus carries His cross to Calvary.

Virtue: perseverance in trials

The Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the Cross: Jesus is crucified, suffers for three hours, and dies on the cross.

Virtue: forgiveness for others

Traditionally prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays.

The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead three days after His crucifixion.

Virtue: faith

The Ascension: Jesus ascends into Heaven forty days after His Resurrection.

Virtue: hope

The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit descends as tongues of fire upon the disciples and Mary nine days after Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven.

Virtue: gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Assumption of Mary: Mary is assumed into Heaven.

Virtue: to Jesus through Mary

The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth.

Virtue: final perseverance

May we grow closer to God and His Mother as we pray the Mysteries of the Rosary and work to cultivate the virtues in our hearts.