How to say The Rosary

A standard five-decade rosary consists of 50 small beads divided into five groups of ten (decades). Each decade is dedicated to praying one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be while meditating on a specific event, or "mystery," from the lives of Jesus and Mary. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Structure of a Single Decade

• 1 Our Father (on the large bead)
• 10 Hail Marys (on the ten small beads, while thinking about the mystery)
• 1 Glory Be
• 1 Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus...) (optional, but traditional) [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Four Sets of Mysteries (20 Total, 5 per session)

When you pray a five-decade rosary, you choose one set of five mysteries based on the day of the week. [1, 2]

1. Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday) [1]

• The Annunciation: The angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear Jesus.
• The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.
• The Nativity: Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
• The Presentation: Jesus is presented in the Temple.
• The Finding in the Temple: Mary and Joseph find young Jesus talking with teachers. [1, 2]

2. Luminous Mysteries / Mysteries of Light (Thursday) [1]

• The Baptism of Jesus: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River.
• The Wedding at Cana: Jesus performs His first miracle at Mary's request.
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls all people to turn to God.
• The Transfiguration: Jesus shines with glory on the mountain.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus gives His body and blood at the Last Supper. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

3. Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday) [1]

• The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in Gethsemane before His arrest.
• The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus is whipped by soldiers.
• The Crowning with Thorns: Soldiers mock Jesus with a crown of sharp thorns.
• The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus walks the road to Calvary.
• The Crucifixion: Jesus dies on the cross for mankind. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

4. Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday) [1]

• The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.
• The Ascension: Jesus goes up into heaven.
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles at Pentecost.
• The Assumption: Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.
• The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

If you'd like, I can show you:

• The complete step-by-step order of prayers (including the start and end prayers)
• Which set of mysteries to pray for today's specific day of the week