What the Rosary IS:
Padre Pio, St. Pio of Pietrelcina: "The Rosary is THE WEAPON."
St. Louis de Montfort: "The Rosary is the most powerful prayer to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother."
Pope Paul V: "The Rosary is a treasure of graces."
Pope John Paul II: "The Rosary is my favorite prayer...The simple prayer of the Rosary marks the rhythm of human life."

The Rosary Prayers are powerful and efficacious in seeking Christ and as weapons against the evil one. The very power of the words themselves can lead those who feel weak in their prayer life toward a deeper relationship with Jesus, through his Blessed Mother (who always and only points the way to Him), by creating a general mood, and an attitude and posture of prayer, through which their open spirits can learn from the Holy Spirit.

The Rosary IS NOT a mantra, nor a good luck charm, nor a magic spell.

Pray the Rosary of Mary, the sweet chain linking us to God!

The rosary beads are set up as follows:
At the bottom, or beginning, is the Crucifix, a representation of our Lord Jesus on the Cross, dying for us so that we are redeemed from sin and death. Then there are five introductory beads, usually made with 2 large and 3 small beads. Then there is a rosary center, with a depiction of the Blessed Mother, or Jesus, or a representation of the Holy Spirit as a dove, a saint, or a rose, or a combination of these. Then begin the decades of the rosary, so named because they consist of ten beads each.

Begin with the opening prayer as follows:
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
+In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
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.

In some places it is now customary to recite what has come to be called the Fatima prayer, which traces its beginning to Our Lady's appearance at Fatima in 1917:

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, and save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.

Take the crucifix in hand, and prayerfully recite the Apostle's 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 is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty;
From whence 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.

There are next five beads, and beginning with the first large bead, recite the prayer that Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy Name.
They 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.

On the next 3 small beads, recite once on each bead, to obtain the three theological gifts of faith, hope and love.
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.

On the second large bead, again recite:
Glory be to the Father...etc.


Next begin the decades, and these are prayed in groups of five decades. Each five decades is dedicated to what are called the Mysteries. There are four sets of Mysteries on which to meditate, The Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious, which comprise the entire Rosary prayer. It is permissible to pray one set of Mysteries per day, consisting of five decades. Praying the Joyful Mysteries on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sorrowful on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the Glorious on Wednesdays and Sundays is a traditional way to recite, with the addition of the Luminous recited on Thursdays.

 

The Joyful Mysteries:
The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel declares God's will for Mary to become the Mother of Jesus, and Mary humbly accepts.
The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who carries John the Baptist in her womb, who leaps for joy at the sound of Mary's voice.
The Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Jesus.
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, where Simeon proclaims the Lord.
The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries:
The First Luminous Mystery: Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan
The Second Luminous Mystery: Jesus' First Miracle at the Wedding of Cana
The Third Luminous Mystery: Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
The Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries:
The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Hill
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries His Cross to Calvary
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Dies on the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries
The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Jesus
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension into Heaven
The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven

On the rosary center announce the First Mystery, then begin with the prayer that Jesus taught, the "Our Father..."and then on each of the ten beads prayerfully recite the "Hail Mary, full of grace...etc." At the end of the first ten beads, recite "Glory be to the Father....," and the Fatima Prayer, "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins...." Repeat on the next four decades, announcing the next mystery at the start of each.

As you reach the five beads at the bottom of the rosary leading to the Crucifix again, recite to Mary the "Hail, Holy Queen" prayer:

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our light, our sweetness, 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.

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