LEARN THE ROSARY
New to the Rosary? Start here.
If you've ever wanted to pray the Rosary but felt intimidated, you're not alone.
Many people assume the Rosary is only for very holy people or lifelong Catholics.
It isn't.
The Rosary is for anyone who wants to grow closer to Jesus.
You don't need to know every prayer by heart. You don't need to understand every mystery right away.
Just start where you are.
Use the guide below, pray one bead at a time, and trust that God meets us in every sincere prayer.
Learn the Rosary
The Rosary is a form of meditative prayer made up of repeated prayers and reflection on the “mysteries,” which are moments from the life of Jesus.
Important Note:
If you are praying in a Rosary group, you may want to note that there is text that says "Solo" and text that is usually read only by one person, while the "Unison" text is the rest of the group together. You can either read the below from A to Z as a solo prayer by yourself or with a rosary group at your church. Feel free to download the printable PDF to take all of this with you!
Download Rosary Guide
Learn the Rosary with this free guide that you can print and take with you anywhere!
Download the PDF below
The Opening Prayers
The Sign of the Cross
“In the Name of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
Apostle’s Creed
Solo: “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;
He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”
Unison: “I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
And life everlasting, Amen.”
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
3 Hail Marys
Solo: “For an Increase in the Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity:
“Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 3 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
Unison: “As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.”
The Joyful Mysteries
First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation
Solo: "The First Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation
And when the angel had come to her, he said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
The Fruit of the Mystery: Humility"
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
10 Hail Marys
Solo: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 10 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
Unison: “As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.”
(The "Solo" portion is usually performed by the same person who introduces
the mystery and remains the same throughout the respective "Solo" parts
until the next mystery is introduced)
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Unison: “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"
Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation
Solo: "The Second Joyful Mystery – The Visitation
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
The Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor"
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
10 Hail Marys
Solo: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 10 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
(The "Solo" portion is usually performed by the same person who introduces
the mystery and remains the same throughout the respective "Solo" parts
until the next mystery is introduced)
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Unison: “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"
Third Joyful Mystery - The Birth of Jesus
Solo: "Third Joyful Mystery – The Birth of Jesus
“She gave birth to her first born Son. She wrapped Him
In swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty in Spirit"
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
10 Hail Marys
Solo: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 10 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
(The "Solo" portion is usually performed by the same person who introduces
the mystery and remains the same throughout the respective "Solo" parts
until the next mystery is introduced)
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Unison: “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"
Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation
Solo: “The Fourth Joyful Mystery -- The Presentation
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord.’”
Fruit of the Mystery: Obedience"
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
10 Hail Marys
Solo: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 10 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Unison: “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"
Fifth Joyful Mystery - Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple
Solo: "Fifth Joyful Mystery – Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple
After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Fruit of the Mystery: Joy in Finding Jesus"
Our Father
Solo: “Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Unison: “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.”
10 Hail Marys
Solo: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.”
Unison: “Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
(Repeat the Hail Mary prayer 10 times)
Glory Be
Solo: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt.:
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Unison: “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"
Closing Prayers
(Note: Different churches and rosary groups may have their own set
of additional prayers added to this. This is a guideline of the usual standard.
Also, usually the soloist who started the opening prayers for the group will
be the same soloist for respective parts of the Closing prayers)
Hail Holy Queen
Unison: “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 our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears;
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us,
And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O Clement, O loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary!”
Solo: “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,”
Unison: “That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”
Rosary Closing Prayer
Solo: “Let us pray -
Unison: O God, whose Only Begotten Son,
By His life, death and Resurrection,
Has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation,
Grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon 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.”
The Memorare
Unison: Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary
The never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”
Saint Michael
Unison: “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
For the Departed Souls
Solo: "May the Divine Assistance remain always with us"
Unison: “And may all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.”
Solo: “May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life, Amen.”
Sign of the Cross
Unison: “In the Name of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!”
The Remaining Mysteries
Follow the Same Structure
The Luminous Mysteries
First Luminous Mystery – The Baptism of Jesus
“After Jesus was baptized the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove coming upon Him. And a voice came from the heavens saying
‘This is My Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’"
Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Second Luminous Mystery – The Wedding at Cana
“His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever He tells you.” Jesus told them,
‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim.”
Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Third Luminous Mystery – Proclaiming the Kingdom
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Repentence and Trust in God
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fourth Luminous Mystery – The Transfiguration
“While He was praying His face changed in appearance
And His clothing became dazzling white.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is My Chosen Son, listen to Him.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fifth Luminous Mystery – Institution of the Eucharist
“Then He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it and gave it to them saying
‘This is My Body, which will be given for you.’
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in My Blood.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
The Sorrowful Mysteries
First Sorrowful Mystery – The Agony in the Garden
“He was in such agony and He prayed so fervently that
His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.
When He arose from prayer and returned to His disciples, He found them sleeping from grief.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Second Sorrowful Mystery – The Scourging at the Pillar
“Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged."
Fruit of the Mystery: Purity
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Third Sorrowful Mystery – The Crowning with Thorns
“They stripped off His clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about Him.
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Courage
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery – The Carrying of the Cross
“And carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called
the ‘Place of the Skull’ in Hebrew - Golgotha.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion
“Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit!”
And when He had said this, He breathed His last.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
The Glorious Mysteries
First Glorious Mystery – The Resurrection
“Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.
He has been raised. He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Faith
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Second Glorious Mystery – The Ascension
“So then the Lord Jesus, after He spoke to them, was taken up into heaven
And took His seat at the right hand of God.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Hope
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Third Glorious Mystery – The Descent of the Holy Spirit
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fourth Glorious Mystery – The Assumption
“You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the great boast of our nation!
You have done good things for Israel and God is please with them.
May the Almighty Lord bless you forever!”
Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Fifth Glorious Mystery – The Coronation
“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in Mary's Intercession
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be, O My Jesus
Download Rosary Guide
Learn the Rosary with this free guide that you can print and take with you anywhere!
Download the PDF below
