The Rosary is the greatest weapon God has ever forged. If there is only one prayer you say today, it must be the Rosary and it must be said with devotion. This is how to recite the Rosary:
Announce the first mystery and recite the following decade of prayers:
Hail Mary (recite 10 times)
Announce the second mystery and recite a decade of prayers. Repeat for the third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
After saying five decades, finish with the following prayers:
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 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 +
Table of Contents
History
In the year 1214, St. Dominic pleaded for the conversion of sinners. Our Lady appeared to him and told him that the Rosary was the spiritual weapon God wanted us to use to convert sinners to the faith.1
In 1917, Our Lady appeared to three little children at Fatima and there indicated that the Rosary was to be prayed everyday by everyone for the conversion of sinners.2
Purpose
The Rosary’s primary purpose is to convert sinners. In some translations, Our Blessed Mother is recorded as saying the following regarding the Rosary:
Dear Dominic, do you know what weapon the Most Holy Trinity wants to use to reform the world? I want you to know that in this kind of warfare the ‘battering ram’ has always been the Angelic Psalter which is the corner stone of the New Testament. So, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them to God, preach my Psalter! – Our Blessed Mother1
The Rosary is a weapon forged directly by God designed specifically to convert sinners. This which was Christ’s primary mission (Matthew 18:11).
War Front
Our Blessed Mother did not call the Rosary a sword or a shield, but a battering ram. This is significant.
Whereas a sword is used against an enemy in combat, a battering ram is used against enemies that are hiding.
Whereas a shield is used to defend yourself, a battering ram is used to puncture enemy defenses.
And whereas soldiers can be deployed across the field of battle, siege soldiers must be at the peak of the offensive.
When you recite the Rosary, you are operating at the forefront of the war against the devil.
Importance
Among all the prayers we can personally say, the Rosary is the queen among prayers. If there is one prayer you must say everyday, it is the Rosary. By saying the Rosary:
- You affirm your faith in the Apostles’ Creed
- You recite the prayer Christ taught us, the Our Father
- You meditate on Christ’s life as written in the Gospels
- You call upon Mary, the Mother of God, your mother and the Mediatrix of All Grace to come to your aid from now until death
- You engage the 15 promises Our Blessed Mother made to those who recite the Rosary with devotion
The Mysteries
When saying the Rosary, we meditate on specific moments in the life of Christ. These moments are called “mysteries.” There are twenty in total. Below, you will find a full description of each mystery as well Bible verses that can accompany your meditation.
The Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
This is the moment in the life of Christ when the Angel Gabriel told Our Blessed Mother that she would conceive and bear a son. She consented to God’s will and conceived the Lord in her womb. (Luke 1:26-38)
The Visitation
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Blessed Mother, being pregnant with Our Lord, visited and stayed with St. Elizabeth during her pregnancy with St. John the Baptist. (Luke 1:39-56)
The Birth of Our Lord
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Blessed Mother gave birth to Our Lord in the manger in Bethlehem under the watchful guardianship of St. Joseph. (Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23, Luke 2:1-20)
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph brought Our Lord to the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God. (Luke 2:22-40)
The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph found Our Lord, who was twelve years old at the time, in the Temple after searching for him for three days. (Luke 2:41-52)
The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord was baptized by St. John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:1-42)
The Wedding Feast at Cana
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother attended a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee and where, by the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lord turned water into wine. (John 2:1-11)
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven to the people of Israel and Judah and healed the sick from their infirmities. (Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14-30)
The Transfiguration
This is the moment in the life of Christ when the glory of Our Lord was manifested to St. Peter, St. John and St. James, while He conversed with Moses and Elijah. (Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36, John 1:14, 2 Peter 1:16-18)
The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord declared that the bread and wine at the Last Supper was His body and blood, given up for the forgiveness of our sins. (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23)
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord suffered in the Garden at Gethsamane the night before His Crucifixion. (Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 14:32-52, Luke 22:39-53, John 18:1-12)
The Scourging at the Pillar
This is the moment in the life of Christ when, under the command of Pontius Pilate, Our Lord was scourged at the pillar by Roman soldiers. (Matthew 27:24-26, Mark 15:6-15, John 19:1)
The Crowning of Thorns
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord was humiliated by the Roman soldiers and was crowned with thorns and beaten. (Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2-3)
The Carrying of the Cross
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord carried His Cross to Calvary despite His significant injuries and exhaustion. (Matthew 27:31-34, Mark 15:20-23, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17)
The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord was nailed to the Cross and died an excruciating death out of love for us. (Matthew 27:35-56, Mark 15:24-41, Luke 2:34-35, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:18-37)
The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection of Our Lord
This is the moment in the life of Christ when Our Lord rose from the dead three days after His Crucifixion. (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1-31, 21:1-25)
The Ascension of Our Lord
This is the moment in the life of Christ, forty days after His Resurrection, when He ascended to the right hand of the God the Father in the presence of the Apostles and His disciples. (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-11)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost
This is the moment in the life of Christ, ten days after His Ascension, when the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven and ignited the spirits of the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel. (Acts 2:1-4)
The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother
This is the moment in the life of Christ when He assumed His beloved mother to Heaven, body and soul. (Psalm 132:8, Revelations 11:19)
The Coronation of Our Blessed Mother
This is the moment in the life of Christ when He crowned His beloved mother. (Revelations 12:1)
Bible Readings
Here are specific Bible verses for each mystery that can accompany your meditation.
The Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” – Luke 1:30-31
The Visitation
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari′ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. – Luke 1:39-41
The Birth of Our Lord
[Mary] gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And [Joseph] called his name Jesus. – Luke 2:7, Matthew 1:25
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2:22-24
The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.”
And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. – Luke 2:46-52
The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” – Mark 1:9-11
The Wedding Feast at Cana
On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it.
When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. – John 2:1-11
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15
The Transfiguration
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli′jah, talking with him. – Matthew 17:1-3
The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” – Matthew 26:26-29
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” – Luke 22:41-46
The Scourging at the Pillar
And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barab′bas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. – Mark 15:12-15
The Crowning of Thorns
And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. – John 19:2-3
The Carrying of the Cross
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre′ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” – Luke 23:26-31
The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag′dalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. – John 19:18-30
The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection of Our Lord
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” – John 20:19-21
The Ascension of Our Lord
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar′ia and to the end of the earth.”
And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:6-11
The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4
The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother
Arise, O Lord, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might. Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. – Psalm 132:8, Revelations 11:19
The Coronation of Our Blessed Mother
And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. – Revelations 12:1
Schedule
The Rosary is said everyday. Each day focuses on specific mysteries along with specific intentions.
These intentions were requested by Our Lady at San Damiano, Italy.
The schedule is as follows:
Sunday
Glorious Mysteries
Offered for our Holy Father, the Pope.
Monday
Joyful Mysteries
Offered for the Souls in Purgatory, especially those of priests.
Tuesday
Sorrowful Mysteries
Offered for the youth.
Wednesday
Glorious Mysteries
Offered for the family.
Thursday
Luminous Mysteries
Offered to thank God and honor the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Friday
Sorrowful Mysteries
Offered for priests and religious.
Saturday
Joyful Mysteries
Offered for the conversion of sinners.
Form
The Rosary must be recited properly, with devotion. Devotion is accomplished in the mind, mouth and body.
Mind
Focus on the Rosary. Before you pray, ask Our Blessed Mother to give you the grace to pray with love and devotion.
Mouth
Pray out loud, pray with a whisper, or pray in your mind, but pray with purpose.
Hands
Pray holding the rosary, or with your hands together, or your palms open towards God, or your hands over your heart, but pray projecting love to God.
Body
Pray on your knees, pray standing, or pray sitting down, but pray with a straight posture, tall and strong, no slouching.
The 15 Promises
Bl. Alanus de Rupe, a Dominican Friar, was told by Our Lady of 15 promises for those who recite the Rosary with devotion.1
- Those who faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- The recitation of the Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish. It will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God. It will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
- Those who recite my Rosary devoutly, applying themselves to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. In His justice, God will not chastise them; nor shall they perish by an unprovided death, i.e., be unprepared for heaven. Sinners shall convert. The just shall persevere in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
- Those who have a true devotion to the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who faithfully recite the Rosary shall have, during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plenitude of His graces. At the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
- I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
- By the recitation of the Rosary you shall obtain all that you ask of me.
- Those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
- I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of their death.
- All who recite the Rosary are my beloved children and the brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
- Devotion for my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Common Difficulties
Here below are common difficulties when reciting the Rosary and their associated remedies:
Can’t focus
Do not focus on focusing. Before you begin your prayer, say, “Dear Mom, please help me pray with love and devotion.” Mary will help you pray with devotion.
Before you say each decade, check your form. Kneel, stand or sit with the right posture, strong and tall. Do not slouch. Clasp your hands together with devotion. Take a deep breath, focus your mind on the mystery and focus your will on your execution.
Do not think about the length of the decade, just say each prayer to the best of your ability.
Too distracted
If you are going to say more than one Rosary a day, make sure one of them is said alone away from any distraction. Prepare a space for prayer and disappear for 20 minutes to finish the Rosary.
Boring
The Rosary is not entertainment. It is our participation in war. Some days, it will seem dry. That dryness is part of the war.
No time
There is always time. The Rosary is 20 minutes long on average. For 20 minutes, you help Mary on the battlefield. Would you leave your mother to fight her war against the devil alone? You can at least join her for 20 minutes.
The best time to say the Rosary with the greatest possible devotion is before you do anything else after waking up. Your first prayer must be the Rosary. You will have the most mental stamina.
No rosary
You do not need a physical rosary to say the Rosary. You have 10 fingers to say each decade.
I said it wrong
No you didn’t. No time dedicated to God is wasted. No participation in Mary’s war is fruitless. Just commit to making your next Rosary even better.