Where to Start

If you have not prayed a rosary before and do not know where to start a virtual rosary may be your answer.  This site takes you through the Rosary step by step. Prayers can be printed or read directly off your computer screen.

Spanish and Italian versions may be found at www.holyrosary.org.

Let's Get Started

You begin on the crucifix with a Sign of the Cross and an Apostles' Creed.

Say an Our Father on the large bead and one Hail Mary for each of the next three smaller beads.

On the next large bead, say a Glory Be to the Father, announce and meditate on the first mystery and say an Our Father.

Say a Hail Mary for each of the following smaller beads, and end the decade with the Glory Be.

Begin the cycle again with an Our Father, meditate the second mystery according to the same scheme and so on for the third, fourth and fifth mysteries.

You end with the Prayer After the Rosary and a Sign of the Cross.

The usual Rosary contains five decades. The mysteries include the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries and the Luminous Mysteries.

Prayers

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

Apostles' 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 arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence 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.

Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Hail Mary
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.

Glory Be to the Father
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.

Prayer After the Rosary
Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Mysteries


The Five Joyful Mysteries
Prayed Mondays & Saturdays; Sundays of Advent and after Epiphany until Lent

• The Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing She is to be the Mother of God.
• The Visitation. Elizabeth greets Mary: "Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb!"
• The Nativity. The Virgin Mary gives birth to the Redeemer of the World.
• The Presentation. The Blessed Mother presents the Child Jesus in the Temple.
• The Finding in the Temple. The Blessed Mother finds Jesus in the Temple.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
Prayed Tuesdays & Friday; Sundays in Lent

• The Agony in the Garden. At Gethsemane Jesus prays as He contemplates the sins of the World.
• The Scourging at the Pillar. Jesus is cruelly scourged until His mortified body could bear no more.
• The Crowning with Thorns. A crown of thorns is placed on the head of Jesus.
• The Carrying of the Cross. Jesus carries the heavy cross upon His shoulders to Calvary.
• The Crucifixion. Jesus is nailed to the Cross and dies after three hours of Agony.

The Five Glorious Mysteries
Prayed Wednesdays & Sundays after Easter until Advent

• The Resurrection. Jesus rises glorious and immortal, three days after His death.
• The Ascension. Jesus ascends into Heaven forty days after His Resurrection.
• The Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Holy Spirit descends upon Mary and the Apostles.
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. The Blessed Mother is united with her Divine Son in heaven.
• The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. Mary is Gloriously crowned Queen of Heaven and earth

The Five Luminous Mysteries 
Prayed Thursdays

• The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.
• Christ's Self-Manifestation at the Wedding Feast at Cana.
• Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with His Call to Conversion
• Christ's Transfiguration .
• Christ's Institution of the Eucharist.

Read an article on Praying a Family Rosary