Following is a step by step guide to praying the rosary. The numbered steps correspond to the beads on the diagram.
1. Make The Sign of the Cross and say The Apostles Creed
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, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, die and was buried.
He descended into Hell.
On the third day He row again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there He will 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.
2. Pray The Our Father
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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
3. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the three beads for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you 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.
4. Pray The Glory Be (also called The Doxology)
Glory Be
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
5. Announce and contemplate the First Mystery and pray The Our Father
6. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads. (These are called Decades)
7. Pray The Glory Be and pray The Fatima Prayer
Fatima Prayer
Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially this in most need of thy mercy. Amen
8. Announce and meditate on the Second Mystery and pray The Our Father
9. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads.
10. Pray The Glory Be and pray The Fatima Prayer
11. Announce and meditate on the Third Mystery and pray The Our Father
12. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads.
13. Pray The Glory Be and pray The Fatima Prayer
14. Announce and meditate on the Fourth Mystery and pray The Our Father
15. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads.
16. Pray The Glory Be and pray The Fatima Prayer
17. Announce and meditate on the Fifth Mystery and pray The Our Father
18. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads.
19. Pray The Glory Be and pray The Fatima Prayer.
20. Pray the Concluding Prayers
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and 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 merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, Oh Holy Mother of God. That we made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
The Prayer, We Fly to Your Patronage
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
***Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
***Note: This prayer is used when reciting the rosary in a group. One person designated by the group calls out the words in red and the group answers .
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Final Prayer
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 on 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
May the Divine Assistance always remain with us.
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen