HOW DO I PRAY THE ? HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY The Rosary is a traditional Catholic to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, asking her to pray for all her children in their time of need. Through the different that make up the Rosary, we tell our Lady that we love her and we contemplate Jesus' life. "The Rosary is the prayer of the humble and of the saints. In its mysteries, they contemplate, along with Mary, the life of Jesus, the merciful face of the Father. O, how much we all need to be truly comforted, to be wrapped in loving presence!" (Pope Francis, March 19, 2020)

On the crucifix, make the Recitation of the decade: and pray Our Father... the Apostles' Creed. 10 Hail Marys... Glory Be... Then, on the first large O My Jesus... bead and the three smaller beads that follow, for an The Rosary can be increase in the virtues of concluded with the Litany faith, hope, and charity: of the Blessed Virgin Mary Our Father... and prayers for the Church 3 Hail Marys... and for your country, the Glory Be... bishop of the diocese, and the souls in Purgatory, The Rosary is divided into 5 praying for each one: decades. Begin each by Our Father... announcing the mystery, ... and use the beads of the Glory Be... Rosary (1 large bead and 10 small) to count the prayers. For the holy souls in Each decade is a moment Purgatory, in place of the to contemplate an episode Glory Be, we pray: in the life of our Lord, May they rest in peace. beside our Lady. Amen. MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

There are 4 sets of mysteries, each made of 5 episodes in Jesus' life which we can contemplate with our Mother Mary, while praying the Rosary: the joyful mysteries (traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays) at the beginning of Jesus' life, the luminous mysteries (Thursdays) of His public ministry, the sorrowful mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays) of His Passion, and the glorious mysteries (Sundays and Wednesdays), beginning with His Resurrection from the dead.

JOYFUL MYSTERIES LUMINOUS MYSTERIES 1. The Annunciation 1. Baptism of Christ 2. Visitation 2. The Wedding at Cana 3. Birth of Christ 3. The Proclamation of the 4. The Presentation Kingdom of God 5. Finding of Jesus 4. The Transfiguration 5. The Institution of the Eucharist

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES GLORIOUS MYSTERIES 1. Agony in the Garden 1. The Resurrection 2. Scourging at the Pillar 2. The Ascension 3. Crowning with Thorns 3. Descent of the Holy 4. Carrying of the Cross Spirit 5. The Crucifixion 4. The Assumption 5. ThGeL OCRorIoOnUaSt iMonY SoTf EMRaIEryS

Click on any of the mysteries above to go to a commentary from St. Josemaria Escriva's Holy Rosary. BASIC PRAYERS

The prayers that make up the Rosary are from the earliest days of the Church: the Apostles' Creed, expressing the Christian faith, the Our Father, which Jesus Himself taught us to pray, the Hail Mary, using the words of the angel Gabriel to address our Lady and to ask her to pray for us...

SIGN OF THE CROSS APOSTLES' CREED In the name of the Father, I believe in God, the Father and of the Son, and of the Almighty, Creator of Holy Spirit. Amen. heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, OUR FATHER our Lord, who was Our Father, Who art in conceived by the Holy Heaven, hallowed be Thy Spirit, born of the Virgin name; Thy Kingdom come, Mary, suffered under Thy will be done on earth as Pontius Pilate, was it is in Heaven. Give us this crucified, died and was day our daily bread; and buried; He descended into forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who hell; on the third day He trespass against us; and lead rose again from the dead; us not into temptation, but He ascended into heaven, deliver us from evil. Amen. and is seated at the right hand of God the Father HAIL MARY Almighty; from there He will come to judge the Hail Mary, full of grace, the living and the dead. I Lord is with thee. Blessed believe in the Holy Spirit, are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of the Holy , thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, the communion of Saints, Mother of God, pray for us the forgiveness of sins, the sinners now and at the hour resurrection of the body, of our death. Amen. and life everlasting. Amen. GLORY BE O MY JESUS Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus, forgive us our to the Son and to the Holy sins, save us from the fires of Spirit. As it was in the Hell and lead all souls to beginning is now, and ever Heaven, especially those shall be, world without end. who are in most need of Thy Amen. mercy. LITANY OF OUR LADY

In the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, composed in the Middle Ages, we invoke Mary by many titles that express her faithfulness to God and readiness to help us, her children on earth. The litany helps us get to know Mary better, to love her more, and to praise God who gave her the grace to fulfill her mission. He will surely do the same for each of us.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. C hrist 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 Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy , one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, ...pray for us. Mother most amiable, Holy Mother of God, Mother admirable, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of good counsel, Mother of Christ, Mother of our Creator, Mother of the Church, Mother of our Saviour, Mother of divine grace, Mother of mercy, Mother most pure, Virgin most prudent, Mother most chaste, Virgin most venerable, Mother inviolate, Virgin most renowned, Mother undefiled, Virgin most powerful,

...pray for us. Comfort of the afflicted, Virgin most merciful, Help of Christians, Virgin most faithful, Queen of Angels, Mirror of justice, Queen of Patriarchs, Seat of wisdom, Queen of Prophets, Cause of our joy, Queen of Apostles, Spiritual vessel, Queen of Martyrs, Vessel of honour, Queen of Confessors, Singular vessel of devotion, Queen of Virgins, Mystical rose, Queen of all Saints, Tower of David, Queen conceived without Tower of ivory, original sin, House of gold, Queen assumed into Ark of the covenant, heaven, Gate of heaven, Queen of the most holy Morning star, Rosary, Health of the sick, Queen of families, Refuge of sinners, Queen of peace,

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

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 You, that 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.