Praying the Rosary

Before praying, ask for the grace to pray with the heart. There are many graces that come from prayer with the heart.

  1. While holding the crucifix make the Sign of the Cross, and then recite the Apostles Creed.
  2. Recite the Our Father on the first large bead.
  3. Recite a Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope and charity on each of the three small beads.
  4. Recite the Glory Be to the Father on the next large bead.
  5. Recall the first Rosary Mystery and recite the Our Father on the large bead.
  6. On each of the adjacent ten small beads (also referred to as a decade) recite a Hail Mary while reflecting on the mystery.
  7. On the next large bead, recite the Glory Be to the Father.
  8. Each succeeding decade is prayed in a similar manner by recalling the appropriate mystery, reciting the Our Father, ten Hail Marys while reflecting on the mystery, and the Glory Be to the Father.
  9. When the fifth mystery is completed, the Rosary is Customarily concluded with the Hail Holy Queen, and the Sign of the Cross.
  10. Traditionally, the Joyful Mysteries are recited on Mondays and Saturdays; the Sorrowful Mysteries are recited on Tuesdays and Fridays; the Glorious Mysteries are recited on Wednesdays and Sundays, and the Luminous Mysteries are recited on Thursdays.

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