The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses" and roses have been traditionally associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary, they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses.

How to Pray the Rosary

On the crucifix, make the sign of the cross and then pray the 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 Ghost, 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.

On the next large bead, say the 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.

On the following three small beads, pray three Hail Marys.

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.

On the chain, pray the Glory Be.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

On the large bead, meditate on the first mystery and pray the Our Father.

You pray mysteries for each of the five sections (decades) of the rosary according to the day of the week:

Mysteries of the Rosary

JOYFUL

The Annunciation

The Visitation

The Nativity

The Presentation

The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

LUMINOUS

The Baptism in the River Jordan

The Wedding Feast at Cana

The Preaching of the Coming of the Kingdom of God

The Transfiguration

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

SORROWFUL

The Agony of Jesus in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crowning with Thorns

The Carrying of the Cross

The Crucifixion

GLORIOUS

The Resurrection

The Ascension

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

The Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God, into heaven

The Coronation of Mary in heaven

Skip the centerpiece medallion, and on the ten beads after that, pray a Hail Mary on each bead; on the chain, pray a Glory Be.Although a decade is 10, these 12 prayers form a decade of the rosary.Many Catholics add the Fatima Prayer after the Glory Be and before the next Our Father:

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Repeat Steps 5 and 6 four more times to finish the next four decades.At the end of your Rosary, say the

Hail Holy Queen.Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, 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 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.O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech Thee, 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.