The Holy Rosary is a form of prayer that consists of a number of decades or ten Hail Marys with a Our Fathers in between. During each decade we meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary. In the Roman Catholic Church the practice is usually completed with the aid of Rosary beads, a loop of 60 beads used to count the prayers as they are said. To say the rosary is to complete a full cycle of the beads with the initial and final prayers. It’s often said that a rosary is a sign of devotion – others prefer to think of it as a sign of someone with too much time on their hands.

The use of beads is not unique to Christianity. Muslims have for centuries employed beads or Tasbih to count the devotional names of Allah. St Francis Xavier reported they were astonished to see rosaries being employed by the Buddhists of Japan. Early Christian artefacts of the 4th century resembling cribbage boards have been unearthed, and are said to be devices for counting prayers. Monks of the Eastern Rite churches use noted ropes to count devotional prayers. The name Rosary comes from the Latin Roserius meaning garland of Roses.

There are various explanations as to where the current Catholic Rosary tradition stems from. Some have suggested that the Rosary is a gift from Our Lady; others have suggested that the tradition only goes as far back as the 14th century. However most sources seem to suggest the current format of the Rosary is a culmination of various traditions stretching back thousands of years. The widely accepted orgin links the Marian Psalter or the Rosary with the Psalm Singing of the early church. Those who could not read the Psalms were instructed to instead say 150 Our Fathers and Hail Marys.

St. Dominic de Guzman popularized the Marian Psalter in the form we have it today (150 Hail Marys with a Our Father after each 10) when Our Lady encouraged him to pray it that way in response to the Albigensian heresy. This association is why the Rosary is known as the "Dominican Rosary," and is the method outlined bellow. Our Lady also appeared to the children at Fatima and asked that the Rosary be prayed daily, including the "Fatima Prayer," as part of what must be done in order to prevent Russia from spreading its errors throughout the world.

Saying the Rosary

When is the Rosary Said?

There is no prescribed time or place to say the Rosary and this combined with the portability of Rosary beads has been a factor in the popularity of this prayer in Catholic and other traditions. Commonly the rosary is said as part of a daily devotion that may take place within a community group. Some Choose to say the Rosary before recieving the sacrements, notably the sacrement of Reconciliation. It may be said when a loved one dies, is in need, or ill. It can be said as an offering or thanksgiving. However the Rosary is not part of the Catholic Mass as is commonly believed.

How to say the traditional Rosary is outlined below:

1. Holding the cross make the sign of the cross, then looking at the cross recite the Apostle’s Creed.
2. Moving to the first large bead pray the Our Father
3. On each of the three next smaller beads recite the Hail Mary, and then recite the Glory Be.
4. On the next large bead recite the First Mystery and meditate¹ on it. The Our Father follows this.
5. On the next ten small beads prayer the Hail Mary followed by a Glory Be
6. On the next Large bead recite the second Mystery, meditate, and say the Our father.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 till all 5 decades of the beads have been completed.
8. The pray the Hail Holy Queen.²
9. Here may follow the local tradition, I would suggest the O My Jesus
10. The Rosary is completed with the sign of the cross.

The Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 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.

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:

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.

Fatima Prayer

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.

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 towards 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. Amen

The Joyful Mysteries

(Said on Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays of Advent, and Sundays from Epiphany until Lent)

1. First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary Luke 1:26
2. Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth Luke 1:39
3. Third Joyful Mystery - The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1
4. Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:22
5. Fifth Joyful Mystery - Finding Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:41

The Luminous Mysteries³

(Said on Thursdays throughout the year)

1. First Luminous Mystery - The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan Matthew 3:17
2. The Second Luminous Mystery - The Wedding at Cana, Christ Manifested John 2:11
3. The Third Luminous Mystery - the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Mark 1:15
4. The Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration of Jesus Matthew 17:2
5. The Fifth Luminous Mystery - The Last Supper, the Holy Eucharist Matthew 26:26

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Said on Tuesdays, Fridays, and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday)

1. First Sorrowful Mystery - Agony of Jesus in the Garden Matthew 26:36
2. 
   Second Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar Matthew 27:26
   
3. Third Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Crowned With Thorns Matthew 27:27
4. Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus Carries His Cross Matthew 27:32
5. Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion of Jesus Matthew 27:33

The Glorious Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

1. First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection of Jesus John 20:1
2. Second Glorious Mystery - The Ascension of Jesus Luke 24:36
3. Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Acts 2:1
4. Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
5. Fifth Glorious Mystery - The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

The Beads and other Denominations

Rosary Beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and in materials rangin from crystal to plastic. More commonly they are 55 beads aranged in a loop connected by a medal depicting the Sacred Heart of Mary. from this drops 5 further beads and crucifix. Click here to order a free Rosary

Anglicans and some other protestant denominations have more recently reviewed there practices in relation to Marian devotion. Reformationists all but dropped Mary from the Liturgy of the protestant church. Recent reconciliation groups have acknowledged Mary as an important element of the liturgy and as a result the Rosary in its Dominican and Ecumenical forms is becoming more common in these churches.

Useful Links

Rosary in other Languages

Free Virtual Rosary Software

Catholic Encyclopedia - The Rosary

The Protestant or Ecumenical Rosary

What the Vatican says about the Rosary

The h2g2 entry on Roman Catholicism.

The h2g2 entry on Patron Saints.