One bead at a time. One prayer at a time.
The Rosary is a prayerful journey through the life of Jesus with Mary. This guide takes you from the opening Sign of the Cross through all five decades, with the prayers ready whenever you need them.
No memorization needed. Bring your intentions, find a quiet place, and begin at your own pace.
A simple rhythm, held in your hands.
A usual Rosary has five decades. Each decade is a group of ten Hail Marys, prayed while contemplating one mystery from the life of Jesus and Mary. The beads help you keep your place so your attention can return to prayer.
Follow the beads
- At the crucifix: make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed.
- On the introductory beads: one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.
- Around the loop: pray the five decades, announcing a new mystery for each one.
The rhythm of one decade
Announce a mystery → one Our Father → ten Hail Marys → one Glory Be. Many Catholics then add the Fatima Prayer.
- Our Father
- Hail Mary 1
- Hail Mary 2
- Hail Mary 3
- Hail Mary 4
- Hail Mary 5
- Hail Mary 6
- Hail Mary 7
- Hail Mary 8
- Hail Mary 9
- Hail Mary 10
1 Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + 1 Glory Be
How to pray the Rosary, step by step.
Offer an intention before you begin: someone you love, a need in the world, a word of thanks, or a burden you want to place in God’s hands.
01
Begin at the crucifix
Make the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles’ Creed. This opening profession of faith prepares you to reflect on the mysteries.
02
Pray the opening prayers
On the first large bead, pray one Our Father. On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys, traditionally for faith, hope, and charity. Then pray the Glory Be.
03
Announce the first mystery
Choose a set of mysteries and name its first mystery. Pause to contemplate the event. You may read a brief Scripture passage or reflection.
04
Pray one Our Father
On the large bead that begins the decade, pray one Our Father while keeping the mystery in mind.
05
Pray ten Hail Marys
Move through the ten small beads, praying one Hail Mary on each. Continue reflecting on the mystery as you pray. If your attention wanders, gently return to it.
06
Close the decade
Pray the Glory Be. You may then add the Fatima Prayer, a customary devotion after each decade.
07
Continue through five mysteries
Repeat steps 3–6 for the second, third, fourth, and fifth mysteries. Each new mystery begins another decade, following the same prayer sequence.
08
Finish with the closing prayers
After the fifth decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen and the concluding prayer. Finish with the Sign of the Cross.
Only have a few minutes?
Begin with one decade. Pray its Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and Glory Be while reflecting on a single mystery. You can build a fuller routine over time.
The prayers, ready when you need them.
Open any prayer below. These use the traditional English wording; familiar variations in wording are also used.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell; on the third day He rose 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.
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 · customary after each decade
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.
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 vale 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.
Concluding 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 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.
Which mysteries should I pray?
The customary weekly schedule is a helpful starting point. Each set contains five mysteries; follow its events in order as you pray your five decades.
| Days | Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Monday & Saturday | Joyful Mysteries → The early life of Jesus |
| Tuesday & Friday | Sorrowful Mysteries → The Passion of Christ |
| Wednesday & Sunday | Glorious Mysteries → Resurrection and heavenly glory |
| Thursday | Luminous Mysteries → The public ministry of Jesus |
When your mind wanders, return gently.
Distraction is common. Return to the mystery, to the words of the prayer, or simply to the name of Jesus. Prayer does not depend on a particular feeling. A quiet, faithful return is a meaningful part of learning to pray.
A few questions before you begin.
How long does a Rosary take?
Five decades often take around 15–25 minutes, depending on your pace and the time you spend reflecting. There is no need to rush.
Do I need Rosary beads?
Beads are helpful for keeping count, but you can use your fingers or follow a guided Rosary if you do not have a set.
What if I do not know the prayers?
Read the prayer texts above as you go, or use our guided prayer. You do not need to memorize everything before you begin.
Can I pray the Rosary alone?
Yes. You can pray alone, with your family, or with a group. When praying together, one person may lead and the others respond.
Can I pray just one decade?
Yes. A single decade is a good way to begin or to make time for prayer during a busy day. When you are ready, follow the full five-decade sequence.