The Holy Rosary (one decade)
The Rosary is a prayer of the heart that walks through the life of Jesus with Mary, using a string of beads to count the prayers. Each decade is spent with one “mystery”, an event from the Gospels, while the familiar words of the Hail Mary are repeated. A full Rosary of five decades takes about twenty minutes.
Begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Holding the crucifix, 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
On the first large bead, pray 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 next three beads, pray three Hail Marys, asking for faith, hope and charity: 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.
Then pray the 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.
Now pray the five decades. For each decade, announce the mystery (for example, “The first Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation”), then pray one Our Father on the large bead, a Hail Mary on each of the ten small beads, and one Glory Be.
The Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Saturday): the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday): the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion. The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday): the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption, the Coronation of Mary. The Luminous Mysteries (Thursday): the Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist.
After the fifth decade, pray 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.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
End with the Sign of the Cross.