Rosary

When the Rosary is prayed as a group, the guide announces each mystery and the general intention; five of the participants announce the group’s specific intention for each decade.

There are, at present, many legitimate ways of beginning the Rosary in different parts of the Church and following different customs. They should all appropriately prepare the mind for contemplation. It is common practice to recite the Apostles’ Creed.

Guide: † In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Guide: We will offer the Rosary for…

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.

Then, for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, an Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be are prayed. After each biblical passage, one of the participants says the intention for that mystery.

The Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Saturday)

Guide: Today, we will contemplate the joyful mysteries.
Guide: The first mystery: The Annunciation.
Reader: Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
Guide: The second mystery: The Visitation.
Reader: Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth (Lk 1:40).
Guide: The third mystery: The Nativity.
Reader: And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (Lk 2:7).
Guide: The fourth mystery: The Presentation in the Temple.
Reader: Mary and Joseph took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Lk 2:22).
Guide: The fifth mystery: The Finding in the Temple.
Reader: After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Lk 2:46).

The Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)

Guide: Today we will contemplate the luminous mysteries.
Guide: The first mystery: The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.
Reader: And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).
Guide: The second mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana.
Reader: Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him (Jn 2:11).
Guide: The third mystery: Jesus’ Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God.
Reader: Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).
Guide: The fourth mystery: The Transfiguration.
Reader: While he was praying, he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light (Lk 9:29; Mt 17:2).
Guide: The fifth mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist.
Reader: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever (Jn 6:51).

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

Guide: Today we will contemplate the sorrowful mysteries.
Guide: The first mystery: The Agony of in the Garden.
Reader: He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground (Lk 22:44).
Guide: The second mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar.
Reader: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged (Jn 19:1).
Guide: The third mystery: The Crowning with Thorns.
Reader: And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak (Jn 19:2).
Guide: The fourth mystery: The Carrying of the Cross.
Reader: And carrying the cross himself, Jesus went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha (Jn 19:17).
Guide: The fifth mystery: The Crucifixion and Death.
Reader: There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle (Jn 19:18).

The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday)

Guide: Today we will contemplate the glorious mysteries.
Guide: The first mystery: The Resurrection.
Reader: Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised (Lk 24:5-6).
Guide: The second mystery: The Ascension.
Reader: As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven (Lk 24:51).
Guide: The third mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit.
Reader: Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4).
Guide: The fourth mystery: The Assumption.
Reader: Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Lk 1:45).
Guide: The fifth mystery: The Coronation of Mary.
Reader: A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (Rev 12:1).

After the fifth mystery, an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be are prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father.

After these prayers, the Hail Holy Queen and the Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary are prayed.

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.

Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

God, our Father in heaven. Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world.
God the Holy Spirit.
Holy Trinity, one God.

Holy Mary. Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God.
Most honored of virgins.
Mother of Christ.
Mother of the Church.
Mother of mercy.
Mother of divine grace.
Mother of hope.
Mother most pure.
Mother of chaste love.
Mother and virgin.
Sinless Mother.
Dearest of mothers.
Model of motherhood.
Mother of good counsel.
Mother of our Creator.
Mother of our Savior.
Mother of Regnum Christi.
Virgin most wise.
Virgin rightly praised.
Virgin rightly renowned.
Virgin most powerful.
Virgin gentle in mercy.
Faithful virgin.
Mirror of justice.
Throne of wisdom.
Cause of our joy.
Shrine of the spirit.
Glory of Israel.
Vessel of selfless devotion.
Mystical Rose.
Tower of David.
Tower of ivory.
House of gold.
Ark of the covenant.
Gate of heaven.
Morning Star.
Health of the sick.
Refuge of sinners.
Comfort of migrants.
Comfort of the afflicted.
Help of Christians.
Queen of angels.
Queen of patriarchs and prophets.
Queen of apostles and martyrs.
Queen of confessors and virgins.
Queen of all saints.
Queen conceived without sin.
Queen assumed into heaven.
Queen of the Rosary.
Queen of the family.
Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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 on 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.