Before you begin
Find a quiet place and check which mysteries are prayed today: they change with the day of the week. Rosary beads help you keep count, but you don’t need them: you can pray on your fingers, and in Rosarium the beads move on their own as you read.
The order, from start to finish
- 1 The Sign of the Cross. Begin the prayer by blessing yourself.
- 2 The Apostles’ Creed. The faith you are about to contemplate, said in full.
- 3 One Our Father. For the intention you are praying for today.
- 4 Three Hail Marys. Often offered for faith, hope and charity.
- 5 One Glory Be. And the first mystery begins.
- 6 The five mysteries of the day. For each one you do the same:
- announce the mystery and read its Gospel passage;
- one Our Father;
- ten Hail Marys, meditating on the mystery;
- one Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.
- 7 The Hail, Holy Queen. After the five decades. Many communities also pray the closing prayer, the Litany of Loreto and a prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
That’s all. If one day you’re short on time, pray one full decade and come back tomorrow: that’s how the habit is built.
The prayers
Here they are, word for word, as they are prayed at each step.
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
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your 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 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. Amen.
How not to give up after three days
The hard part of the Rosary isn’t learning it, it’s keeping it up. Three things help more than willpower:
- The same time every day. Tying it to something you already do, like the drive to work or the last thing before bed, is easier than looking for a free moment.
- Start with one decade. Short and daily is better than long and once in a while.
- Keep count. Seeing the days in a row makes you want to keep the streak going; Rosarium keeps that record and a weekly plan, on your phone and with no account.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to pray the Rosary?
About twenty minutes for the day’s five mysteries, without rushing. If you have less time, pray one decade: one whole decade is worth more than five rushed ones.
Do I need rosary beads to pray it?
No. They help you keep count, but you can pray on your fingers or with the app, which moves bead by bead for you.
Which mysteries are prayed today?
It depends on the day: Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. On the Sundays of Advent and Christmas we pray the Joyful Mysteries, and on the Sundays of Lent, the Sorrowful.
Can I pray the Rosary at any time?
Yes, at any hour and anywhere. What keeps the habit going isn’t the perfect moment but doing it again and again: the same time each day is easier to keep.
