How to Pray the Rosary

The Rosary joins vocal prayer with meditation on the mysteries of Christ and His Mother. The beads keep the hands busy so the heart can dwell on the Gospel.

Below is the traditional structure and bead prayers from the Baltimore Manual of Prayers, enough to begin praying today.

The Prayer

The devotion called the Rosary consists of fifteen Pater Nosters and Glorias, and one hundred and fifty Ave Marias, to be recited on Indulgenced beads. It is divided into three parts, each containing five Decades, or Tens; a Decade consisting of one Pater, ten Aves, and one Gloria. To each of these Decades is assigned one of the principal Mysteries of the life of our Saviour or of His Blessed Mother. A customary beginning: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. On the Cross: the Apostles’ Creed. On the first large bead: Our Father. On the next three small beads: Hail Mary (for faith, hope, and charity). Glory be to the Father. For each decade: Announce the Mystery; Our Father; ten Hail Marys; Glory be to the Father. After the five decades, conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen.

Sources: Traditional form; cf. Baltimore Manual of Prayers (1889).

See also: The Holy Rosary, Which Rosary Mysteries to Pray Each Day, Joyful Mysteries, and Hail Holy Queen.

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