Rosary
Praying the Glorious Mysteries
How to pray the Rosary · 7 steps
The five Glorious Mysteries, prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays: the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary.
7 steps · About 20 minutes
The Glorious Mysteries contemplate the goal of the whole Gospel: Christ risen and ascended, the Spirit poured out on the Church, and Mary, the first of the redeemed, taken body and soul into glory and crowned. Saint John Paul II notes that these mysteries nourish the hope of Christians and reveal the destiny prepared for all who follow Christ. They are the Church's Sunday prayer.
What you need
- A rosary
- A Bible or the passages listed in each step
- About twenty quiet minutes
When to pray it
Wednesdays and Sundays (outside Advent and Lent); fitting throughout the Easter season, on the Ascension, at Pentecost and on 15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption.
Steps
Step 1: Open the Rosary
Make the . Holding the crucifix, pray the . On the first large bead pray the ; on the next three small beads pray one each, traditionally for an increase of faith, hope and charity; then pray the . You are now ready to announce the first mystery.
Step 2: The First Glorious Mystery: the Resurrection
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 (also John 20:1-18). On the first day of the week the tomb is found empty and the risen Jesus greets the women: "Do not be afraid." Fruit of the mystery: faith. Pray the on the large bead, then ten on the small beads while holding the mystery in mind, then the and the : ", forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."
Step 3: The Second Glorious Mystery: the Ascension
Scripture: Acts 1:6-11 (also Luke 24:50-53). Forty days after Easter, Jesus blesses his disciples and is taken up into heaven, promising the Holy Spirit and his own return. Fruit of the mystery: hope, and desire for heaven. Pray the on the large bead, then ten on the small beads while holding the mystery in mind, then the and the : ", forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."
Step 4: The Third Glorious Mystery: the Descent of the Holy Spirit
Scripture: Acts 2:1-13. At Pentecost, with Mary among the disciples, the Holy Spirit comes as wind and fire and the Church is sent out to preach. Fruit of the mystery: love of God, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pray the on the large bead, then ten on the small beads while holding the mystery in mind, then the and the : ", forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."
Step 5: The Fourth Glorious Mystery: the Assumption of Mary
The Church holds that Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory, a truth defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Revelation 12:1 is the traditional reading: "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet." Fruit of the mystery: devotion to Mary, and the grace of a happy death. Pray the on the large bead, then ten on the small beads while holding the mystery in mind, then the and the : ", forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."
Step 6: The Fifth Glorious Mystery: the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture: Revelation 12:1, "on her head a crown of twelve stars." Mary, exalted by her Son as Queen of all things, intercedes for the Church still on pilgrimage. Fruit of the mystery: trust in Mary's intercession, and eternal happiness. Pray the on the large bead, then ten on the small beads while holding the mystery in mind, then the and the : ", forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."
Step 7: Close the Rosary
After the fifth decade pray the Hail, Holy Queen (), then: V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. 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 by 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. Many add the . End with the .
Tips
- Let these decades be prayers of hope: bring to them the people and situations that seem beyond repair.
- In the Easter season, pray the Regina Caeli instead of the Angelus, and consider ending the Rosary with it.
- The fourth and fifth mysteries are drawn from the Church's faith rather than a single Gospel scene; Revelation 12:1 is the traditional passage to read.