Rosary

The Rosary

Below is a representation of a Rosary. It is made up of a set of beads (or knots) which is used to help guide the Rosary prayer. There is the Crucifix, a large bead, three smaller beads and then another larger bead. This is usually joined to a loop via a medal or central charm. The loop then consists of ten smaller beads followed by a larger bead multiple times. This creates five sets of ten smaller beads, each preceded by a larger bead. The larger bead before the medal is used for the first set of ten.

The Rosary prayer is started at the Crucifix with the Sign of the Cross. The Apostles' Creed is said while holding the cross. Then moving on to the first larger bead one prays the Our Father, followed by three Hail Marys on the next three smaller beads. A Glory Be is done in the space before the next large bead. Next, the five decades of a Rosary are started. Each decade consists of an Our Father on the large bead, followed by ten Hail Marys on the smaller beads. A Glory Be and an Oh My Jesus are said before starting on the next decade. Upon completing five decades the Rosary is completed with: Rosary closing prayer, Hail Holy Queen, and The Prayer to St. Michael.

The Mysteries of the Rosary are grouped into three sets: the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Each of these Mysteries is detailed further below.

              * * * *
            *         *
          *             *
        *                 * ↖
      O                     O  <-- Our Father
      * ↓                   *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     *
      *                     * ↑
      O                     O  <-- Our Father
       * ↘                 *  <-- Follow Hail Marys
        *                 *    with Glory Be and
         *               *     an Oh My Jesus
          *             *
           *           *
            *         *
             *       * 
              *     *
               *   *
                * * ↗
Finish with -->  V  <-- Centerpiece
 Rosary closing  |
 prayer,         O  <-- Our Father
 Hail Holy       *  <-- Follow Hail Marys with a Glory Be
 Queen and       *  
 Prayer to       *  <-- 3 Hail Marys
 St.Michael the  O  <-- Our Father
 Archangel       |
                 _
               _| |_
              |_   _| <-- Crucifix
                | |
                |_|

The Mysteries

Note that these prayers are presented in a format that is for personal recitation. In group settings there is often someone leading who says the first part of the prayer and all say the second part of the prayer.

The difference between the full and short version below is that in the full where there are ten Hail Marys to be said, each one is listed. In the short version it is simply [10x] and then the prayer.

The Joyful Mysteries

(Mondays and Thursdays)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays in Lent)

The Glorious Mysteries

(Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays)