Praying the Rosary

You can pray the rosary for various reasons: it is said to be a powerful weapon against evil, war and injustice. You can also pray the rosary as a kind of meditation to relax, to find inner peace or to find answers.

Praying the rosary; Starting with the cross:

We pray the Creed, so that our prayer may be pleasing to God, that it may serve to his greater glory, that it may contribute to the establishment of his kingdom on earth, to the conversion of sinners and unfaithful Christians and to the well-being of all people.

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; Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell, the third day rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall 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

Opening prayers

First small bead just above the cross: The Lord's Prayer
The second small bead: Hail Mary, I greet you daughter of God the Father
The third small bead: Hail Mary, I greet you Mother of God the Son
The fourth small bead: Hail Mary, I greet you Bride of God the Holy Spirit
The last small bead: Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was then and is now, and ever will be. Amen.

Then you come to the first large bead. In many rosaries, however, this is not a bead but an image of Jesus or Mary.

This is where the joyful mysteries begin.

Reflection on the first large bead: The Angel Gabriel brings the good news to Mary. Recite the Our Father.
On each of the ten following small beads: the Hail Mary.
Arriving at the tenth small bead: Recite the Glory be to the Father
and pray: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, bring all souls to Heaven, especially those who need your mercy the most.

Reflection on the second large bead: The visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Recite the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the ten following small beads,
on the tenth bead the Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the third large bead: The birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. Recite the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the ten following small beads,
on the tenth bead the Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the fourth large bead: Jesus is presented to God in the temple. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead the Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the fifth large bead: Jesus is found again in the temple. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead the Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

At this point you have already been around the paternoster once. A round is also called a rosary.
At the sixth large bead you come to the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Reflection on the sixth large bead: The agony of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead the Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the seventh large bead: Jesus is scourged. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the eighth large bead: Jesus is crowned with thorns. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the ninth large bead: Jesus carries his cross to the mountain of Calvary. Pray the Our Father
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the tenth large bead: Jesus dies on the cross. Pray the Our Father
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

At the eleventh large bead the glorious mysteries begin.

Reflection at the eleventh large bead: Jesus rises from the grave. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary at each of the next ten small beads,
at the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection at the twelfth large bead: Jesus ascends into Heaven. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary at each of the next ten small beads,
at the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection at the thirteenth large bead: The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary at each of the next ten small beads,
at the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection at the fourteenth large bead: Mary is taken up into Heaven. Pray the Our Father. The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Reflection on the fifteenth large bead: Mary is crowned in Heaven. Pray the Our Father.
The Hail Mary on each of the next ten small beads,
on the tenth bead Glory be to the Father and O my Jesus.

Closing prayers of the rosary:

Salve Regina

Hail, Queen, Mother of Mercy;
Our life, our joy and our hope,
Hail
To you we cry, exiles, children of Eve
To you we implore, sighing and weeping
In this valley of tears
Therefore, our advocate
Turn upon us your merciful eyes
And show us, after this exile
Jesus the blessed fruit of your womb
O merciful, O loving, O sweet virgin
Mary
Pray for us Holy Mother of God
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ
Amen.

O God,
whose only-begotten Son by His life, death and resurrection
gave us the reward of eternal life
Grant that by meditating on these mysteries of the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary
we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise,
Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.