Specific directions for praying the rosary.

Traditionally, the different sets of mysteries are prayed on different days of the week, but you may pray any or all sets on any day.

The pattern is:
Joyful-- Monday, Saturdays (and Sundays in Advent)
Sorrowful--Tuesday, Friday (and Sundays of Lent)
Luminous--Thursday
Glorious--Wednesday and Sundays in Ordinary time.

A good graphic for what to pray on each bead is found at Our Lady's Rosary Makers and is reproduced here:

The numbers on the picture correspond to the following instructions:

1) Hold the crucifix in your hand, make the sign of the cross and recite the Apostles Creed


2) On the first bead pray one Our Father

3) On the next three beads pray a Hail Mary on each bead, then one Glory Be.

4) Begin the first decade on the next separate bead. Announce the first mystery and reflect on this moment in the life of Jesus and pray one Our Father.


5) For each of the next 10 beads continue your reflection on the first mystery and pray one Hail Mary on each bead. After the final Hail Mary finish the decade by praying one Glory Be.

6) Begin the second decade on the next separate bead. Announce the second mystery and reflect on this moment in the life of Jesus and pray one Our Father.

7) For each of the next 10 beads continue your reflection on the second mystery and pray one Hail Mary on each bead. After the final Hail Mary finish the decade by praying one Glory Be.


8) Begin the third decade on the next separate bead. Announce the third mystery and reflect on this moment in the life of Jesus and pray one Our Father.

9) For each of the next 10 beads continue your reflection on the third mystery and pray one Hail Mary on each bead. After the final Hail Mary finish the decade by praying one Glory Be.

10) Begin the fourth decade on the next separate bead. Announce the fourth mystery and reflect on this moment in the life of Jesus and pray one Our Father.

11) For each of the next 10 beads continue your reflection on the fourth mystery and pray one Hail Mary on each bead. After the final Hail Mary finish the decade by praying one Glory Be.

12) Begin the fifth decade on the next separate bead. Announce the fifth mystery and reflect on this moment in the life of Jesus and pray one Our Father.

13) For each of the next 10 beads continue your reflection on the fifth mystery and pray one Hail Mary on each bead. After the final Hail Mary finish the decade by praying one Glory Be.

14) At the centerpiece recite the Hail, Holy Queen and the Closing Prayer.

Here it is tradition to pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be for the Pope and his intentions.

Make the sign of the cross to finish.

Remember that the prayers are listed in this post and the mysteries are found in the October and November 2009 archives.

The Rosary Mysteries—Part 4

This week I’ll finish up the rosary series since next Sunday starts Advent and a whole new source of posts.


The final set of mysteries is the Glorious Mysteries, which shows us the time from Jesus’ resurrection onward.

The first glorious mystery is the Resurrection. This is the moment when Jesus rose from the dead. This mystery gives us proof of the hope we have in a future life after death, where we will be reunited with our loved ones in heaven in the presence of God. Scripture verses are Mt 28, Mk 16:1-18, Lk 24:1-49, Jn 20.

The second is the Ascension. This is the time when Jesus, after spending time with the apostles after rising from the dead, rose to Heaven to reign as King. Lk 24:50-53, Mk 16:19-20, Acts 1:8-11.

The third mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit. This is the time when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and Mary who were waiting and praying in the upper room on Pentecost. As Jesus had told them, the Father would send another advocate after he had risen to Heaven. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to boldly preach the truth of Jesus to all. Acts 1:8-2:47.

The last two Glorious Mysteries come to us from Tradition. They are the Assumption and the Coronation.

The fourth mystery is the Assumption of Mary. Catholic Tradition holds that after her death, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was raised to Heaven body and soul. The Eastern Churches call this the Dormition, and hold that Mary did not die. This concept prepares us for what will happen on the final day—we will all be raised body and soul and go to our eternal home, which will hopefully be Heaven. This mystery gives us hope for the future. We can meditate on how we can change our lives to be more like Mary in her faith, trust and obedience to God.

The final Glorious Mystery (and final mystery of the entire Rosary) is the Coronation of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth. This is also sourced from Tradition, and is something that causes much difficulty for non-Catholics and some Catholics. Since we believe that Jesus is King of the universe, Mary, as his mother would be the Queen. This comes from both Biblical and non-Biblical reasoning. In a Monarchy, the mother of the King is revered as Queen Mother. This is true also in the heavenly Kingdom where we, the subjects of Jesus, revere his mother as our Queen. It also stems from the commandment to honor our father and mother. What better way for Jesus to honor his mother than to make her queen of the universe. In this mystery we can meditate on how we honor our own parents and on how we can hope to enter heaven after death.

Now we have lots of information and scriptures to use in our meditations while praying the rosary. Next I will discuss the virtues associated with the mysteries.

The Rosary Mysteries-- Part 3

Today we will discuss the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. These mysteries cover the time from after the last supper to the death of Jesus. They are especially relevant in this month of November as we remember our friends and family who have passed on before us. Knowing that Jesus suffered and died can make the suffering and death of our loved ones a little easier to bear-- they do not suffer alone.

The first sorrowful mystery is the Agony in the Garden. In this mystery we think about the sorrow Jesus felt as he waited for Judas to betray him. Not only Judas' betrayal, but the inability of the disciples who were with him in the garden to stay awake to console him must have hurt him very much. We have all been betrayed by someone close to us at some point in our lives, and Jesus understands this-- go to him with this hurt and he will heal it.  The Scripture passages for this mystery are: Mt 26:36-49, Mk 14:32-42, Lk 22:39-46.

The second sorrowful mystery is the Scourging at the Pillar.  This is when Jesus is scourged by the Roman guards after being questioned by Herod. Jesus suffered in his body to make up for all the sins we would commit. Let us always remember this. Scripture passages: Mk 15:15, Jn 19:1

The third sorrowful mystery is the Crowning with Thorns. The Roman soldiers mock Jesus who has been accused of being "King of the Jews" by giving him a crown, but one made of thorns. We have probably all been pinched by a thorn from a rose and know how painful it can be. Imagine the pain of an entire rose bush worth of thorns being pressed into your head. Would we agree to allow this to happen to us to save someone we love from harm? To save someone who hates us? Jesus did.

The fourth sorrowful mystery is the Carrying of the Cross.  After being physically and verbally abused, Jesus is forced to carry his cross to the site of execution. Physically and emotionally drained, he needs help from a passer-by to carry the heavy load.  The cross is heavy with our sins, We can help Jesus to carry that cross by trying not to sin and asking for forgiveness when we do.

The fifth and final sorrowful mystery is the Crucifixion. Jesus died for all of mankind. Do we remember to thank him daily for this gift? He has paid our debt, but do we continue to gather new debts? Do we forgive others as he did from the cross?

Scripture passages for the entire set of mysteries: Mt 26:36-27:56, Mk 14:32-15:39, Lk 22:39-23:49, Jn 18:1-19:37.

November 1-- All Saints Day

Today we celebrate All Saints Day.  Celebrated on November 1, this feast of the Catholic Church reminds us of Jesus' instruction to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48). For who are the saints, but those who have lived their lives close to God, and as perfectly as possible.

The saints are those who dwell in heaven with God, including the Old Testament Patriarchs, the Apostles, the martyrs of the early church (and modern times) and all those who gave witness to Christ in their lives. (see Pope Benedict's homily from All Saints Day 2006).

Why do we honor the saints? Do they need our honor? No, but we do. We need to remember them so that we may imitate them and one day join them in heaven in the presence of God. As Pope Benedict states in his homily, "The example of the Saints encourages us to follow in their same footsteps and to experience the joy of those who trust in God, for the one true cause of sorrow and unhappiness for men and women is to live far from him."

May all the saints pray for us and lead us to heaven by their examples.