How to Say the Rosary:
The Rosary is a form of vocal and mental prayer on the Mysteries
of our Redemption, divided into fifteen decades.
The recitation of each decade is accompanied by
meditation on one of the fifteen events or “Mysteries.”
The Mysteries consist of 3 groups:
The Joyful Mysteries are said on Mondays and Thursdays; Sundays
of Advent and after Epiphany until Lent.
The Sorrowful Mysteries are said on Tuesdays and Fridays; Sundays
in Lent.
The Glorious Mysteries are said Wednesdays and Saturdays; Sundays
after Easter until Advent.
"Step-By-Step" Instructions for Praying The Rosary
Step 1: Beginning with the Rosary's Cross:
Begin as with all prayers:
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost (Sprit). Amen.
(making the sign of the Cross while doing that)
Step 2: On the single bead just above the cross,
pray
the Apostles
Creed.
(This and all prayers of the rosary are meditative prayers.)
Step 3: The next cluster of beads are 3 bead.
The "Hail
Mary" prayer is said on these three beads. You pray the 3 Hail
Marys while
meditating on the three divine virtues of faith,
hope,
and
love/charity.
Step 4: On the next bead, which is a single
bead, you announce the first divine mystery of contemplation.
For example, if it were a Monday, you would say the first Joyful Mystery
is
"The Annunciation,"
at this point you pray the
"Our Father"
prayer.
Step 5: Now this will bring you to the first
decade, or set of 10 beads of the Rosary.
You will then pray 10 Hail
Marys while contemplating the first mystery.
Example: The Annunciation.
Step 6: After the 10th Hail
Mary you will have completed the first of 5 decades which make up a
Chaplet
of the Rosary. (Decade is 10 beads.)
You now come to another single bead, at this point, you pray the...
Glory be
to the Father... then (on the same bead) pray the...
O My Jesus...
then (on the same bead) announce the next or second mystery.
For example: If it's Monday and your praying the Joyful Mysteries, the
second Joyful Mystery is
"The Visitation."
At this point you pray the
Our Father.
Step 7: You will now come to the second decade
or group of 10 beads.
You will now pray the 10 Hail
Marys while contemplating the appropriate mystery.
Step 8: You continue to pray the rosary the
same way throughout.
If your intention is to pray a Chaplet (a single set of 5 mysteries)
at the end of the fifth mystery you will come back to the joiner, this
is where the decades all join with the
lower part of the rosary which contains the cross. When you come
to the joiner, you decide whether or
not you wish to say another Chaplet or end.
If you decide to say another Chaplet you simply announce the next mystery
and continue.
If you wish to end, you simply say...
The Glory
Be To The Father,
The O My
Jesus,
The Our Father
and end the rosary with
The Hail Holy
Queen and
The Sign of the
Cross........
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