A Beginner's Guide to the Rosary

(The World's Most Popular Guide)

1. Who Can Pray the Rosary

Anyone who knows six easy prayers can pray a Rosary. You will also need to learn twenty Bible scenes to meditate upon as you pray. You do not have to be a Catholic.

2. The Order of Prayers

The Rosary begins with the Apostles Creed, followed by one Our Father, three Hail Marys (traditionally offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity for those praying the Rosary), then the Glory Be. Next come the five decades, each consisting of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, a Glory Be, and the brief Fatima Prayer. Conclude with the Hail Holy Queen followed by a prayer for the Pope (traditionally, at least one Hail Mary).

Note: Full versions of all the prayers are provided at the end of this guide.

3. Rosary Beads

If you do not have Rosary beads, it is perfectly okay to count with your fingers. Counting beads frees your mind to help you meditate.

4. Meditating on the Mysteries

Meditation means bringing to mind, as you pray the Our Father and Hail Marys during each decade, the various scenes from the life Jesus and his mother from Gospel accounts. Meditating on all twenty mysteries is akin to contemplating the entire life of Jesus, from his conception and birth, through his childhood, into his public ministry, his teachings, his establishment of the sacraments, and then his suffering, death, resurrection, and triumphant return to heaven.

It sometimes takes months or years for this form of mental prayer to become habitual, so be patient. Begin by placing yourself "into" the scene of the particular mystery as you pray, imagining the sights, smells, sounds, and emotions that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other participants experienced during the actual events.

It is also okay to meditate on the meaning of the words of the prayers as you pray them. Some people focus on a single word (for example, try contemplating the meaning of the word now in the Hail Mary). It is okay to bring to mind the people for whom you are offering the Rosary and your desire for God to help them.

5. The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

• The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel "announces" to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.
• The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
• The Nativity: Jesus is born.
• The Presentation: Mary and Joseph "present" Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.
• The Finding in the Temple: After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries

• The Baptism in the Jordan: The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.
• The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him.
• The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

• The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.
• The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate has Jesus whipped.
• The Crowning with Thorns: Roman soldiers crown Jesus' head with thorns.
• The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.
• The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.

The Glorious Mysteries

• The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.
• The Ascension: Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily "ascends" to heaven.
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.
• The Assumption: Mary is taken bodily—assumed—into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.
• The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

6. Mysteries for Each Weekday

The traditional approach is to offer the Joyful Mysteries on Monday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday, and start again with the Joyful Mysteries on Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday. The Glorious Mysteries are then prayed on Saturday and Sunday. Now that the Luminous Mysteries have been promulgated by Saint John Paul II, one has the option to follow a new schedule:

Monday - Joyful
Tuesday - Sorrowful
Wednesday - Glorious
Thursday - Luminous
Friday - Sorrowful
Saturday - Joyful
Sunday - Glorious

7. How to "Offer Intentions"

Practically everyone who prays the Rosary "offers" it to God and Our Lady for an intention (also known as a "petition"). This means one can ask God to grant a favor, heal a sick person, or convert a sinner—for any worthy need. Some people offer a different intention for each decade. Others offer the same intention every day (sometimes for years on end) especially when asking the Father for the conversion of a particular person. Intentions are as varied as the people who pray.

Ask for big and small gifts. Be bold! In this sense, the Rosary is an exchange of gifts between friends.

It is widely known that Our Lady answers seemingly impossible intentions to those who are first beginning to pray the Rosary. This is her way of drawing you closer to Her and to Jesus. If you are praying your first Rosary, or returning to the Rosary after years of not talking to Our Lady, ask for something big, spectacular, "impossible." She'll often surprise you.

8. The "Fruits" of the Mysteries

In recent years, the traditional practice of contemplating what are referred to as the "fruits" of each mystery has grown in popularity. These fruits are virtues or gifts exemplified, embodied, or manifested in each Mystery. The fruits should be memorized and will deeply enhance your meditation on the mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries

• The Annunciation: Humility
• The Visitation: Love of Neighbor
• The Nativity: Detachment
• The Presentation: Obedience
• The Finding in the Temple: Perseverance

The Luminous Mysteries

• The Baptism in the Jordan: Openness to the Holy Spirit
• The Wedding at Cana: To Jesus through Mary
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Christian Witness and Conversion
• The Transfiguration: Courage
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Love of Our Eucharistic Lord

The Sorrowful Mysteries

• The Agony in the Garden: God's Will Be Done
• The Scourging at the Pillar: Purity
• The Crowning with Thorns: Reign of Christ Our Hearts
• The Carrying of the Cross: The Patient Bearing of Trials
• The Crucifixion: The Pardoning of Injuries

The Glorious Mysteries

• The Resurrection: Faith
• The Ascension: Hope
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit*
• The Assumption: The Desire of Heaven
• The Coronation: The Grace of Final Perseverence

*These gifts are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

9. Plenary Indulgences

The Catholic Church, exercising its authority to "bind and loose on heaven and earth," and in perfect accord with God's boundless Mercy, has set the following conditions for the granting of a plenary indulgence for those who pray the Rosary:

• Be in a state of grace—that is, your soul is free from mortal sin.
• Be free from attachment to—that is, not in the habit of—venial sin.
• Go to Confession several days before or after praying the Rosary.
• Receive Holy Communion on the day you pray the Rosary.
• Say a prayer for the pope's intentions.

By fulfilling these simple (but often difficult) conditions, you merit the grace to release one soul from Purgatory. While we are free to ask God to apply this grace to a particular soul, God can do as he pleases, according to holy will and merciful nature. You can also ask God to apply this special grace to your own soul. A plenary indulgence will relieve the temporal punishment due to sin (it will not absolve the sin or cause the sin to be forgiven).

10. The Full Rosary

In common terminology, when Catholics refer to praying a "Rosary," they usually mean they are praying just five decades of one set of Mysteries. This is a single Rosary.

A "full Rosary," however, consists of offering all fifteen decades (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries) in one day. One can also offer all twenty decades in one day by including the newly promulgated Luminous mysteries.

(To avoid confusion, we will consider only the traditional three sets of fifteen Mysteries as a "full Rosary" from this point forward.)

There are two ways to pray a full Rosary in one day. The most common method is offering three separate "single" five-mystery Rosaries in the morning, midday, and evening. The second method consists of praying all fifteen Mysteries consecutively at one time.

With either approach, when you pray a full Rosary it is not necessary to repeat the opening or concluding prayers between the second and third sets of Mysteries. In other words, start with the opening prayers (Apostles Creed, Our Father, three Hail Marys, Glory Be) before the first Joyful Mystery the same way as you would with a "single" Rosary. After the fifteenth and final Glorious mystery, conclude with Hail Holy Queen and a prayer for the pope's intentions.

11. The Family Rosary

The Family Rosary is usually prayed out loud after dinner or before going to bed, although it can be prayed at any time of day. Family members can take turns "leading" the decades (with one person praying the beginning of the prayers, and all the others praying the endings).

Some families announce intentions before they begin the Rosary; others take turns announcing special intentions before they begin the Rosary; others take turns announcing special intentions before the beginning of each decade. Many families add favorite prayers at the end of the Rosary, or call upon favorite saints and angels to pray for them at the very end.

12. Rosary Novenas

Catholics have an ancient religious tradition known as "making a novena." This is when the same prayer is offered nine consecutive times. (Novena is the Latin word for the number nine.)

There are many Catholic novenas, and several involve the Rosary. The most common is to pray the Rosary for nine straight days. One can also pray a Rosary for nine consecutive Saturdays, or, at the beginning of nine consecutive hours in one day.

If you foster the habit of praying the Rosary every day, as the saints and popes have encouraged (and practiced themselves), your opportunities to make novenas will become plentiful, along with the chance to offer the following and particularly powerful novena a handful of times a year...

The 54 Day Rosary Novena

Perhaps the most powerful novena is the 54 Day Rosary Novena, which is a series of six consecutive nine-day novenas. The first three novenas are offered for the intention or favor, while the last three are offered in gratitude to God in anticipation of granting the favor.

13. The Prayers of the Rosary

For praying in groups, responses are in italics.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostle's 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,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell,
on the third day He arose 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

The Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
(Leader:) Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Traditional Closing Prayer (Optional)

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 on 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.

Suggested: For the Pope's Intentions

Leader: Upon this Rock He will build His Church...
Response: ...and the jaws of death shall not prevail against her.

Leader: O Mother of the Redeemer...
Response: ...and Living Tabernacle of the Eucharist, with humble confidence we ask you to grant the Holy Father's worthy intentions while bestowing upon him all the graces and blessings reserved for him by the Holy Trinity from all eternity. Amen.

Leader: Help his friends...
Response: ...and convert his enemies.

Leader: Saint Joseph...
All: Pray for us. Amen.

The Unlikely History of this Guide
With millions of readers since 1996, this is the most widely-read Rosary guide in modern times, and it was adapted from a very tiny booklet originally provided along with a simple Rosary recording that itself became the most popular in history. It was composed by Bud Macfarlane, the well-known Catholic novelist and founder of the Mary Foundation.

Years before the inspiration to write the Beginners Guide came to him, Mr. Macfarlane had become frustrated by well-meaning Rosary booklets that merely presented an unexplained list of something called "mysteries," a drawing of rosary beads highlighted with arrows, and the prayers themselves. These did not attempt to explain obscure or confusing Rosary practices such as novenas, mysteries, meditation, offering intentions, "full" rosaries, indulgences, or even whether using actual rosary beads was required.

It was someone else's idea to put the guide online at the dawn of the Internet. Bud updated the online version in 2002 when Pope John Paul II promulgated the Luminous Mysteries, and again in 2023. It has never been copyrighted and anyone is welcome to reproduce it with his blessing, in any format.

As an author, editor, or publisher responsible for reaching tens of millions through books, booklets, recordings, and digital publications, Bud is humbled that this little treatise, dashed off on deadline for insertion into a cassette case, is the most widely-read work he has ever written and has helped so many people.

Ironically, Bud never wanted to be a writer. His full name is William Noble Macfarlane II, yet he was called Buddy Boy as a child. He is the antithesis of a much more famous Boy, the also-oddly-nicknamed John-Boy from that wonderful television series, The Waltons. Put off by the lead character's overarching ambition to become a writer, Buddy Boy once wandered into his town library in Verona, New Jersey, and concluded, upon seeing the many shelves of books not being read, that writing was a foolish pursuit.

Thankfully, for those who sought and seek to learn about the Rosary, the Blessed Mother had other plans for Buddy Boy.

Read the 15 Promises of the Rosary

Common Catholic Devotions

• Common Catholic Prayers
• Beginner's Guide to the Rosary
• The Divine Mercy Chaplet
• Daily Prayers to Save America
• More Common Catholic Prayers
• Common Latin Prayers
• Submit Mass Intentions

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