What Prayers Are Said During the Rosary? A Complete Guide for Catholic Devotion
If you're looking for a complete step-by-step guide, read our How to Pray the Rosary: A Complete Catholic Guide.
The Rosary is a meditative journey through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, contemplated through the heart of His Blessed Mother. Whether you are learning this devotion for the first time or returning to it after years away, understanding each prayer and its place in the Rosary can enhance your experience considerably.
This guide outlines each prayer in the order it is prayed, along with its purpose within the devotion.
Structure of the Rosary
A standard five-decade Rosary consists of introductory prayers, five decades, and closing prayers. Each includes one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and optionally the Fatima Prayer. Each is paired with a Mystery from the life of Christ, drawn from the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, or Glorious sets.
For a complete walkthrough of the devotion, including bead-by-bead guidance, see our guide on how to pray the Rosary.
The Prayers in Order
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This ancient formula marks the beginning of the Rosary, invoking the Holy Trinity and preparing the heart for prayer.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth...
The Creed is a profession of the foundational truths of the Catholic faith, prayed while holding the crucifix.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name...
The prayer given to us by Christ Himself is prayed on the first large bead and again at the beginning of each decade.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...
The three Hail Marys following the Our Father are offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity. During each decade, ten are prayed on the small beads while reflecting on the Mystery.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...
This doxology gives praise to the Holy Trinity and concludes both the introductory prayers and each decade.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell...
This prayer, given by Our Lady to the shepherd children at Fatima in 1917, is traditionally said after the Glory Be of each decade. While optional, it has become a customary part of the devotion.
Announcement of the Mystery
Before each decade, the Mystery is announced aloud (or silently, if praying alone). Then a moment is taken to recall the scene before beginning the prayers.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope...
After completing the five decades, this ancient Marian antiphon is prayed as a petition and act of praise to the Blessed Virgin.
Closing Prayer
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection...
This prayer, often said by the leader in group settings, asks God to grant the graces of the Mysteries we have contemplated.
Optional Additions
Many Catholics conclude the Rosary with additional prayers according to their custom or intention. Additions include the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, or personal petitions offered in silence.
A Note on Intention
The prayers of the Rosary are not meant to be rushed through but prayed with attention and reverence. Each Hail Mary offers an opportunity to meditate more deeply on the Mystery at hand, and each Our Father reorients the heart toward the Father. Prayed well, the Rosary becomes less a recitation and more a conversation, a way of accompanying Christ through the saving events of His life.
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