Rosary Prayers: Every Prayer You Need to Pray the Rosary
This page gathers every prayer of the Rosary in one place: the opening prayers, the decade prayers, the closing prayers, and the mysteries with their Scripture passages and spiritual fruits. Whether you are learning the Rosary for the first time or returning to the devotion after time away, everything you need is here.
For a complete step-by-step guide to praying the Rosary, see our guide How to Pray the Rosary: A Complete Catholic Guide.
What Is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a traditional Catholic devotion that focuses on the life of Jesus Christ: His Incarnation, His public ministry, His suffering and death, and His resurrection and glorification. It consists of praying five sets of ten Hail Marys, called decades, while meditating on specific mysteries drawn from the lives of Jesus and Mary. Between each decade, one recites an Our Father. Each mystery is accompanied by a Scripture passage to help guide reflection and deepen understanding.
The Rosary can be prayed alone or with a group. Rosary beads are a traditional aid used to count the prayers, though they are not required. What matters is the prayer itself and the meditation on the mysteries.
How to Pray the Rosary: The Steps
Begin by making the Sign of the Cross. Recite the Apostles' Creed while holding the crucifix. On the first large bead, pray the Our Father. On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys for an increase in faith, hope, and charity. Pray the Glory Be.
For each of the five decades, announce the mystery you will meditate on. Pray the Our Father on the large bead. Pray ten Hail Marys on the small beads while meditating on the mystery. Conclude each decade with the Glory Be and, optionally, the Fatima Prayer.
After completing the five decades, pray the Hail Holy Queen and the concluding prayer. End with the Sign of the Cross.
The Prayers of the Rosary
The Apostles' 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 rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will 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.
The Our Father
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us 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.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.
The 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 who have most need of your mercy. Amen.
The 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.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
The mysteries of the Rosary are events from the lives of Jesus and Mary, grouped into four sets. A different set is traditionally prayed on each day of the week.
The Joyful Mysteries
Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, and during Advent on Sundays.
The Annunciation. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces that she will conceive the Son of God. Spiritual fruit: Humility. "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:26-27)
The Visitation. Mary travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is with child. Spiritual fruit: Love of Neighbor. "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:41-42)
The Nativity. Jesus is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. Spiritual fruit: Poverty of Spirit. "She gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)
The Presentation in the Temple. Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple according to the Law of Moses. Spiritual fruit: Purity of Heart and Body. "When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord." (Luke 2:22)
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. After three days of searching, Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Spiritual fruit: Devotion to Jesus. "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers." (Luke 2:46-47)
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays, and during Lent on Sundays.
The Agony in the Garden. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, in great sorrow, as His Passion approaches. Spiritual fruit: Obedience to God's Will. "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
The Scourging at the Pillar. Jesus is scourged by the soldiers before His crucifixion. Spiritual fruit: Mortification. "Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified." (Matthew 27:26)
The Crowning with Thorns. The soldiers place a crown of thorns on Jesus and mock Him as King of the Jews. Spiritual fruit: Moral Courage. "Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:29)
The Carrying of the Cross. Jesus carries His cross to Calvary. Spiritual fruit: Patience. "They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross." (Mark 15:21)
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross. Spiritual fruit: Sorrow for Sin. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and when he had said this he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46)
The Glorious Mysteries
Prayed on Wednesdays and, outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, on Sundays.
The Resurrection. Jesus rises from the dead on the third day. Spiritual fruit: Faith. "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised." (Luke 24:5)
The Ascension. Jesus ascends into heaven forty days after the Resurrection. Spiritual fruit: Hope. "So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descends upon Mary and the apostles at Pentecost. Spiritual fruit: Wisdom and Love of God. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim." (Acts 2:4)
The Assumption of Mary. At the end of her earthly life, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven. Spiritual fruit: Devotion to Mary. "Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1:48-49)
The Coronation of Mary. Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. Spiritual fruit: Grace of a Happy Death. "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." (Revelation 12:1)
The Luminous Mysteries
Prayed on Thursdays. Introduced by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002.
The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. Jesus is baptized by John, and the voice of the Father is heard. Spiritual fruit: Openness to the Holy Spirit. "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)
The Wedding Feast at Cana. At Mary's request, Jesus performs His first miracle, changing water into wine. Spiritual fruit: To Jesus through Mary. "His mother said to the servers, Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5)
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus calls all to conversion and announces the arrival of the Kingdom. Spiritual fruit: Conversion. "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15)
The Transfiguration. Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. Spiritual fruit: Desire for Holiness. "He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light." (Matthew 17:2)
The Institution of the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus gives the Church His Body and Blood under the forms of bread and wine. Spiritual fruit: Adoration. "Take and eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26)
Why Pray the Rosary
The Rosary deepens faith, strengthens the habit of prayer, and opens the heart to meditate on the life of Christ through the eyes of His Mother. Its rhythmic repetition creates a stillness that allows the mysteries to take root in the soul over time. Prayed regularly, it becomes less a recitation and more a conversation, a rhythm of turning toward God throughout the day.
Pope Francis has called the Rosary a prayer for peace and a prayer for the family. Pope Saint John Paul II described it as a school of contemplation, a means of looking at the face of Christ with Mary. Both understood what the faithful have known for centuries: this prayer, simple enough for a child and deep enough for a lifetime, is one of the great gifts the Church has received.
For those who want to keep the Rosary close throughout the day, our Rosary Necklace Collection offers handcrafted rosaries in sterling silver, gold-filled, and 14K solid gold, each with the full 59 beads, crucifix, and centerpiece medal the devotion calls for, designed to be worn as a necklace and prayed wherever the day takes you.
The Rosary has been prayed in cathedrals and in prison cells, at bedsides and on battlefields, by saints and by sinners returning to God. Wherever it is prayed, it carries the same invitation: come, look at Christ, and let His Mother show you the way.
For a complete overview of the Rosary devotion, including all prayers, mysteries, history, and guides, visit our Complete Guide to the Rosary.
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