Pray along with Clara

How to pray the Rosary

To pray the Rosary, begin on the crucifix with the Sign of the Cross and the Creed, pray an Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be, then pray five decades: for each one, announce a mystery, pray an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, a Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. Finish with the Hail, Holy Queen. It takes about 20 minutes, or 4 for a single decade.

Pray it now with Clara

The Rosary, step by step

On the crucifix. Make the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles’ Creed. Sign of the Cross Apostles’ Creed
On the first bead. Pray the Our Father. Our Father
On the next three beads. Pray three Hail Marys, often for more faith, hope and love. Hail Mary
After the three Hail Marys. Pray the Glory Be. Glory Be
On each large bead. Announce the mystery (for example, “The first Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation”), then pray the Our Father. Our Father
On the ten small beads. Pray ten Hail Marys while you think about the mystery. This is one decade. Hail Mary
After each decade. Pray the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer, then go on to the next mystery. Five decades make the Rosary. Glory Be
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.
At the end. Pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer, and end with the Sign of the Cross. Hail, Holy Queen
Let us pray
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 while 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.
Sign of the Cross

Which mysteries on which day

All the mysteries of the Rosary →

Questions about the Rosary

Which mysteries do we pray today?

Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. This is the weekly plan Saint John Paul II proposed in 2002, when he added the Luminous Mysteries.

How long does the Rosary take?

About 15 to 20 minutes for all five decades. One decade takes about four minutes, which is a good length for young children.

Can little children pray just one decade?

Yes. Many families pray one decade a night with small children: one mystery, an Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Let your child hold the beads and count, or say the second half of each Hail Mary.

What is the Fatima Prayer?

A short prayer said after each decade, asking Jesus to forgive us and lead all souls to heaven. It comes from Our Lady’s appearances to three shepherd children at Fátima, Portugal, in 1917.

Praying on your own? The version for grown-ups is on Angelus, our prayer site for adults.