Lesson 2: The Prayers and the Structure, Bead by Bead

In this lesson you will learn the full structure of the rosary so that you can pray it on your own. Keep your beads in hand as you read. By the end, your fingers should know where each prayer belongs.

The prayers you need

The rosary uses six prayers. Learn them by heart if you can; each is available in full on this site.

• The Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
• The Apostles' Creed. The summary of the faith, beginning I believe in God, the Father almighty.
• The Our Father. The prayer Jesus taught.
• The Hail Mary. The angel's greeting, Elizabeth's praise, and the request for Mary's prayers.
• The Glory Be. The short doxology to the Trinity.
• The Hail Holy Queen. The ancient hymn to Mary that closes the rosary.

Many people add the Fatima Prayer after each Glory Be: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Your mercy. It is optional but widespread.

The structure

On the crucifix: make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.

On the first large bead: pray the Our Father.

On the three small beads: pray one Hail Mary on each, for the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Before the medal: pray the Glory Be.

On the medal or the next large bead: announce the first mystery, for example, The first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation. Pause briefly to picture the scene. Pray the Our Father.

On the ten small beads: pray one Hail Mary on each, holding the mystery in mind.

On the chain after the tenth bead: pray the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer if you wish.

On the next large bead: announce the second mystery and pray the Our Father. Continue with ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Repeat through all five mysteries.

After the fifth decade, back at the medal: pray the Hail Holy Queen. Many add the closing prayer: 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 meditating upon 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.

Finish: make the Sign of the Cross.

Pacing

A rosary prayed at a calm, unhurried pace takes fifteen to twenty minutes. Faster than that and the meditation suffers. Slower is fine. Do not rush to finish; the goal is time with God, not completion.

Praying with others

In a group, a leader prays the first half of each prayer and everyone responds with the second half. For the Hail Mary, the leader says Hail Mary, full of grace, through Jesus, and the group answers Holy Mary, Mother of God, through Amen. The leader also announces each mystery.

Practice exercise

Pray one full decade right now. Make the Sign of the Cross, pray the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and the Glory Be on the introductory beads. Announce the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, and pray an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be. Close with the Sign of the Cross. Notice how long it took and how it felt. Tomorrow, add a second decade.