How to Pray the Rosary: Step by Step Guide

Hallow details the process for praying the Rosary step by step with text and illustrations below. Also see our animated video guide on YouTube.

Time needed: 20 minutes

How to Pray the Rosary

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Holding the crucifix, pray 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 from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will 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 life everlasting. Amen.

3. On the first bead, pray an 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.

4. On each of the next three beads, pray a Hail Mary.
   Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

5. On the next bead, pray a Glory Be.
   Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

6. Pray the first decade.
   On the large bead, announce the mystery and then say an Our Father.
   
   On each of the 10 small beads, say a Hail Mary while continuing to meditate on the mystery.
   
   At the end of the decade, say the Glory Be.
   
   Then say 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

7. Repeat this pattern for the remaining decades.
   Our Father -> 10 Hail Marys -> Glory Be -> O my Jesus (Fatima Prayer)

8. After the 5 decades, conclude with the Hail Holy Queen prayer.
   Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
   Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
   Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
   That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

9. Close with the concluding prayer.
   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.

10. End with the Sign of the Cross.
    In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    • F

What is the Rosary?

Origin

In the early 13th century, St. Dominic preached the Gospel to combat various heresies, and he founded the Order of the Dominicans to carry out this work of spreading the Good News. Despite their efforts, the heresy continued to reappear, however, so he called on the Blessed Virgin Mary to guide him. Tradition holds that Mary appeared to him in 1221 and gave him the devotion of the Rosary, encouraging him to share the prayer with others. Many also believe that the historical origin of the Rosary lies in the monastic practice of reciting 150 Psalms each week, a practice which additionally expanded into the repetition of Hail Mary’s.

The Rosary remains as powerful as ever. It continues to be a beautiful means for conversion and helped unite the global population of Catholics in prayer in the wake of the death of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2025, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics around the world to pray the Rosary every day during October for peace around the world.

In 2025, Hallow released an animated Rosary, a beautiful visual companion to the audio-guided session already available in the app.

There are a number of prayer traditions that include the rosary, and even special types of rosaries! Learn more about some of these prayers from Hallow:

• 54 Day Rosary Novena

• Franciscan Crown Rosary

• Seven Sorrows Rosary

• St. Gertrude Chaplet and Rosary

Rosary Prayers

The Rosary devotion is comprised of several prayers, which are all rooted in Scripture. Under “How to Pray: The Rosary” below, you can read about the traditional order of these prayers in the Rosary. People often pray with rosary beads to guide their time in prayer, though they are not necessary for praying the devotion. If you don’t have a rosary, consider praying with the Bishop Sheen X Hallow Rosary.

Apostle’s Creed

“I believe in God, the Father almighty …”

We begin the Rosary with the Apostle’s Creed. It is a fitting way to begin this prayer, affirming our core beliefs as Catholics. Each line comes from different books of Scripture, including the Gospels, 1 Peter, 1 Corinthians, Acts, and more.

Our Father

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name …”

Also known as the Lord’s Prayer, this prayer comes directly from Jesus in Matthew 6, when he teaches his disciples how to pray.

Hail Mary

“Hail Mary, full of grace …”

Although the repeated Hail Mary prayer is addressed directly to Mary, it is to Jesus that the act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her.

St. John Paul II

The Hail Mary prayer is the heart of the Rosary. We pray 10 Hail Mary’s within each of the five decades – totaling 50 Hail Mary prayers at the end of your devotion. This prayer, in which we ask Mary for her intercession, is also rooted in Scripture. The first two lines come from the first chapter of Luke, when the Angel Gabriel announces Christ’s coming at the Annunciation and when Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, greets Mary at the Visitation.

Glory Be

“Glory Be to the Father …”

The Glory Be is often referred to as the doxology, a word that comes from Greek, meaning “an expression of praise or glory.” This prayer is quite common and straightforward — we pray for the Holy Trinity to be glorified at all times.

Fatima Prayer

“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins …”

The Fatima Prayer was given directly by Mary to three shepherd children on July 13, 1917 during her appearances in Fatima, Portugal. In this prayer, which is said at the end of each decade, we ask Jesus for mercy upon us and upon all souls.

Hail, Holy Queen

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy …”

The Rosary ends with this powerful prayer, which comes from the ancient tradition of monks concluding their communal prayer with the Salve Regina (a Latin chant of the Hail, Holy Queen). Reminded that Jesus is given to us through his Mother Mary, we give thanks to God for Mary’s participation in all of the saving events of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection.

Mysteries of the Rosary

Each of the five decades of the Rosary highlights a unique moment within the Paschal Mystery. There are four sets of mysteries — Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious — and each contains five pivotal events from the life of Jesus. When praying the Rosary, we enter into one set of these mysteries at a time, meditating on them through the eyes of Mary, the disciple who was closest to Jesus and knew him best. The Church traditionally prays certain mysteries on specific days of the week, as follows:

• Monday: Joyful Mystery

• Tuesday: Sorrowful Mystery

• Wednesday: Glorious Mystery

• Thursday: Luminous Mystery

• Friday: Sorrowful Mystery

• Saturday: Joyful Mystery

• Sunday: Glorious Mystery

Joyful Mysteries
(Monday, Saturday)

The Joyful Mysteries invite us to contemplate the Incarnation, and we enter into the wonder of Jesus coming to earth as a baby. 

We are invited to do as Mary did and “reflect on them in [our] heart[s]” (Luke 2:19).

1. The Annunciation

“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

Fruit of the mystery: Humility

2. The Visitation 

“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 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 1:39-42

Fruit of the mystery: Love of Neighbor

3. The Nativity

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and 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 2:1-7

Fruit of the mystery: Poverty

4. The Presentation in the Temple

“When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

"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, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,' and to offer the sacrifice of 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,' in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” - Luke 2:21-24

Fruit of the mystery: Purity of Heart and Body

5. The Finding in the Temple

“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,  and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 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 2:41-47  

Fruit of the mystery: Devotion to Jesus

Luminous Mysteries
(Thursday)

Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “In the Luminous mysteries, apart from the miracle at Cana, the presence of Mary remains in the background … 

Yet the role she assumed at Cana accompanies Christ throughout his ministry. 

The revelation made directly by the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, also echoed by John the Baptist, is placed upon Mary’s lips at Cana, and it becomes the great maternal counsel that Mary addresses to the Church of every age: ‘Do whatever he tells you.'”

The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan

“After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” - Matthew 3:16-17

Fruit of the mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit

The Wedding Feast at Cana

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' [And] Jesus said to her, 'Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servers, 'Do whatever he tells you.'” - John 2:1-5

Fruit of the mystery: To Jesus through Mary

Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God

“'This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'” - Mark 1:15  

Fruit of the mystery: Conversion

The Transfiguration

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” - Matthew 17:1-2

Fruit of the mystery: Desire for holiness

The Institution of the Eucharist

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.'” - Matthew 26:26  

Fruit of the mystery: Adoration

Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesday, Friday)

We feel this sorrow and contrition even more deeply as we imagine it through the eyes of his mother. 

We are also encouraged to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries on Sundays during Lent.

The Agony in the Garden

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, 'My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.' He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.'” - Matthew 26:36-39

Fruit of the mystery: Obedience to God’s Will

The Scourging at the Pillar

“Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.” - Matthew 27:26

Fruit of the mystery: Mortification

The Crowning with Thorns

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. 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 27:27-29

Fruit of the mystery: Courage

The Carrying of the Cross

“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. They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull).” - Mark 15:21-22  

Fruit of the mystery: Patience

The Crucifixion and Death

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.'] They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.' Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, 'If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.' Above him there was an inscription that read, 'This is the King of the Jews.' Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.' The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'

"It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit'; and when he had said this he breathed his last.” - Luke 23:33-46  

Fruit of the mystery: Sorrow for our Sins

Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesday, Sunday)

The last two mysteries, though not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, come from hundreds of years of tradition based on passages from Revelation and the Song of Songs. 

We celebrate the grace and the role Jesus has bestowed upon his mother (The Assumption and Coronation of Mary), and we pray that where Mary goes, we will one day as well.

The Resurrection

“But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, 'Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.'” - Luke 24:1-5

Fruit of the mystery: Faith

The Ascension

“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  

Fruit of the mystery: Hope

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” - Acts 2:1-4

Fruit of the mystery: Wisdom

The Assumption

“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

Fruit of the mystery: Devotion to Mary

The Coronation of Mary

“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
Fruit of the mystery: Grace of a happy death

Why do we pray the Rosary?

Think of the Rosary as being like the ocean: There’s something in it for everyone, whether you consider yourself a veteran mystic longing to go deeper in prayer with our Lord, a novice struggling to learn how to pray, or someone seeking the Lord’s help, right now, with something going on in your life. The deep-sea explorer and the child making sand castles on the beach can fully enjoy the same ocean while playing at different levels. And this is true with the Rosary.

Edward Sri, “Why Pray the Rosary?”

Just as Dr. Sri explains, the Rosary is a prayer for people of all ages, undergoing different life experiences, and who might have different levels of familiarity with the devotion. The reason behind the Rosary is fairly simple — Mary was present for the joyful, sorrowful, luminous, and glorious moments of Christ’s life. So, by meditating on Jesus’ life with Mary’s help, we seek to grow closer and closer to Christ. We might pray with Mary for a special intention, or we might need a moment of solace with the Blessed Mother and her Son. Any reason to pray the Rosary is a beautiful reason.

Praying the Rosary Every Day

We can pray the Rosary at any time of the day or night. While some people prefer to pray with beads, they aren’t necessary for our time spent with Jesus and Mary. Praying the full Rosary step by step usually takes about 15 – 25 minutes, but remember, you can always simply pray one decade (an Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, a Glory Be) if that’s all the time you have.

If you’re looking to add the Rosary to your everyday prayer routine intentionally, consider the following times for prayer:

• If you take daily walks, consider adding the Rosary to your routine. You can say the prayers with Hallow, or carry your rosary beads as you walk.

• Pray the Rosary on your commute; listen and pray along as you start or end your day at work.

• Pray as you prepare dinner.

• Set aside quiet time and pray as you get ready for the day or prepare to fall asleep.