Vigilitae et orate

Watch and pray

Praying the Rosary is a powerful way for Catholics to meditate on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ while also honoring His Blessed Mother Mary's role in our salvation history.

Follow these simple steps to begin praying the Rosary today!

1. Start with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Begin with the Apostles' Creed or the profession of faith.
3. Say an Our Father.
4. Say three Hail Marys (for an increase in the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity).
5. Say a Glory Be, and the Fatima prayer.

At this point you've completed the first introductory prayers of the rosary and can now begin meditating on each mystery! To pray a mystery:

1. Start by announcing the mystery (see below for a list of mysteries).
2. Pray an Our Father.
3. Pray 10 Hail Marys.
4. Pray a Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.

Once you've made it through 5 decades, you can complete the rosary with a Hail Holy Queen. 

At the end of our rosaries, we like to also add the following prayers:

1. Eternal Rest Prayer (for the souls in Purgatory)
2. Prayer for the Pope (don't forget about the indulgences!)
3. St. Michael Prayer
4. Guardian Angel Prayer
5. Act of Spiritual Communion (you never know when you won't have access to priests, so it's best to get familiar with this prayer!)
6. Divine Praises (to help undo the effects of all the blasphemies said by society throughout the day)

To deepen your understanding of how to pray the Rosary, consider learning about mental prayer and how to meditate well on each mystery. If you have a hard time dedicating a solid 20 minutes or so for a full 5 decade rosary, consider breaking it up throughout the day and saying 1 decade every few hours or so. Doing so is a great way to do a periodic "check-in" with Mary and God multiple times throughout the day!

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. Finding in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

About Mary's Holy Rosary

The faithful who devoutly carry about their person a Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary that has been properly blessed may gain an Indulgence of 500 days once a day, if they kiss the Rosary and at the same time devoutly recite the words of the Hail Mary.

A Plenary Indulgence may be gained (under the usual conditions) when the Rosary is prayed in Church, in a family group or in a religious community. Also:

• Five (5) decades of the Rosary must be prayed continuously.
• The prayers of the Rosary must be prayed vocally and one must meditate upon the Mysteries of the Rosary.
• If the recitation of the Rosary is public, the Mysteries of the Rosary must be announced.
• One may gain a partial indulgence for the Rosary's recitation in whole or in part in other circumstances.

Blessings obtained from reciting the Rosary:

• Sinners are forgiven.
• Souls that thirst are refreshed.
• Those who are fettered have their bonds broken.
• Those who weep find happiness.
• Those who are tempted find peace.
• The poor find help.
• Religious are reformed.
• Those who are ignorant are instructed.
• The living learn to overcome pride.
• The dead (the Holy Souls) have their pains eased by suffrages.
• Benefits of the Rosary in our life:
• It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.
• It purifies our souls, washing away sin.
• It gives us victory over all our enemies.
• It makes it easy for us to practice virtue.
• It sets us on fire with love of Our Lord.
• It enriches us with graces and merits.
• It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men;
• Finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God

Mary’s 15 Promises of the Most Holy Rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Ready to up your spiritual arsenal or help equip some friends and family? Check out our full line-up of rosaries to find the perfect rosary. As we always say: "The best rosary is the one you pray on every day!"

May God bless and keep you.