Litany of Saints

The Holy Rosary

The traditional Rosary of fifteen decades, in English: the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries, prayed on their traditional days. It can also be prayed in Latin at Rosarium Sacrum.

    How to pray it

    1. On the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.
    2. On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
    3. On the next three beads, pray three Hail Marys, for an increase of faith, hope and charity.
    4. Pray the Glory Be.
    5. For each of the five decades: announce the mystery, pray the Our Father, then ten Hail Marys while thinking on the mystery, then the Glory Be and the O my Jesus.
    6. After the fifth decade, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer, and end with the Sign of the Cross.

    Which mysteries on which day

    These are the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary as Pope St Pius V set them down in 1569. Many now also pray the Luminous Mysteries added by Pope St John Paul II in 2002; this page keeps to the traditional Rosary.

    The prayers

    The Sign of the Cross

    In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

    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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, 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, 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.

    The Hail Mary

    Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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 Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

    O my Jesus

    O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.

    Taught by Our Lady at Fatima in 1917, and prayed after each decade.

    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.

    V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
    R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

    Closing 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 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.