Understanding the rosary can, at first feel overwhelming, but we’re going to break this down and make it more inviting to try. First off, the rosary is about meditation. Okay, we hear this word all the time, but what is meditation anyway? It’s a practice that incorporates a mind-body experience to train for awareness and clarity. While the word “meditation” does not exist in the Bible, Jesus was known for regular solitary and intense spiritual practices. The rosary connects the prayerful to walk with Christ in reflection.
Don’t worry if you find in the beginning that saying the rosary doesn’t leave you feeling enlightened with greater mental, spiritual and physical freedom. All meditative practices take, well…practice. If you’re new to the rosary, this is a guide on how to become familiar with the routine. The rosary is the Gospels on beads – with every section of ten beads, called a decade, that have a different focus on Christ’s life, but let’s not get all twisted up in that just yet.
Also, don’t beat yourself up if your mind wanders as you go through the prayers. This happens in all forms of meditation as you train your mind and body to fall into groove of the practice. In no time, you will look forward to this devotional to develop and bring you closer to God.
Index of rosary prayers
For Catholics, it is customary to prepare for prayer and religious services (like Mass, baptisms, weddings, and funerals) by opening (and closing) with the sign of the cross. This is a gestural prayer where you touch your forehead, heart, left shoulder and then right shoulder and recite, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (In Eastern Orthodox, the order is forehead, heart, right shoulder, then left).
Holding the crucifix, the Apostle’s Creed is recited; this prayer summarizes the essential beliefs of our faith and prepares the mind and heart for prayer.
Faith In Mary rosaries don’t usually use one single bead to represent the position of the prayer of the Our Father. We want to make this segment a strong point of reverence to God the Father, and these segments really stand out when you look at, and hold, a Faith In Mary rosary.
The next three beads hold special significance; we pray three Hail Marys, asking for an increase in faith, hope, and charity in our lives.
We close out the first three Hail Mary prayers by reciting the Glory Be, a short hymn praising the Holy Trinity.
Before we start a journey of the each decade of Hail Mary prayers, we recite the prayer Christ taught his followers, and recite the Our Father.
Each decade consists of ten Hail Marys, said while meditating on a particular mystery.
We close each decade with the Glory Be
This is recited at the close of every decade of Hail Marys. This was added to the rosary after three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal reported regular visitations from Mary who instructed them to use this prayer to her son, Jesus.
The process is then to repeat the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer for each of the five decades of a rosary.
As we reach the centerpiece, which may depict anything from St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Michael, or the Holy Family, we pray the Hail Holy Queen, a prayer honoring Mary’s role in our faith and gratitude for being chosen to bear Jesus.
Here we beseech the Lord that we may imitate the Christ represented in the Gospels and be worthy of His kingdom.
Just as we open with the sign of the cross, we close out our session with the gesture. This final gesture sends us forth with renewed peace, ready to face the day with a spirit centered in faith.
Jump in and have fun – don’t worry about messing up. Some people feel guilty that they fall asleep when reciting in bed. That’s okay, you’re in great company of famous saints who also struggled to develop the ability to not just recite the prayers but to allow their mind, body, and soul to let go, become free, and absorb the majesty of what Christ means to them. If you do pray the rosary in bed, what better way to lull yourself to sleep than by finding peace?
Absolutely not! You can start by just doing one decade. Even in our modern short attention span world, nearly all of us can manage a single decade of a rosary. Learning the practice of the rosary as a meditative and spiritual instrument takes practice just as you would any other skill you’ve developed. If you’re intimidated by five decades, start with one. Then two. Next thing you know, you’ll be focused on the full rosary.
We make a wide variety of bespoke rosaries to include single decade versions. We use a variety of high-quality materials from gemstones, genuine crystals, marble, and metals to create unique instruments of prayer. We invite you to find the perfect rosary that is a true reflection of your personality. Can’t find what suits you? Simply give us a call, or send us text and we will work to create the right rosary for you.
Sign of the Cross: Simultaneously recite, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” while touching the forehead, chest, left shoulder then right shoulder.
Apostle’s 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.
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.
Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou, and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, and lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.
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. Pray for us O holy mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Rosary 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 by 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.