Praying the Rosary is a step-by-step meditative journey. It involves both vocal prayer and mental reflection on the mysteries. Here is a simple guide to praying the Rosary:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross: While holding the crucifix of the rosary beads, make the Sign of the Cross and pray the invocation “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”  This signifies dedicating the prayer to God.
2. Apostles’ Creed: Still holding the crucifix, recite the Apostles’ Creed, a summary of core Christian beliefs . (“I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth…” and so on ). This profession of faith prepares one’s heart and mind.
3. Our Father: On the first large bead after the crucifix, pray the Our Father (the Lord’s Prayer) . Jesus taught this prayer, and it is prayed at the start of each decade.
4. Three Hail Marys: On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys in a row . These initial Hail Marys are traditionally offered for the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity (love) .
5. Glory Be: On the chain or space after the three Hail Mary beads, pray the Glory Be (Doxology) : “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…”. This prayer glorifies the Holy Trinity.
6. Announce the First Mystery: On the next large bead, announce the first Rosary Mystery (e.g., “The 1st Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation”). You may optionally read a short Scripture verse related to the mystery or reflect on its meaning. Then pray an Our Father on that same bead .
7. Pray the Decade (10 Hail Marys): Moving along the next ten small beads, pray a Hail Mary on each bead (ten Hail Marys total) while meditating on the mystery you announced . Let the words of the prayer accompany a mental reflection on the event (for example, envision the scene of the Annunciation if praying that mystery). After the ten Hail Marys, pray one Glory Be to conclude the decade. Many Rosary guides also add the “Fatima Prayer” at this point – “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy” – which Our Lady taught the children of Fatima in 1917 . This short prayer is optional but often included after each decade.
8. Continue Through the Mysteries: Announce the next mystery (second mystery) on the following large bead, pray the Our Father, and repeat the sequence of ten Hail Marys, Glory Be (and Fatima Prayer) for that decade while meditating on the mystery . Continue in this manner for all five decades of the Rosary, corresponding to the five mysteries of the day. Each decade, focus on the new mystery as you pray.
9. Closing Prayers – Hail Holy Queen: After the five decades, conclude the Rosary by praying the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) prayer . This beautiful prayer honors Mary as our mother and queen: “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope…” . It is a heartfelt salutation asking Mary’s intercession.
10. Final Prayer and Sign of the Cross: Finally, pray the Rosary’s concluding prayer, which typically begins “O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life…” . This prayer asks that by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Respond “Amen.” Now end the Rosary as you began, with the Sign of the Cross, to officially conclude the prayer .

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