The prayers of the Rosary are short and easy to learn. You repeat a few Catholic prayers in a set order while you reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary.
This guide gives you every Rosary prayer in full and shows you how to pray the Rosary step by step. It also lists all 20 Mysteries. Pew Research Center estimates there are roughly 53 million Catholic adults in the U.S., so many readers are learning this devotion right now.
What are the five prayers of the Rosary? The five core prayers are the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, and Hail, Holy Queen. Three more frame the Rosary: the Sign of the Cross and Apostles’ Creed open it, and the Final Prayer closes it.
Table of Contents
Prayers of the Rosary: Every Rosary Prayer in Order (Full Text)
The Rosary prayers come in a fixed order. Here is each one, with its full text.
Sign of the Cross. Touch your forehead, chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed (Credo). You pray it on the crucifix. It states the core beliefs of the faith. 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 (Pater Noster). Jesus taught this prayer to his disciples, as recorded in Matthew 6:9–13. 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 (Ave Maria). Its first lines come from the angel’s greeting and Elizabeth’s words in Luke 1:28 and 1:42. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.
Glory Be (Gloria Patri). It praises the Holy Trinity. 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 (“O My Jesus”). It is optional. Catholics tie it to the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. 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.
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina). It is a closing prayer to Mary. 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. Amen.
Final Prayer. It asks God to help us live out the Mysteries we meditated on. 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 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.
How many Hail Marys are in a Rosary? A full five-decade Rosary has 53 Hail Marys: three at the start and ten in each of the five decades.
How to Pray the Rosary Step by Step
Learning how to pray the Rosary is easy when you follow the beads one at a time. Here is the Rosary prayer order for beginners.
Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed on the crucifix.
Pray one Our Father on the first large bead.
Pray three Hail Marys on the next three small beads. Many Catholics offer them for faith, hope, and charity.
Pray the Glory Be.
Announce the first Mystery. Then pray an Our Father on the large bead.
Pray ten Hail Marys on the small beads, one decade. Meditate on the Mystery as you go.
Pray the Glory Be and the optional Fatima Prayer.
Announce the next Mystery and repeat steps 5 to 7 until you finish all five decades.
Close with the Hail, Holy Queen, the Final Prayer, and the Sign of the Cross.
How long does it take to pray the Rosary? Most people finish in about 15 to 20 minutes. You can also pray just one decade at a time.
Here is a quick example. During the Nativity decade, picture the stable in Bethlehem. Hold that image while you say the ten Hail Marys. That is meditation, and it is the heart of the Rosary.
A few tips help beginners:
No beads? Count on your fingers or use a Rosary app.
Don’t rush. Calm, steady pacing beats speed.
If you lose count, pick up where you think you left off. God is not grading you.
Announcing each Mystery out loud is needed only in a group Rosary.
The Dominican method is an older way to pray. It opens with prayers drawn from the Liturgy of the Hours, and the rest is the same.
While the Rosary offers a deeply spiritual tradition of prayer and reflection, the phrase “thoughts and prayers” can carry a broader meaning in popular culture and storytelling. To explore how this phrase is portrayed in entertainment, see our guide to the meaning, cast, and story of Thoughts and Prayers HBO.
20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Weekly Schedule
Each decade goes with one Mystery of the Rosary. The 20 Mysteries come in four sets of five, and each set has its own days.
Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Saturday)
The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38)
The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56)
The Nativity (Luke 2:1–21)
The Presentation (Luke 2:22–38)
The Finding in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)
Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)
The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17)
The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11)
The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14–15)
The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8)
The Institution of the Eucharist (Matthew 26:26–29)
Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)
The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–56)
The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27–31)
The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32)
The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–56)
Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday)
The Resurrection (John 20:1–29)
The Ascension (Luke 24:36–53)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–41)
The Assumption of Mary
The Coronation of Mary
On Sundays in Advent and Christmas, many pray the Joyful Mysteries. On Sundays in Lent, many pray the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Who added the Luminous Mysteries? Pope Saint John Paul II added them in 2002 in his letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae. Before that, the Rosary had 15 Mysteries. Popes have long called the Rosary a “compendium of the Gospel,” because the Mysteries trace the life of Christ from birth to resurrection.
FAQs
Here are quick answers to the questions people ask most about the Rosary prayers.
What are the five prayers of the Rosary?
The five core prayers are the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, and Hail, Holy Queen. The Sign of the Cross, Apostles’ Creed, and Final Prayer open and close the Rosary.
What are the full prayers of the Rosary?
They are the Sign of the Cross, Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, Hail, Holy Queen, and the Final Prayer. The full text of each is in the first section above.
What are all the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary?
They are the five Joyful, five Luminous, five Sorrowful, and five Glorious Mysteries. Each set covers key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. The full list and weekly schedule are above.
How do I pray the Rosary correctly?
Follow the prayer order, announce each Mystery, and meditate on it during the Hail Marys. Focus matters more than speed. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back.
Can I pray the Rosary lying in bed?
Yes. The Church does not require a set posture for the Rosary. Praying in bed is common for people who are ill or who pray at night. If you tend to fall asleep, try sitting or kneeling when you want to stay alert.
Conclusion
The prayers of the Rosary are a short set of prayers in a clear order. Learn the eight prayers, follow the beads, and let each Mystery guide your thoughts.
Abroy Hassan is the founder and writer behind Morning Prayer Hub, where he shares daily prayers and devotionals to help readers begin each day with faith, gratitude, and a quiet mind. He writes with a simple goal: to make prayer feel accessible, personal, and part of everyday life.
