Although Marian in character, the Rosary is Christ-centered in its essentials. It is a meditation on the lives of both our Lord and the Virgin Mary. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in the Rosary.

STRUCTURE OF THE ROSARY

Make the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He 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 again
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.

For an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

(repeat three times)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Now begin the mysteries of the day. Start each decade by announcing the mystery and directing your imagination and attention towards that particular episode in the life of Christ or our Lady. It can be useful to follow the announcement of the mystery with the reading of a related scripture passage. Then proceed to the recitation of the decade. On the large bead, say the Our Father. On each of the ten small beads, say a Hail Mary. Then pray the Glory Be. It is customary in many places to end each decade with the following prayer given to us by our Lady at Fatima.

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

Mysteries of the Rosary

JOYFUL (Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

LUMINOUS (Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

SORROWFUL (Tues and Fridays) 
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

GLORIOUS (Wed and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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CONCLUDING PRAYERS

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 towards us; 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.

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 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