Praying the Rosary

The prayer given to us by the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tradition tells that the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary was given to Saint Dominic directly by Our Lady. In so many ways, it is a perfect prayer for Dominicans: Dominic tirelessly contemplated the Word of God, and he had deep devotion to Mary as Mother of Christ and Protectress of his Order.

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer that reflects on profound events (“Mysteries”) in the lives of Mary and Jesus that are remembered throughout the liturgical year. The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery.

As Dominicans, we pray the Rosary in an ancient Catholic manner that affirms the notion that the Rosary is "the layperson's breviary." As such, the introductory prayers are based on the opening prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours.

Mysteries of the Rosary

The Rosary is truly a “compendium of the Gospel,” complete with reflections on

  • the Incarnation and the hidden life of Christ (the Joyful Mysteries)
  • the sufferings of Christ’s Passion (the Sorrowful Mysteries)
  • the triumph of his Resurrection (the Glorious Mysteries),
  • particularly significant moments in his public ministry (the Luminous Mysteries (or “The Mysteries of Light”)

The most popular way of praying the Rosary is to pray five decades, i.e., an Our Father and 10 Hail Marys, while reflecting on particular events in the life of Jesus or of the Virgin Mary, each event corresponding to one mystery:

The Joyful Mysteries

  1. The Annunciation
  2. The Visitation
  3. The Birth of Our Lord
  4. The Presentation in the Temple
  5. The Finding in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries

  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

The Glorious Mysteries

  1. The Resurrection
  2. The Ascension
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
  4. The Assumption
  5. The Crowning of Mary

The Luminous Mysteries

  1. The Baptism in the Jordan
  2. The Wedding Feast of Cana
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
  4. The Transfiguration
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Dominican Rosary Opening Prayers

Sign of the Cross

L: Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee.

R: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

L: O Lord, open my lips.

R: And my mouth shall declare Your praise.

L: O God, come to my assistance.

R: O Lord, make haste to help me.

L:  Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

R:  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Announce and begin the First Mystery with an ‘Our Father’, then 10 ‘Hail Marys’, while meditating on the Mystery. ‘Glory Be’ concludes the decade and each Mystery. 

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 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.


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.

Hail Holy Queen: All

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile and show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

L. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.

R. That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final Prayer: All

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.

L: May the Divine Assistance remain always with us.

R: Amen

L: And may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

R: Amen

L: And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit descend upon us and remain with us forever.

R: Amen

Sign of the Cross

Download Rosary Guide Here

The suggested pattern for praying the Rosary

Monday The Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday The Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday The Glorious Mysteries
Thursday The Luminous Mysteries
Friday The Sorrowful Mysteries
Saturday The Joyful Mysteries
Sundays of Advent and Christmas The Joyful Mysteries
Sundays of Lent The Sorrowful Mysteries
Other Sundays The Glorious Mysteries
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