The Holy Family Book for Children

How to Pray The Rosary?

The Rosary is a powerful and beautiful prayer that invites us to meditate on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his mother, Mary. It is a prayer of contemplation and devotion, and it can be a source of great peace, strength, and hope.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to pray the Rosary:

1. Gather Your Materials:

- Rosary Beads: These are a set of beads that help guide you through the prayer. They consist of a crucifix, a larger bead for the "Our Father" prayer, and ten smaller beads for the "Hail Mary" prayer. Each set of ten beads is called a "decade."
- A Quiet Space: Find a place where you can be undisturbed and focus on your prayer.
- Optional: A Bible or Scripture Readings: You can use these to deepen your reflection on the mysteries of the Rosary.

2. Begin with the Sign of the Cross:

- Make the Sign of the Cross while saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

3. Pray the Apostles' Creed:

- This is a statement of faith that summarizes the core beliefs of Christianity. You can find the text online or in a prayer book.

4. Pray the "Our Father":

- On the larger bead, pray the "Our Father" prayer:
"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."

5. Pray Three "Hail Mary"s:

- On the next three beads, pray the "Hail Mary" prayer:
"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."

6. Pray the "Glory Be":

- On the next bead, pray the "Glory Be" prayer:
"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."

7. Choose a Mystery:

- The Rosary is divided into four sets of mysteries, each containing five events from the life of Jesus:
- Joyful Mysteries: Monday and Saturday, or Sundays during Advent and Christmas
- Sorrowful Mysteries: Tuesday and Friday, or Sundays during Lent
- Glorious Mysteries: Wednesday and Sunday, or other Sundays outside of Advent and Lent
- Luminous Mysteries: Thursday
- Choose the mystery that corresponds to the day of the week or the liturgical season.

8. Pray the First Decade:

- Announce the Mystery: If you are praying with a group, announce the mystery you will be meditating on.
- Pray the "Our Father" on the large bead.
- Pray Ten "Hail Mary"s on the ten small beads, while reflecting on the mystery.
- Pray the "Glory Be" on the next bead.
- Optional: Pray the Fatima Prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy. Amen."

9. Repeat for the Remaining Decades:

- Repeat steps 8 for the remaining four decades, meditating on each mystery in turn.

10. Conclude with the "Hail Holy Queen":

- After the fifth decade, pray the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer:
"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."

11. Pray the Concluding Prayer:

- "O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rePray the Concluding Prayer:

- "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 while 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."

12. End with the Sign of the Cross:

- Make the Sign of the Cross while saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."