The rosary is a devotional Catholic prayer that consists of the recitation of specific prayers using a set of beads or grains to count the repetitions. This prayer is mainly dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but it can also be used to meditate on the mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. Here's how to recite the rosary:
Prepare to recite your rosary:
Before you begin, take a moment to collect yourself and concentrate. Find a quiet place where you can pray without interruption.
Take your rosary:
The rosary is made up of beads or grains that are attached to a medal and a crucifix. Usually there are five decades, and each decade is made up of ten small beads and one large bead. Hold the medal or crucifix in your right hand.
Begin with the sign of the cross:
Holding the medal or crucifix, make the sign of the cross by saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Say it "I believe in God"
Recite the "Hail Mary":
At each large bead, begin by reciting the "Hail Mary" (Ave Maria), meditating on the particular mystery you have chosen (for example, the joyful, luminous, sorrowful or glorious mysteries).
After each "Hail Mary", add the phrase: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us poor sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
Recite the "Our Father":
After each series of ten "Hail Marys", recite the "Our Father", meditating on the mystery.
Meditate on the mysteries:
As you recite the prayers, meditate on the mysteries that are associated with each series of ten "Hail Marys".
For example, if you meditate on the joyful mysteries, think of the moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary linked to joy, such as the Annunciation or the Nativity.
Repeat the process: continue reciting the decades, alternating between the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father", while meditating on the mysteries you have chosen.
Final Hail:
Once you have recited the five decades (or more, if you wish), conclude by reciting the following 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, and ever shall be. Amen."
Make the final sign of the cross:
Conclude your prayer by making the sign of the cross: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The rosary is a powerful prayer of meditation and devotion that can bring comfort, inner peace and spiritual connection. You can personalise your recitation by choosing the mysteries that mean the most to you and praying for your own intentions and those of others.
