SCRIPTURAL ROSARY LINKS: THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

The Holy Rosary

The Knights of Columbus are consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order fosters devotion to Our Lady and, in particular, encourages its members and their families to pray the rosary as often as possible.

The Rosary is a form of vocal and mental prayer divided into decades. The recitation of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the "mysteries" or events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. While the whole Rosary is composed of twenty decades, it is customary to recite five decades at a time while meditating on one set of mysteries.

The Mysteries are presented here in a Scriptural form which combines the regular prayer and meditation of the Rosary with passages from Holy Scripture. As each passage is read, the story of each mystery unfolds on a bead-by-bead basis. Meditated in this way, the Rosary increases our knowledge of the virtues of Jesus and Mary, spurs us on to imitate their most holy lives, and is a powerful means for obtaining the graces we need.

How to Pray the Rosary – Opening Prayers

Using the crucifix on the Rosary, bless yourself with the Sign of the Cross and then recite the Apostle's Creed:

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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, 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, 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 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.

Praying the Mysteries

For each decade, announce the Mystery, say one Our Father on the first bead, then say one Hail Mary on each of the following ten beads, meditating upon the Mystery for the particular decade.

• The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays , Saturdays, Sundays in Advent, and Sundays between Epiphany and Lent.

• The Mysteries of Light are prayed on Thursdays.

• The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in Lent.

• The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays after Easter until Advent.

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

Closing 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 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!
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 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.