“Say the Rosary every day…
Pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices for sinners…
I’m Our Lady of the Rosary.
Only I will be able to help you.
…In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph.”Our Lady at Fatima

The Rosary is one of the most cherished private devotions in the Church. For over seven centuries millions of Christians have found the rosary to be a powerful way of meditating on the most important Christian mysteries; of Christ’s life, death and Resurrection. Trough the gentle repetition of the prayers of the rosary, many have come to a deeper appreciation and love for the gospel. The rosary has a way of calling to mind the central mysteries of the faith and penetrating deeply into the meaning, truths, and implications contained in those mysteries.

The rosary became an important part of the prayer life of the faithful during the 13th to 16th centuries. The 150 Hail Mary prayers each with a particular mystery, were aligned to the 150 Psalms prayed by the monks in the Liturgy of the Hours. The 150 prayers were broken up with the insertion of the Our Father after each decade with the mysteries divided into 3 sets of 5. This was approved by Pope Saint Pius V in 1569. In 2002 Pope John Paul II added a forth set of mysteries; the Luminous Mysteries (the mysteries of light).

Traditionally the Joyful mysteries were prayed on Mondays and Thursdays, the Sorrowful on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Glorious om Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays; with the Joyful myteries moved to Mondays and Saturdays, the Sorrowful mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays and moving the Glorious mysteries to Wednesdays and Sundays.

Various styles of praying the rosary have evolved over the years, with the insertion of opening prayers, the Fatima prayer (O My Jesus) after each decade, the Litany of the Blessesd Virgin Mary and closing prayers. It is also possible to precede each decade with a Gospel reading and reflection and insert verses of hymns to Our Lady. There is no “right way” of paying the rosary.

Useful References

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/mystery.php

https://www.rosarycenter.org

http://www.theholyrosary.org/index

https://www.catholicity.com/prayer/rosary.html

https://ladychapel.oursanctuary.net/mysteries.html

The Weekly Cycle

Traditional Cycle Luminous Cycle
Monday Joyful Joyful
Tuesday Sorrowful Sorrowful
Wednesday Glorious Glorious
Thursday Joyful Luminous
Friday Sorrowful Sorrowful
Saturday Glorious Joyful
Sundays of Lent Sorrowful Sorrowful
Other Sundays Glorious Glorious

Sunday’s Mystery depends on  the church’s liturgical year as do some special days.

The Joyful Mysteries may be said on Sundays during the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

During the season of Lent, the Sorrowful Mysteries may be said on Sundays.

This article at The Sanctuary https://ladychapel.oursanctuary.net/mysteries.html

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Joyful Mysteries

  1. The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary. Mary is chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
  2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. Elizabeth recognises Mary as the mother of our Lord.
  3. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is born and laid in a manger.
  4. The Presentation of our Lord. Jesus is presented in the Temple of Jerusalem.
  5. Finding Jesus in the Temple at age 12. Jesus is found discussing God’s laws in the temple.

Sorrowful Mysteries

  1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden.
    Jesus prays when confronted with the sins of the world.
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar.
    Jesus is whipped before His execution.
  3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns.
    Jesus is mocked with a painful crown of thorns.
  4. Jesus Carried the Cross.
    Jesus carries the weight of our sins to His crucifixion.
  5. The Crucifixion of our Lord.
    Jesus Christ dies to save all mankind.

Luminous Mysteries

  1. The Baptism in the Jordan
    God proclaims Jesus is His Son.
  2. The Wedding at Cana
    Jesus performs a surprising miracle at a wedding.
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
    Jesus calls us to do something important.
  4. The Transfiguration
    Jesus is gloriously transformed.
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist
    Jesus shares His Body and Blood for our salvation.

Glorious Mysteries

  1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
    Jesus rises triumphant over death.
  2. The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
    As Jesus ascends, He gives us a special task.
  3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost
    At Pentecost the Church is born.
  4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
    The Virgin Mary is gloriously assumed into heaven.
  5. Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth
    Mary is honored above all creatures.

Praying The Rosay

Opening Prayers

The Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
At the words that follow, up to and including ‘the Virgin Mary’, all bow.
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;
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 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.

Recite the Our Father on the first large bead..

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.

Recite a Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope and charity on
each of the three small beads.

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.

Recite the Glory Be to the Father on the next large bead.

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.

Recite the Fatima Prayer “O my Jesus” on the large bead.

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

For Each Decade

Announce the Mystery

Our Father….

10 Hail Marys

Glory be….

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

Closing Prayers

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! hail 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 vale 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.

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 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.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us. (repeat after each line)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary,
pray for us. (repeat after each line)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Mother of mercy,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honour,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God,
that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Memorare

Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that it is a thing unheard of,
that anyone ever had recourse to your protection, implored your help,
or sought your intercession, and was left forsaken.
Filled therefore with confidence in your goodness I fly to you, O Mother, Virgin of virgins.
To you I come, before you I stand, a sorrowful sinner.
Despise not my poor words, O Mother of the Word of God,
but graciously hear and grant my prayer. Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.