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How to Pray the Rosary: Order of the Beads
Quick answer: Quick answer: To pray the Rosary: 1) Make the Sign of the Cross, 2) Pray the Apostles' Creed on the crucifix, 3) Our Father on the first bead, 4) Three Hail Marys (faith, hope, charity), 5) Glory Be, 6) Announce the first mystery, 7) Our Father, 8) Ten Hail Marys, 9) Glory Be, 10) Fatima Prayer — repeat for five mysteries, then conclude with Hail Holy Queen and the final prayer. This page includes a step-by-step guide with bead diagram, all mystery meditations, and a printable cheat sheet.
Follow the Catholic Rosary from the crucifix through five decades: the order of the prayers, what to do on each bead, and links to the complete Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.
Part of the Rosary prayer collection.
In brief
To pray the Rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayers, announce one set of mysteries, pray five decades while meditating on those mysteries, and close with the Hail Holy Queen or another customary conclusion. The beads keep your place; the purpose is to meditate on Christ's life, death, and resurrection with Mary.
The prayers
Use the complete text on the Rosary Prayers Text page. The basic sequence is:
- Sign of the Cross
- Apostles' Creed
- Our Father
- Three Hail Marys
- Glory Be
- Five decades: Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, and optional Fatima Prayer
- Hail Holy Queen and closing prayer
The physical map of a Rosary
- Crucifix: begin with the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.
- First large bead: pray the Our Father.
- Three small beads: pray three Hail Marys, traditionally offered for growth in faith, hope, and charity.
- Next joining point: pray the Glory Be.
- Five groups of ten small beads: each group is a decade. Announce one mystery, pray the Our Father on the large bead, ten Hail Marys on the small beads, and the Glory Be afterward.
- After each decade: many Catholics add the Fatima Prayer according to local custom.
The exact design of a Rosary can vary. Follow the bead sequence rather than relying only on how the chain looks.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1 - Begin at the crucifix
Make the Sign of the Cross. Pray the Apostles' Creed while holding the crucifix. This is a statement of the faith in which the Rosary is prayed.
Step 2 - Pray the first large bead
Move to the first large bead and pray the Our Father. Let the request for God's name, kingdom, will, daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance set the direction for the prayer.
Step 3 - Pray the three small beads
Pray one Hail Mary on each of the three small beads. You may offer them for growth in faith, hope, and charity, or simply pray them attentively.
Step 4 - Pray the Glory Be
At the next point in the chain, pray the Glory Be. This returns the prayer to praise of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Step 5 - Announce the first mystery
Before the first decade, name the first mystery and read a short Scripture passage or summary if helpful. The mystery is the subject of meditation while the Hail Marys are prayed.
Step 6 - Pray each decade
On the large bead, pray the Our Father. On each of the ten small beads, pray a Hail Mary while returning your attention to the mystery. After the tenth Hail Mary, pray the Glory Be and, if your custom includes it, the Fatima Prayer. Repeat for all five mysteries.
Step 7 - Close the Rosary
After the fifth decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen and a closing prayer according to your custom. Make the Sign of the Cross.
Which mysteries should I pray?
- Joyful Mysteries: traditionally Monday and Saturday; the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, and Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
- Sorrowful Mysteries: traditionally Tuesday and Friday; Christ's Passion and death.
- Glorious Mysteries: traditionally Wednesday and Sunday; the Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption, and Coronation.
- Luminous Mysteries: traditionally Thursday; key public events in Jesus' ministry, including his Baptism, Cana, proclamation of the Kingdom, Transfiguration, and institution of the Eucharist.
Local customs may vary. Use the Rosary Mysteries directory or choose a set that fits the day and your prayer.
What if I am new or distracted?
Start with one decade if five feel overwhelming. Hold the beads, read the mystery, and return gently when your attention wanders. You do not need to restart every time you lose focus. Families can pray slowly, and a person with limited mobility can use a smaller chaplet, fingers, or a printed sequence.
Is the Rosary vain repetition?
The Rosary is not intended to be empty repetition. Jesus warns against babbling in prayer in Matthew 6:7; the problem is speech without attention or trust. In the Rosary, repeated Hail Marys provide a steady rhythm while the mind returns to a Gospel mystery. The words are repeated so the mystery can be contemplated, not to manipulate God.
If the repetition becomes anxious or compulsive, shorten the prayer, speak with a trusted pastoral caregiver, and choose a peaceful form of prayer. A number of beads does not measure holiness.
A beginner's ten-minute start
- Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Creed.
- Announce one mystery.
- Pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
- Sit quietly for one minute with the Gospel scene.
- Continue to a full Rosary when the shorter practice feels stable.
Sources & Tradition
Frequently asked questions
How many Hail Marys are in a Rosary?
A standard five-decade Rosary includes three opening Hail Marys plus ten Hail Marys in each of five decades, for 53 Hail Marys in the common form. Local variations and chaplets can have different structures.
What do I pray on the large beads?
Pray the Our Father on the large beads: one opening large bead and one before each of the five decades.
What do I pray on the small beads?
Pray one Hail Mary on each small bead. The three opening beads are traditionally associated with faith, hope, and charity; the ten beads in each decade accompany meditation on one mystery.
Do I have to pray the entire Rosary at once?
No. You can pray one decade and continue later, or use a shorter form when circumstances require it. The full five-decade structure is a tradition, not a reason for fear or scrupulosity.
Is the Rosary a prayer to Mary instead of Jesus?
The Rosary asks Mary to pray with and for the person praying while the mysteries focus on Christ's life and saving work. Catholics distinguish honoring Mary from worship owed to God.