How to pray it
- Make the Sign of the Cross and, holding the crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
- On the first bead, say an Our Father.
- Say a Hail Mary on each of the next three beads, and then a Glory Be.
- Announce the mystery and say an Our Father.
- Say ten Hail Marys, one on each bead, while meditating on the mystery. At the end of the decade, say the Fatima Prayer and a Glory Be. Continue in the same way with the following decades.
- After the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen and the prayer to end the Rosary.
Sorrowful Mysteries
First Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:41-44
It is night in the Garden of Olives. Jesus kneels and prays in such great anguish that his sweat becomes like drops of blood. He feels fear, like any of us, but he places himself entirely in the Father's hands. When your own hard hour comes, remember this scene. You can tell God what you feel with complete honesty and ask him for strength to accept his will with trust.
Fruit: Acceptance of God's will
Second Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. John 19:1
Pilate knows that Jesus is innocent, yet he has him scourged to satisfy the crowd. Jesus receives the blows in silence, without answering with hatred. His wounded body shows us how far his love for us goes. Contemplate this suffering with reverence and gratitude. Ask for a clean heart, one that treats its own body and the bodies of others with dignity, and that never uses violence against anyone.
Fruit: Purity of heart
Third Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. John 19:2-3
The soldiers mock Jesus. They put a crown of thorns on his head and a scarlet cloak on his shoulders, and they hail him as king amid laughter and blows. He bears the humiliation patiently and in silence. His kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. When you feel despised or ridiculed for doing good, look at Jesus crowned with thorns and ask him for courage to remain faithful.
Fruit: Moral courage
Fourth Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: John 19:16-17
Jesus leaves the city carrying a heavy cross, weak and exhausted from the blows. On the way, a man named Simon is made to help him, and some women weep as they see him pass. We all carry some cross: an illness, a loss, a worry that will not go away. Carry it together with Jesus, patiently. And do not forget that you too can be a Simon for someone who is suffering.
Fruit: Patience
Fifth Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:44-46
On Calvary, Jesus is nailed to the cross between two thieves. From there he forgives those who crucify him, and his mother stands by his side. At the end, crying out with a loud voice, he commends his spirit into the Father's hands. Stay a moment in silence before the cross. This is how great God's love for you is. Ask him for a heart able to forgive and to love without measure.
Fruit: Forgiving love
All the prayers
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father (touch your forehead), and of the Son (touch your chest), and of the Holy (touch your left shoulder) Ghost (touch your right shoulder). Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
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 Ghost, 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, sitteth 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 Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
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.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail Mary
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen
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.
Prayer to End the Rosary
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 in 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.
Fixed prayers copied from public-domain Catholic texts: the pamphlet How to Say the Rosary (Philadelphia, 1937), Blessed Be God (1925) and Mary's Fatima Message (1955). Meditations are our own.