Most rosaries have 5 = decades along with a center piece, crucifix, and a small group of beads in-between. Some Catholic ros= aries even have all 15 or 20 decades (depending upon when it was made). Each decade represents a mystery and includes 1 Pater bead (Our Father) and 10 Ave beads (Hail Marys). The mysteries are stories taken fr= om the life of Christ which we meditate on in order to become closer to Him. There are now 4 sets of mysteries:= the Joyful, Luminous (recently added by Pope John Paul II), the Sorrowful, and the Glorious.

1. Start with the Crucifix. Make the Sign of the Cross followed by The Apostles’ Creed.

2. Move to the first Pater bead after the Crucifix (see P1 in diagram).&= nbsp; Say an Our Father followed by one Hail Mary for each of the next 3 A= ve beads. Then close with The Gl= ory Be and O My Jesus.

3. While meditating on the 1st mystery, take hold of the 2nd Pate= r bead (P2 in diagram) and say the Our Father. Then skip over the rosary center a= nd say one Hail Mary for each of the next 10 Ave beads. Then say the Glory Be and the O My= Jesus prayer.

4. While meditating on the 2nd mystery take hold of the 3^{rd<=
/sup>
Pater bead (}P3). Say one Our Father followed by one Hail Mary fore = each of the next 10 Ave beads, ending with the Glory Be and the O My Jesus praye= r.

5. While meditating on the 3rd mystery take hold of the 4^{th<=
/sup>
Pater bead (}P4). Say = the Our Father followed by one Hail Mary fore each of the next 10 Ave beads, en= ding with the Glory Be and the O My Jesus prayer.

6. While meditating on the 4th mystery take hold of the 5^{th<=
/sup>
Pater bead (}P5). Say = the Our Father followed by one Hail Mary fore each of the next 10 Ave beads, en= ding with the Glory Be and the O My Jesus prayer.

7. While meditating on the 5th mystery take hold of 6^th Pater bead (P6). Say the Our Father followed by one= Hail Mary fore each of the next 10 Ave beads, ending with the Glory Be and the O= My Jesus prayer.

8. While holding the center say the Closing Prayers and finish with the Sign of the Cross.

The Mysteries

Mondays and Satur= days we meditate on the Joyful Mysteries:

<= /span>

1st Decade: The Annunciation - The Angel Gabri= el tells Mary she is expecting (Luke 1:26-38)

2nd Decade:&n= bsp; The Visitation - Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)

3rd Decade:&n= bsp; The Birth of Jesus - Jesus is born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-21)

4th Decade:&n= bsp; The Presentation - Jesus is presented to Simeon in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)=

5th Decade:&n= bsp; Jesus in the Temple - After being lost for 3 days, Jesus is found in the temple (Luke 2:41-52)<= o:p>

Thursdays we medi= tate on the Luminous Mysteries:

<= /span>

1st Decade: Baptism of Christ - Jesus is bapti= zed by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-16)

2nd Decade:&n= bsp; The Wedding at Cana - Jesus turns= water to wine (John 2:1-11)

3rd Decade:&n= bsp; The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God - Jesus goes from town to town proclaiming God’s Kingdom and helping the poor (Mark 1:14-15)

4th Decade:&n= bsp; The Transfiguration - Jesus leads his friends up the mountain (Matth= ew 17:1-8)

5th Decade:&n= bsp; The Last Supper - the institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26)

Tuesdays and Frid= ays we meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries:

1st Decade: The Agony in the Garden - Jesus pr= ays in the Garden of Olives (Matthew 26:36-56)

2nd Decade:&n= bsp; The Scourging - Jesus is tied and beaten (Matthew 27:26)<= /span>

3rd Decade:&n= bsp; Jesus is crowned - a crown of thorns is placed on Jesus’ head (Matthew 27:27-31)

4th Decade:&n= bsp; Jesus carries his cross - Jesus is made to carry his cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)

5th Decade:&n= bsp; The Crucifixion - Jesus dies on the cross for our sins (Matthew 27:33-56)

Wednesdays and Su= ndays we meditate on the Glorious Mysteries:

<= /span>

1st Decade: The Resurrection - Jesus rises from the dead (John 20:1-29)

2nd Decade:&n= bsp; The Ascension - Jesus ascends into heaven 40 days after his death (L= uke 24:36-53)

3rd Decade:&n= bsp; Holy Spirit Descends - 10 days after Christ’s ascension, the H= oly Spirit visits Mary and the apostles (Acts 2:1-41)

4th Decade:&n= bsp; The Assumption - Mary dies and is assumed into heaven

5th Decade:&n= bsp; Mary’s Crowning - The Blessed Virgin is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth by her Son

Prayer List

Optional Opening Prayer: “= Queen of the Holy Rosary, you have deigned to come to Fatima<= /st1:place> to reveal to the three shepherd children the treasures of grace hidden in t= he Rosary. Inspire my heart with= a sincere love of this devotion, in order that by meditating on the Mysteries= of our Redemption which are recalled in it, I may be enriched with its fruits = and obtain peace for the world, the conversion of sinners and of Russia,= and the favor which I ask of you in this Rosary.&n= bsp; (Here mention your request). I ask it for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for t= he good of souls, especially for my own. Amen.”

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

The Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Je= sus 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; on the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascen= ded into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence = He will come again 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”

The 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”

The Hail Mary: “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.”

The Glory Be: “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.”

O My Jesus: “O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from= the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of= thy mercy. Amen”

Hail Holy Queen: “Hail Holy Queen, Mo= ther of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our hope. To thee we cry, poor banis= hed children of Eve. To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy towa= rd 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 worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen”

Closing Prayer: “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.

May the divine assist= ance remain always with us. Amen.

And may the souls of = the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen”

Optional Closing Prayer (My bro= ther says this one in order to give Satan an extra Whammy!!): “Saint Michael the Ark Angle defend = us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil, m= ay God rebuke him we humbly pray and do thou O prince of the heavenly host, through the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all his evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen”