Every prayer of the Rosary, with its meaning and its place in the devotion.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A profession of faith in the Holy Trinity and a reminder of our Baptism. It marks the beginning and the end of prayer, offering everything between to God.
Prayed at the very beginning, holding the crucifix, and again at the very end of the Rosary.
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; 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.
An ancient summary of the Christian faith. Before meditating on the mysteries, we first declare what we believe.
Prayed on the crucifix, after the Sign of the Cross.
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 prayer Jesus himself taught his disciples (Matthew 6:9–13). It places us before God as beloved children who trust him for everything.
Prayed on every large bead: once after the Creed, and once at the start of each of the five decades.
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.
The first half joins the greeting of the Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28) with the words of Elizabeth (Luke 1:42). The second half asks Our Lady's intercession now and at the end of our lives.
Prayed on every small bead — three at the beginning and ten in each decade, fifty-three in a full Rosary.
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.
A short hymn of praise (doxology) that turns every decade back toward the Trinity, the source and goal of all prayer.
Prayed at the end of the three introductory Hail Marys and at the end of each decade.
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 thy mercy. Amen.
Given by Our Lady to the children of Fátima in 1917. It is an optional but widely loved prayer of intercession for all souls.
Prayed after the Glory Be at the end of each decade.
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. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
An eleventh-century antiphon that entrusts our whole earthly pilgrimage to the mercy of Christ through his Mother.
Prayed after the fifth decade, as the Rosary draws to a close.
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.
A final petition asking that the mysteries we have contemplated bear fruit in the way we actually live.
Prayed after the Hail Holy Queen, before the final Sign of the Cross.