The Sign of the Cross
At the start and the end.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May and October, Mary’s months
The Rosary for families
In the Rosary we pray with Mary while we think about the life of Jesus. The beads help us count, so our hearts can rest on Jesus and His mother. The name comes from the Latin for a rose garden: each Hail Mary is like a rose for Mary. May is Mary’s month, and October is the month of the Holy Rosary, with the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October. Start small: one decade together is a beautiful family prayer.
How to pray the Rosary
- On the crucifixMake the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles’ Creed.
- On the first big beadPray the Our Father.
- On the next three small beadsPray three Hail Marys: for more faith, hope and love.
- Before the next big beadPray the Glory Be.
- On the big beadSay the first mystery (for example, “The first Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation”), then pray the Our Father.
- On the ten small beadsPray ten Hail Marys, thinking about the mystery. These ten are called a decade.
- After the tenth beadPray the Glory Be, then the Fatima prayer if you like.
- Four more timesPray the next four decades in the same way, one for each mystery.
- To finishPray the Hail, Holy Queen, and end with the Sign of the Cross.
The mysteries, day by day
Each decade has a “mystery”: a moment in the life of Jesus and Mary to think about. There are four sets of five, and each day has its own set.
The Joyful Mysteries
Mondays and Saturdays
- 1st: The AnnunciationThe angel Gabriel brings God’s message, and Mary says yes to being the mother of Jesus.Luke 1:26–38
- 2nd: The VisitationMary hurries to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and baby John leaps for joy.Luke 1:39–56
- 3rd: The NativityJesus is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.Luke 2:1–20
- 4th: The Presentation in the TempleMary and Joseph bring baby Jesus to the Temple to offer Him to God.Luke 2:22–38
- 5th: The Finding in the TempleMary and Joseph find the boy Jesus in the Temple, His Father’s house.Luke 2:41–52
The Luminous Mysteries
Thursdays
- 1st: The Baptism of JesusJesus is baptised in the River Jordan, and the Father calls Him His beloved Son.Matthew 3:13–17
- 2nd: The Wedding at CanaMary tells Jesus the wine has run out, and He turns water into wine.John 2:1–11
- 3rd: The Proclamation of the KingdomJesus tells everyone the good news that God’s kingdom is near.Mark 1:14–15
- 4th: The TransfigurationOn a mountain, Jesus shines like the sun, and His friends see His glory.Matthew 17:1–8
- 5th: The Institution of the EucharistAt the Last Supper, Jesus gives us Himself, His Body and Blood, in the Holy Eucharist.Luke 22:14–20
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesdays and Fridays
- 1st: The Agony in the GardenJesus prays to His Father in the garden, and trusts Him even when it is very hard.Luke 22:39–46
- 2nd: The Scourging at the PillarJesus is hurt by the soldiers, and He bears it patiently because He loves us.John 19:1
- 3rd: The Crowning with ThornsThe soldiers make fun of Jesus with a crown of thorns, but He is truly our King.Matthew 27:27–31
- 4th: The Carrying of the CrossJesus carries His heavy cross, and Simon helps Him.Luke 23:26–32
- 5th: The CrucifixionJesus forgives, and gives His life for us on the cross.Luke 23:33–46
The Glorious Mysteries
Wednesdays and Sundays
- 1st: The ResurrectionOn Easter morning the tomb is empty: Jesus is risen!Matthew 28:1–10
- 2nd: The AscensionJesus goes up to His Father in heaven, and the angels say He will come again.Acts 1:6–11
- 3rd: The Descent of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit comes to Mary and the apostles like wind and fire, and fills them with courage.Acts 2:1–4
- 4th: The Assumption of MaryAt the end of her life on earth, God takes Mary, body and soul, into heaven.Luke 1:48–49
- 5th: The Coronation of MaryMary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth, and she prays for us always.Revelation 12:1
The Assumption and the Coronation of Mary come to us from the Church’s tradition and teaching; the verses shown are ones the Church reads with them. Some families pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent.
Pray a decade together
Tap each bead as you pray (or tap the button). It shows which prayer comes next and remembers where you are, quietly, on this device.
Next
The prayers of the Rosary
The Apostles’ Creed
On the crucifix.
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.
The Our Father
On each big 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. Amen.
The Hail Mary
On each small bead.
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 Glory Be
After each ten Hail Marys.
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.
The Fatima prayer
Optional, after each Glory Be. Our Lady taught it to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen
At the end of the Rosary.
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.
Colour your own rosary
A rosary to colour (A4)Five decades, the big and small beads and a simple crucifix, with a key to what we pray on each. Colour each decade a different colour, then pray along it with your finger.May crowning at home
In May, many parishes crown a statue of Mary with flowers, to honour her as Queen of Heaven and our Mother. We do not worship Mary: we honour her because she is the mother of Jesus and our mother too, and she always leads us to Him. You can crown Mary at home on any day in May (31 May, the feast of the Visitation, is a lovely choice), or in October.
First, a little home altar
- A small placeA shelf, a corner of a table or a windowsill, where little ones can see it and reach it.
- A clean clothWhite, or blue, the colour often used for Mary.
- Jesus firstA crucifix in the middle or just above, because Mary always leads us to her Son.
- MaryA statue or a picture of Mary. A holy card or a picture printed at home is fine.
- FlowersFresh flowers from the garden or the market (jasmine, ixora, bougainvillea), or paper flowers made by the children.
- A lightA candle lit only by a grown-up, or a battery tea light the children can switch on at prayer time.
- For prayingA children’s Bible and the family’s rosaries, or the rosary you coloured in.
The crowning
- Make a crown. Twist a pipe cleaner or soft garden wire into a ring the size of the statue’s head, and tuck small flowers into it. For a picture, lay a ring of flowers around the frame instead.
- Walk together. Each child carries a flower and walks round the home to the altar, singing a hymn such as “Immaculate Mary” or “Bring Flowers of the Rarest”, or singing the Hail Mary.
- Crown Mary. The youngest child (with a grown-up’s help) places the crown on the statue, and the others lay their flowers beside it.
- Pray. Everyone says the Hail Mary together, then the prayer of consecration below.
- Stay a while. If little ones are still keen, pray one decade of the Rosary. Then have something nice to eat together!
A prayer of consecration to Mary
The traditional children’s prayer:
O my Queen, O my Mother, I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession. Amen.
For little ones (ages 3–5): Mary, my Mother, I give you my heart. Help me to love Jesus as you do. Amen.