The following is a customary way of preparing for the rosary and concluding it.
I. Preparation:
►Start by making the sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
►Then recite the Apostle's 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 Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and 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 Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
►Then say 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys (for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity) and then 1 Glory Be:
►►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.
►►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 death. Amen.
►►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.
II. The Rosary Proper:
The Rosary is essentially the decades and their associated mysteries, and only these must be prayed to "pray the rosary", either in satisfaction of Our Lady's requests, or, to gain the indulgences attached to praying the rosary.
(mysteries are given later below)
While meditating on the Mysteries, recite:
►►One Our Father (large beads), 10 Hail Marys (small beads) and 1 Glory Be (before the next large bead) to make a complete decade of the rosary.
►After each decade the Fatima Prayer may also be said (Pope Pius XII).
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
►MYSTERIES:
For those who wish to say only 5 decades per day, the Holy Father proposed the following schedule:
►Joyful Mysteries (Monday, Saturday)
1.The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel "announces" to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.(Luke 1:26-38)
2.The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.(Luke 1:39-56)
3.The Nativity: Jesus is born.(Luke 2:1-21)
4.The Presentation: Mary and Joseph "present" Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.(Luke 2:22-38)
5.The Finding in the Temple: After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.(Luke 2:41-52)
►Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (The Mysteries of Light)
1.The Baptism in the Jordan: The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.(Matthew 3:13-16)
2.The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.(John 2:1-11)
3.The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him. (Mark 1:14-15)
4. The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ. (Matthew 17:1-8)
5.The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.(Mathew 26:26-30)
►Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday, Friday)
1.The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.(Matthew 26:36-56)
2.The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate has Jesus whipped.(Matthew 27:26)
3.The Crowning with Thorns: Roman soldiers crown Jesus' head with thorns.(Matthew 27:27-31)
4.The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.(Matthew 27:32)
5.The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.(Matthew 27:33-56)
►Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday, Sunday)
1.The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.(Mark 16:1-7)
2.The Ascension: Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily "ascends" to heaven.(Mark 16:14-20)
3.The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.(Acts 2:1-11)
4.The Assumption: Mary is taken bodily--assumed--into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.(Luke 1:41-50)
5.The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.(Rev 12:1)
III. Concluding Prayers:
►After the completion of five mysteries (5 decades), or 15 or 20, the following is customarily said:
Hail Holy Queen (or Salve Regina may be sung)
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 us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
(Verse) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
(Response) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Rosary Prayer
(Verse) Let us pray,
(Response) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
IV. For the Intentions of the Holy Father:
Catholics who say the rosary in a group, or, individually before the Blessed Sacrament,
may gain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, which includes prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
►For the intentions of the Holy Father.
Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
►In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
►"Continue to pray the Rosary every day."