Praying the Rosary

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary. Saint Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary.


The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.


The Mysteries of the Rosary


The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life.  There are four sets of Mysteries and within each set there are five different Mysteries.




  • Glorious Mysteries:  The five Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays.




The mysteries of the Rosary are based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgy.

Significance of the Rosary


The importance of the Rosary cannot be understated. The story of the Rosary begins in the year 1214 when the Holy Mother Church received the Rosary in its present form, was given to the Church by Saint Dominic, who had received it from the Blessed Mother during an apparition.


Since that beginning, the Rosary has blossomed and flourished worldwide. It has been credited with many healings, conversions, and other miracles of faith down through the succeeding years.

Time after time in apparitions to the faithful, the Blessed Mother has implored us to “Pray the Rosary.” 


The word “Rosary” traces its beginning to the Latin “rosarium” meaning “rose garden.” Like a beautiful garden, the Rosary is designed as a special space; a space in which we can pray and meditate on the life of Jesus Christ. Through the Rosary, we unite ourselves with Our Blessed Mother and Her Son through prayer each and every time we recite it.


The Rosary is important not only because it encompasses many important prayers in our faith tradition, it also invites us to meditate on the various events in salvation history and also to ask of God “How does this apply to my life?”

The Rosary Prayer at Saint Michael Parish

  • We at Saint Michael Parish pray the Rosary at approximately 9:30AM on the days that we have Weekday Mass.  Please join us.  All are welcome.
  • Our men of the Brazilian community pray the Rosary on Wednesdays at 8:00PM.  Please, review this schedule on our monthly  "Calendar" on our website.

The Hail Mary Prayer


The Hail Mary prayer came literally from heaven, as it was first pronounced for human ears by the Archangel Gabriel when he appeared to Our Lady to receive her consent to be the mother of our Savior.  DISCOVER MORE about The Annunciation of the Lord.


Along with the Lord’s Prayer, with which it is usually prayed, it comes not as a mere human composition but as a prayer composed by God for our help and instruction.

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 Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors."
-Pope Pius XI

Read these articles at Franciscan Media's website to learn more about the Rosary!

"With the Rosary, we allow ourselves to be guided by Mary, model of faith, in meditating on the mysteries of Christ, and day after day we are helped to assimilate the Gospel, so that it shapes all our lives."
-Pope Benedict XVI

How to Pray the Rosary?

Get this excellent guide on how to pray the Rosary

The Mysteries of Christ's Life in the Rosary

The Mysteries of Christ's life are reflected in the Rosary.  These Mysteries are revealed to us in Sacred Scripture.  VISIT the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website for detailed descriptions of the Mysteries of Christ Life through the prayer of the Rosary.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries

Praying the Rosary

Rosary Monday: Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary


The joyful mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays. They include:


  • The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:38)
  • Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:45)
  • The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem (Luke 2:7)
  • The Presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22)
  • The finding of the child Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:49)


Rosary Tuesday: Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary


The sorrowful mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays. They include:


  • Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44)
  • Jesus is scourged at the pillar (John 19:1)
  • Jesus is crowned with thorns (Mark 15:17)
  • Jesus carries the cross to Calvary (John 19:17)
  • Jesus dies for our sins (John 19:26-27)

Rosary Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary


The glorious mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays. They include:


  • Jesus rises from the dead (John 20:19)
  • Jesus ascends into heaven (Mark 16:19)
  • The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles (Acts of the Apostles 2:4)
  • Mary is assumed into heaven (Luke 1:48-49)
  • Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (2 Timothy 2:12)


Rosary Thursday: Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary


The luminous mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Thursdays. They include:


  • John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan (Matthew 3:17)
  • Jesus performs a miracle at a wedding in Cana (John 2:5)
  • Jesus proclaims the kingdom of God and calls us to conversion (Mark 1:15)
  • The transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:35)
  • Jesus gives the Eucharist (John 6:54)


Rosary Friday: Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary


The sorrowful mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays. They include:


  • Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44)
  • Jesus is scourged at the pillar (John 19:1)
  • Jesus is crowned with thorns (Mark 15:17)
  • Jesus carries the cross to Calvary (John 19:17)
  • Jesus dies for our sins (John 19:26-27)

Rosary Saturday: Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary


The joyful mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays. They include:


  • The annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lk 1:38)
  • Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:45)
  • The birth of Jesus at Bethlehem (Lk 2:7)
  • The presentation of Jesus in the temple (Lk 2:22)
  • The finding of the child Jesus in the temple (Lk 2:49)


Rosary Sunday: Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary


The glorious mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays. They include:


  • Jesus rises from the dead (John 20:19)
  • Jesus ascends into heaven (Mark 16:19)
  • The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles (Acts of the Apostles 2:4)
  • Mary is assumed into heaven (Luke 1:48-49)
  • Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (2 Timothy 2:12)

The Blessed Virgin Mary