How to Pray the Rosary

1. To pray the rosary you should begin by using a Rosary.
2. A Rosary is a string of beads with a crucifix. A short string of five beads is attached to the crucifix which leads to a large circular strip of beads made of five sets of one large bead and ten smaller beads, called decades.
3. You begin on the crucifix with a Sign of the Cross and an Apostle's Creed. Say an Our Father on the large bead and one Hail Mary for each of the next three smaller beads.
4. On the next large bead, say a Glory be to the Father, announce and meditate on the first mystery and say an Our Father.
5. Say a Hail Mary for each of the following smaller beads, and end the decade with the Glory Be.

The Rosary

The Rosary is divided into five decades. Each decade represents a mystery or event in the life of Jesus. There are four sets of "Mysteries of the Rosary" (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious). These four "Mysteries of the Rosary" therefore contain, a total of twenty mysteries. The Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries are then said on specific days of the week. During private recitation of the Rosary, each decade requires devout meditation on a specific mystery.

The Apostle's Creed is said on the Crucifix; the Our Father is said on each of the Large Beads; the Hail Mary is said on each of the Small Beads; the Glory Be after the three Hail Mary's at the beginning of the Rosary, and after each decade of Small Beads.