The Most Holy Rosary
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Begin at the Crucifix.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross.
2. Recite the Apostles' Creed.
3. On the first "Our Father" bead, say the Our Father.
4. On each "Hail Mary" bead, say the Hail Mary.
   These three Hail Marys ask for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love.
5. On the chain, say the Glory Be.
6. Begin the decades...
   1.   Announce the first mystery.
        While meditating on the mystery,
   2.   On the "Our Father" bead, say the Our Father.
   3.   On each of the ten "Hail Mary" beads, say the Hail Mary.
   4.   On the chain, say the Glory Be.

7. Announce the second mystery and repeat the process.
8. Announce the third mystery and repeat the process.
9. Announce the fourth mystery and repeat the process.
10. Announce the fifth mystery and repeat the process.
11. Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.

    That is really all there is to the Rosary. However, it is both customary and highly efficacious to add certain prayers to the Rosary, to wit:

• After the Sign of the Cross, recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be for the Pope's intentions. (This also gains a Plenary Indulgence under the right conditions).
• After each decade, say the following prayer:

      "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."

• At the end, pray the following prayers:
  1. The Hail Holy Queen
  2. The Rosary Prayer:

         O God, Whose only begotten Son by His Life, Death and Resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of everlasting life, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who meditate upon these mysteries in the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

  3. Invocations to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Mary and the Saints, thus:

     Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have Mercy on us.
     Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have Mercy on us.
     Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have Mercy on us.
     

     Refuge of Sinners*, pray for us.
     Refuge of Sinners, pray for us.
     Refuge of Sinners, pray for us.
     

     Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons**, pray for us.
     Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us.
     Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us.