Pray Today's Set
Automatically picks today’s mystery set based on weekday tradition.
Rosary Intro and Opening Prayers
The Rosary opens with the Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys for faith, hope, and charity, and the Glory Be. This page starts you with those opening prayers, then walks you through all five mysteries of the set you choose - or today's set, picked for you by the weekday tradition - with the prayers read along automatically.
Choose How To Begin
Choose A Set
Select one full 5-mystery set and begin from its first mystery.
Opening and Ending Prayers In This Flow
- Intro stage: Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
- Each decade: Our Father, Hail Mary beads, Glory Be
- Fatima prayer after each decade (with the decade closing prayers)
- End stage: Hail Holy Queen + Concluding Rosary Prayer
The Opening Prayers, Step by Step
Every Rosary begins the same way. You mark yourself with the Sign of the Cross, then say the Apostles' Creed - the short statement of what Christians believe. One Our Father follows, then three Hail Marys offered for faith, hope, and charity, and the Glory Be. Only then does the first decade begin.
Each decade keeps the same shape: the mystery is announced, one Our Father, ten Hail Marys prayed slowly with the mystery in mind, and the Glory Be. The Fatima prayer closes each decade. When the fifth decade ends, the Rosary closes with the Hail Holy Queen and the concluding Rosary prayer.
- Opening: Sign of the Cross, Apostles' Creed, Our Father, three Hail Marys, Glory Be.
- Each decade: the mystery, Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima prayer.
- Close: Hail Holy Queen and the concluding Rosary prayer.
- The recommended mode picks today's mystery set by the weekday tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prayers open the Rosary?
The Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed, then one Our Father, three Hail Marys offered for faith, hope, and charity, and the Glory Be. After these opening prayers the first decade begins.
Why three Hail Marys at the start?
They are offered for the virtues of faith, hope, and charity - a way of asking Mary to help you pray the mysteries well before the first decade begins.
What is the Fatima prayer?
A short prayer said after each decade: "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."
How does this page choose today's mysteries?
By the weekday tradition: the Joyful mysteries on Monday and Saturday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, the Luminous on Thursday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday.