Begin with a moment of stillness
Before beginning at once, take a moment to quiet your heart. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, rest in God’s presence, and then begin slowly.
ROSARY GUIDE
How to Pray the Rosary
There is no need to rush.
With Mary, continue your prayer peacefully, one decade at a time.
What Is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a cherished Catholic prayer in which we meditate on the life of Jesus Christ in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What matters most is gathering your heart in prayer, even for a few quiet moments each day.
How to Pray the Rosary
- Make the Sign of the Cross.
- Pray the Apostles’ Creed.
- Pray the Our Father.
- Pray three Hail Marys.
- Pray the Glory Be.
- Choose the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, or Glorious Mysteries and pray the five decades.
- Pray the Hail, Holy Queen.
- Conclude with the closing prayer provided in the app.
If You Are New to the Rosary
You do not need to memorize every step before you begin. With Mary guides you naturally through the order of the prayers, so you can give your attention to prayer itself.
PRAYING MORE DEEPLY
How to Pray the Rosary More Deeply
Perfect concentration is not the goal. What matters is gently returning your wandering heart to prayer.
While praying the Rosary, your thoughts may wander, it may be difficult to focus, or the prayer may sometimes feel tedious. St. Louis de Montfort encourages us not to abandon the Rosary in these moments. What matters is the faithfulness to return to the mystery and the prayer whenever distractions arise.
Pause before each mystery
Before each decade, pause and consider the mystery you are about to contemplate. Remain for a moment within that scene from the lives of Jesus and Mary.
Ask for the grace you need
As you contemplate the mystery, ask for the grace you need now. It may be a virtue in which you hope to grow, or a habit or difficulty you long to overcome.
Do not give up when distractions come
Do not be discouraged when other thoughts arise during prayer. Once you notice that your mind has wandered, quietly return to the mystery and the prayer.
Do not hurry to finish
How quickly you finish is not what matters. Attend to each phrase of the Our Father and Hail Mary, and pray slowly without rushing.
Begin again, even on difficult days
Some days prayer feels peaceful, and other days it does not. Even when it is hard to focus, there is value in holding on to the Rosary and returning to prayer.
WITH MARY
Remain with each bead, one decade at a time
With Mary is not an app for finishing the Rosary quickly. It was created to help you contemplate the mysteries of Jesus and Mary slowly and continue without losing the flow of prayer.
This guide draws on the teachings of St. Louis de Montfort and The Secret of the Rosary, as presented in issue 102 (2000) of Maria, and has been adapted by With Mary for clarity.
MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY
The Four Mysteries of the Rosary
Explore the meaning of each set of mysteries and its five decades.
Joyful Mysteries
Contemplate the birth and childhood of Jesus in the company of Mary.
Explore the mysteries →Luminous Mysteries
Contemplate Christ’s public ministry and the light of the Kingdom of God.
Explore the mysteries →Sorrowful Mysteries
Contemplate the Passion of Jesus and his journey to the Cross.
Explore the mysteries →Glorious Mysteries
Contemplate the Resurrection of Jesus and the glory of Mary.
Explore the mysteries →