Mysteries of the Rosary · Mysteria Gloriosa
The Glorious Mysteries
Christ's victory over death and what it promises us: the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Holy Spirit, and Mary taken up into heaven and crowned. These are the mysteries of Sunday and of hope.
Prayed on Wednesdays and SundaysThe five mysteries
Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays
First mystery · Glorious
The Resurrection
Resurrectio
Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid.
Matthew 28:5-6Fruit of the mysteryFaith
The empty tomb is not a beautiful idea but a fact that changed history. The women who came to weep run back to proclaim. Let us ask for a faith that is not frightened of death, because it knows who has conquered it.
Second mystery · Glorious
The Ascension
Ascensio
And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. (…) And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God.
Acts 1:9; Mark 16:19Fruit of the mysteryHope and longing for heaven
Jesus goes up to the Father taking our humanity with him: where the Head has gone, the body hopes to follow. The Ascension is not a farewell but a promise. Let us live with our feet on the ground and our hearts where he is.
Third mystery · Glorious
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Descensus Spiritus Sancti
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:2-4Fruit of the mysteryLove of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit comes down on the apostles gathered in prayer with Mary. Men who had been hiding go out into the streets to preach. Let us ask for the same fire: to pray better, to love more bravely, and not to be afraid to speak of God.
Fourth mystery · Glorious
The Assumption
Assumptio Beatae Mariae
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
Luke 1:48-49Fruit of the mysteryThe grace of a happy death
At the end of her earthly life Mary was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, as the Church defined in 1950. In her we see the destiny God prepares for those who belong to him. Let us ask her to be with us at the hour of our death.
Fifth mystery · Glorious
The Coronation of Our Lady
Coronatio Beatae Mariae
And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Apocalypse 12:1Fruit of the mysteryTrust in Mary's intercession
The handmaid of the Lord is crowned Queen, and hers is a mother's queenship: she reigns by interceding. All that God did in her began with a hidden yes in Nazareth. Let us entrust our needs to her, knowing that none is too small.
How to pray the Rosary
- Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed, holding the crucifix.
- On the first large bead pray one Our Father; on the three small beads, three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity); then the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery of the day and, if you wish, read the Scripture passage and the meditation.
- Pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys while contemplating the mystery, the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. That is one decade.
- Do the same for the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
- At the end, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and finish with the Sign of the Cross.
The prayers of the Rosary
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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 Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen. In Latin and English →
The other mysteries
Frequently asked questions
On which days are The Glorious Mysteries prayed?
The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays, following the pattern proposed by St John Paul II in Rosarium Virginis Mariae (no. 38). It is not binding: they may be prayed on any day.
When were the Luminous Mysteries added to the Rosary?
On 16 October 2002, when St John Paul II published the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae and proposed five mysteries from the public life of Jesus. Before then the Rosary had fifteen mysteries, with the Joyful Mysteries on Thursday and the Glorious on Saturday.
How many Hail Marys are in one set of mysteries?
Each set has five decades, and each decade is one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and the Glory Be. With the three Hail Marys at the beginning, one set is fifty-three Hail Marys. The whole Rosary is all four sets, twenty mysteries in all.
Image: Giotto, Pentecost (detail)