Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (detail)

Mysteries of the Rosary · Mysteria Gaudiosa

The Joyful Mysteries

The childhood of Jesus seen through Mary's eyes: the angel's message, the visit to Elizabeth, the manger, the Temple. These are the mysteries of the joy that comes from God making himself small.

Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

The five mysteries

Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

  1. First mystery · Joyful

    The Annunciation

    Annuntiatio

    Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. (…) And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.

    Luke 1:30-31, 38

    Fruit of the mysteryHumility

    God does not force his way into history: he asks the consent of a young woman in Nazareth. Mary's yes does not know all that is coming, but it trusts the One who speaks. Let us ask for the grace to give the same yes in the small things God asks of us each day.

  2. Second mystery · Joyful

    The Visitation

    Visitatio

    And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

    Luke 1:41-42

    Fruit of the mysteryLove of neighbour

    Carrying Jesus within her, Mary does not stay at home: she hurries to serve her elderly cousin. Whoever receives Christ goes out of himself. May our prayer always end in some concrete service to someone.

  3. Third mystery · Joyful

    The Nativity

    Nativitas Domini

    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

    Luke 2:7

    Fruit of the mysteryPoverty of spirit

    The Son of God is born where no one would make room. The manger teaches that God does not need our riches, only a heart with space for him. Let us ask not to fill our lives with so much that no room is left for Jesus.

  4. Fourth mystery · Joyful

    The Presentation in the Temple

    Praesentatio in Templo

    And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. (…) And thy own soul a sword shall pierce.

    Luke 2:22, 35

    Fruit of the mysteryObedience

    Mary and Joseph keep the Law simply, without thinking themselves exempt because of who they are. In the midst of joy, Simeon foretells the sword. Let us offer God our children, our plans and our sorrows, as things that already belong to him.

  5. Fifth mystery · Joyful

    The Finding in the Temple

    Inventio in Templo

    And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. (…) And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business?

    Luke 2:46, 49

    Fruit of the mysteryPiety and zeal for the things of God

    Even Mary and Joseph spent three days not knowing where Jesus was. We too sometimes lose sight of him, and the anguish of searching is already love. Let us ask for the grace to keep seeking him, and to find him where he always is: about his Father's business.

How to pray the Rosary

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed, holding the crucifix.
  2. 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.
  3. Announce the first mystery of the day and, if you wish, read the Scripture passage and the meditation.
  4. Pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys while contemplating the mystery, the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. That is one decade.
  5. Do the same for the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
  6. At the end, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and finish with the Sign of the Cross.

The Holy Rosary step by step, in Latin and English →

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

The Rosary mysteries for today →

Frequently asked questions

On which days are The Joyful Mysteries prayed?

The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, 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: Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (detail)

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