The Rosary
The rosary itself is composed of 60 beads laced together with a crucifix and a pendant of Mary where the 3 strands meet. We divide the Rosary into 6 segments. The 1st segment is composed of the introductory prayers and that is followed by 5 decades.
The Sign of the Cross and The Apostles’ Creed
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 the God the Father Almighty; from there he will come again 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be
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.
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.
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.
Intentions
After the introductory prayers and before the mystery is announced the leader of the group may announce an intention for this particular decade. The intention may be a person by name, a group of persons, a prayer for peace and justice, or some other worthy cause, or a prayer for the deceased.
Next, the leader will announce the mystery, for example, "The first sorrowful mystery is the agony in the garden." All twenty mysteries of the Rosary will follow the same three-step pattern, scripture, reflection and personal experience.
Hail Holy Queen
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, O 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! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
