How To Pray The Rosary: instructions on saying the rosary & details of each rosary prayer.

Preparatory Prayer
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant we beseech you, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 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 sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

0. Say "Preparatory Prayer" (optional prayer)
1. (holding crucifix) Make the Sign of the Cross and say "Apostles Creed"
2. Say the "Our Father".
3. Say the "Hail Mary"
4. Say the "Hail Mary".
5. Say the "Hail Mary".
6 (holding chain). Say the "Glory be to the Father".
7. Announce first rosary mystery, then say the "Our Father".
8. Say ten "Hail Marys" while meditating on the rosary mystery.
9. Say the "Glory be to the Father".
10. Say the "Fatima Prayer". (optional prayer)
11. Announce the second rosary mystery, then say the "Our Father".
Repeat 8, 9, 10, then announce the third rosary mystery, following with an "Our Father." Do the fouth and fifth mysteries the same way.
12. After the last "Glory Be" & "Fatima Prayer" following the 5th decade, then say the "Hail, Holy Queen".

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, 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.

Our Father
Our Father, Who are 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 to the Father
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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. (Our Lady of Fatima asked that this prayer be said after the "Glory Be to the Father," following each decade of the Rosary.)

This is a brief overview of how to pray the rosary. For a comprehensive instruction, complete with detailed meditations, go to the How To Pray The Rosary home page and follow the Online Rosary, clicking on today's date, and praying that set of Rosary Mysteries. Rosary diagram: