Prayers
The mysteries of the rosary
A mystery is a scene from the life of Christ and his mother, held in mind for the length of one decade. There are twenty, in four sets of five, and one set is prayed at a time.
Before the list
The days below are the arrangement in use since 2002, when the Luminous Mysteries were proposed by John Paul II. Anyone who learned three sets rather than four learned correctly: before then the Joyful were prayed on Monday and Thursday and the Glorious on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Both arrangements are still kept, and neither is a mistake. The beads do not change either way.
Each mystery carries a chapter and verse so you can open your own Bible at it. Two of them do not have one in the ordinary sense: Scripture does not narrate the Assumption or the Coronation directly, and what is given beside those is the text the Church has always read alongside them.
The Joyful Mysteries
Monday and Saturday
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The Annunciation
The angel Gabriel comes to Mary, and she answers yes.
Luke 1:26-38
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The Visitation
Mary goes to her cousin Elizabeth, who greets her as blessed among women.
Luke 1:39-56
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The Nativity
Christ is born at Bethlehem and laid in a manger.
Luke 2:1-20
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The Presentation in the Temple
The child is presented in the Temple, and Simeon takes him in his arms.
Luke 2:22-38
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The Finding in the Temple
After three days the child is found among the teachers.
Luke 2:41-52
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesday and Friday
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The Agony in the Garden
In Gethsemane he prays alone, and his sweat falls like drops of blood.
Matthew 26:36-46
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The Scourging at the Pillar
He is bound to the pillar and scourged.
John 19:1
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The Crowning with Thorns
The soldiers plait a crown of thorns and mock him as a king.
Matthew 27:27-31
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The Carrying of the Cross
He carries the cross out to the place called Calvary.
John 19:16-17
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The Crucifixion
He is crucified between two thieves, and gives up his spirit.
Luke 23:33-46
The Glorious Mysteries
Wednesday and Sunday
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The Resurrection
On the third day the tomb is empty and Christ is risen.
Mark 16:1-7
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The Ascension
He is taken up, and a cloud receives him out of their sight.
Acts 1:6-11
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The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit comes upon the apostles as tongues of fire.
Acts 2:1-4
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The Assumption
Mary is taken up, body and soul, into heaven.
Luke 1:46-49
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The Coronation
Mary is crowned Queen of heaven and earth.
Apocalypse 12:1
The Luminous Mysteries
Thursday
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The Baptism in the Jordan
The heavens open, and the Father names him his beloved Son.
Matthew 3:13-17
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The Wedding at Cana
At his mother’s word he turns water into wine.
John 2:1-11
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The Proclamation of the Kingdom
He preaches the kingdom of God and calls for conversion.
Mark 1:14-15
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The Transfiguration
On the mountain his face shines as the sun.
Matthew 17:1-8
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The Institution of the Eucharist
At supper he takes bread, blesses it, and gives it to them.
Matthew 26:26-28
The rest of it
The prayers themselves, in full, and how the beads carry them are on the main prayers page.