Throughout our long history, we Dominicans have a long and cherished tradition of promoting and praying what has also called the “Marian Psalter”. Originally, the rosary began as a way of praying all 150 Psalms by saying 150 Hail Mary’s, hence the term “Marian Psalter”. St. Dominic, while praying for an aid to assist in his preaching against heresy, was given a vision of Our Lady who gave him the rosary personally, and he and his Order began to promote it ever since. Dominicans are known for wearing huge rosaries on their side, which are to symbolize being a “sword” of sorts, only instead of being used for war, it is a means of contemplating God and growing closer to Him. Do you need a giant rosary or beads in order to pray it? Not at all! You can pray the rosary with just your fingers.

How to Pray the Rosary:

• Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Pray the “Our Father.”
• Pray three “Hail Mary’s”.
• Pray a “Glory Be”.
• Then begin praying through each of the Mysteries. The Mysteries are stories from the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of Mary. For each mystery, pray one “Our Father”, then ten “Hail Mary’s”, and end with a “Glory Be”.
  • The Joyous Mysteries (The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, and The Finding of Christ in the Temple). These are normally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays.The Sorrowful Mysteries (The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning of Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion of Our Lord). These are normally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
  • The Glorious Mysteries (The Resurrection of Our Lord, His Ascension into Heaven, The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles [Pentecost], The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven, and Her Crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth). These are normally prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
  • The Luminous Mysteries (The Baptism of Our Lord, His Miracle at the Wedding at Cana, The Parable of the Kingdom of God, His Transfiguration, and The Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist). These are normally prayed on Thursdays.
• After praying all five mysteries, recite the “Hail Holy Queen”.
• We recommend ending with the “Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel”.
• And you’re done!

For another guide on praying the Rosary, check out this page from our Dominican brothers in England here!