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The Mysteries of the Rosary

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I posted this back in 2019 but felt I wanted to reshape it with y’all. It is just one of those posts that sometimes needs reshaping. As a Roman Catholic I pray the rosary every day. It is just something that we do. I can remember watching my grandparents sitting at their little table every morning saying their rosary while having their coffee. It took me years to be able to say it from memory like they could.  I thought I would share the Mysteries of the Rosary along with the days that you focus on each one. Try to focus on what you are praying about. Really place yourself in that situation before you begin. I find that helps me focus better. For example when I doing The Annunciation I really try to imagine how Mary felt.

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

  • The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel “announces” to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.
  • The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
  • The Nativity: Jesus is born.
  • The Presentation: Mary and Joseph “present” Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.
  • The Finding in the Temple: After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES (THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT)

  • The Baptism in the Jordan: The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.
  • The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.
  • The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him.
  • The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.
  • The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

  • The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.
  • The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate has Jesus whipped.
  • The Crowning with Thorns: Roman soldiers crown Jesus’ head with thorns.
  • The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.
  • The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

  • The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.
  • The Ascension: Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily “ascends” to heaven.
  • The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.
  • The Assumption: Mary is taken bodily–assumed–into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.
  • The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Mysteries for Certain Weekdays

Traditionally, many people say the Joyful Mysteries on Monday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday, and start again with the Joyful Mysteries on Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday. The Glorious Mysteries are then prayed on Saturday and Sunday. Now that the Luminous Mysteries have recently been added, the schedule is:

Monday – Joyful

Tuesday – Sorrowful

Wednesday – Glorious

Thursday – Luminous

Friday – Sorrowful

Saturday – Joyful

Sunday – Glorious

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. A friend of mine is Catholic & has a beautiful rosary. I have never seen one like it! She said it was passed down to her from her Great Grandmother that lived in England.

  2. I have an expensive one that a friend gave me but it’s beautiful. I hang it on the corner of my bedroom mirror. I didn’t know all that about rosaries. Thanks for sharing this.

  3. Very nice expounding on the meanings behind the rosary. I was taught very early in my life.

  4. Growing up Catholic I love how saying the rosary still gives me comfort and peace.

  5. I am not catholic and have always wondered what the rosary’s meant. Thank you so much for writing this post. I didn’t know it was prayers. Had no idea. Thank you.

  7. do u have to be Catholic to have a rosaries.to me it seem they have a closer relationship with god

    • No you do not. If you feel that you need a rosary then I would suggest you find one that you like. You don’t have to say the rosary as Catholics do. You could use it to simply help focus your prayers or bring you closer to God.