Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted while praying.

1. Begin by making the sign of the Cross, then recite the Apostles' Creed (some prefer to say the Nicene Creed) while meditating upon the crucifix.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He decended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

2. Then an Our Father ("The Lord's Prayer") while holding the first bead above the crucifix...

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.

3. Now three Hail Mary's (considering the virtues of love, hope and faith) on each of the next three beads....

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.

4. Then pray a 'Glory Be....'

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.
5. Now begins the first meditation. Sometimes these are referred to as the "mysteries of the rosary" or the "rosary mysteries". Different meditations are traditionally prayed on different days. Select the appropriate meditation, below, and fix the story or image in your mind. When starting it is helpful to review the stories in the Bible or in a Scriptural Rosary book.

The joyful mysteries of the rosary -- prayed on Mondays and Saturdays (and Sundays during the Advent/Christmas season) -- can all be located in the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke in the Bible. The joyful mysteries are:

* The angel's annunciation of Christ's coming
* Mary's visit to Elizabeth
* The birth of Christ
* Jesus' presentation in the temple as an infant, and
* Finding the boy Jesus in the temple.

The mysteries of light (also known as the luminous mysteries of the rosary), recommended in 2002 by Pope John Paul II and prayed on Thursdays, add five more meditations to the rosary related to Christ's life and teachings:

* Christ's baptism in the Jordan
* Christ's self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana
* Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and call to conversion
* Transfiguration, and
* The Last Supper and institution of the Eucharist.

The sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays (and Sundays of Lent), can be found in the last chapters of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The mysteries are:

* Christ's agony in the garden
* His scourging
* His being crowned with thorns
* Christ carrying the cross, and
* His crucifixion and death.

The glorious mysteries of the rosary, prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays (except as noted, above), can be found in the last chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the second chapter of the Book of Acts, and Revelation 12. They are:

* Christ's resurrection
* His ascension into heaven
* The sending of the Holy Spirit
* Mary's assumption into heaven, and
* Mary's coronation in heaven.

6. While contemplating the meditation pray one Our Father, ten Hail Mary prayers

7. Then a Glory Be. Repeat the pattern

8. Announce the second mystery of mediation and repeat steps 6 and 7; Our Father, ten Hail Mary's, Glory Be, with each mystery.

When finished meditating upon the mysteries, most people conclude the rosary with the Hail Holy Queen prayer:

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.