The Mysteries of the Rosary
Each decade of the rosary is prayed while thinking about a moment from the life of Jesus and Mary, called a mystery. There are twenty mysteries, grouped into four sets of five. You pray one set each time you say the rosary.
| Day | Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Monday | Joyful |
| Tuesday | Sorrowful |
| Wednesday | Glorious |
| Thursday | Luminous |
| Friday | Sorrowful |
| Saturday | Joyful |
| Sunday | Glorious |
Some people also pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent.
The Joyful Mysteries
Monday and Saturday. The coming of Jesus: from the angel's message to Mary, to the finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple.
The AnnunciationFruit: Humility · Luke 1:38
The VisitationFruit: Love of neighbour · Luke 1:42
The NativityFruit: Poverty of spirit · Luke 2:7
The Presentation in the TempleFruit: Obedience · Luke 2:30
The Finding in the TempleFruit: Joy in finding Jesus · Luke 2:49
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesday and Friday. The Passion of Jesus: from his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane to his death on the cross.
The Agony in the GardenFruit: Sorrow for sin · Luke 22:42
The Scourging at the PillarFruit: Purity · John 19:1
The Crowning with ThornsFruit: Courage · John 19:2
The Carrying of the CrossFruit: Patience · John 19:17
The CrucifixionFruit: Perseverance · Luke 23:46
The Glorious Mysteries
Wednesday and Sunday. The victory of Jesus: from the Resurrection to Mary crowned as Queen of Heaven.
The ResurrectionFruit: Faith · Luke 24:5-6
The AscensionFruit: Hope · Mark 16:19
The Descent of the Holy SpiritFruit: Love of God · Acts 2:4
The Assumption of MaryFruit: A holy death · Luke 1:48
The Coronation of MaryFruit: Trust in Mary · Apocalypse 12:1
The Luminous Mysteries
Thursday. The public life of Jesus: from his baptism in the Jordan to the gift of the Eucharist.
The Baptism in the JordanFruit: Openness to the Holy Spirit · Matthew 3:17
The Wedding at CanaFruit: To Jesus through Mary · John 2:5
The Proclamation of the KingdomFruit: Conversion · Mark 1:15
The TransfigurationFruit: Desire for holiness · Matthew 17:2
The Institution of the EucharistFruit: Adoration · Matthew 26:26
Where the Luminous Mysteries came from
For centuries the rosary had fifteen mysteries. In 2002 Pope John Paul II added the five Luminous Mysteries, the "mysteries of light", so that the rosary would also include the public life of Jesus, from his baptism to the Last Supper. Praying them is encouraged but optional.