← How to Pray
Tuesdays and Fridays

Sorrowful
Mysteries

How to Pray / Sorrowful

Full rosary recitation coming soonA recitation of this set will live here.

A friar in a white and brown habit prays with folded hands beneath a crucifix.
Begin

Opening

Sign of the Cross · Apostles’ Creed · Our Father · Three Hail Marys · Glory Be

Show prayersHide prayers
A friar in a white and brown habit prays with folded hands beneath a crucifix.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The risen Jesus in white and gold robes stands among the apostles, hands open, beneath a glowing sky.
Apostles’ Creed
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Three Hail Marys (for Faith, Hope, and Charity)

For an increase in Faith

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.

For an increase in Hope

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.

For an increase in Charity

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.
The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The five mysteries

All five decades follow in order on this page. Tap a mystery to open its prayers, or use the numbers above to jump.

The Agony in the Garden — Jesus kneels in prayer beneath a shaft of light while the apostles sleep
First Sorrowful Mystery

The Agony in the Garden

Fruit: Sorrow for Sin / Conformity to God’s Will

(Luke 22:42) “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

Pray this decadeHide prayers
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Ten Hail Marys
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.

(Repeat ten times)

The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus in white and gold robes opens his hands in mercy, with his Sacred Heart glowing beside him.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
The Scourging at the Pillar — Jesus bound with rope to a stone pillar
Second Sorrowful Mystery

The Scourging at the Pillar

Fruit: Purity / Mortification

(John 19:1) “Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.”

Pray this decadeHide prayers
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Ten Hail Marys
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.

(Repeat ten times)

The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus in white and gold robes opens his hands in mercy, with his Sacred Heart glowing beside him.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
The Crowning with Thorns — Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and a red cloak
Third Sorrowful Mystery

The Crowning with Thorns

Fruit: Courage / Contempt of the World

(Matthew 27:29) “And plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’”

Pray this decadeHide prayers
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Ten Hail Marys
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.

(Repeat ten times)

The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus in white and gold robes opens his hands in mercy, with his Sacred Heart glowing beside him.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
The Carrying of the Cross — Jesus bears the cross along a stone street as Mary follows
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery

The Carrying of the Cross

Fruit: Patience

(John 19:17) “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.”

Pray this decadeHide prayers
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Ten Hail Marys
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.

(Repeat ten times)

The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus in white and gold robes opens his hands in mercy, with his Sacred Heart glowing beside him.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
The Crucifixion — Jesus on the cross with Mary and John standing beneath
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

The Crucifixion

Fruit: Perseverance / Salvation

(Luke 23:46) “Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.”

Pray this decadeHide prayers
God the Father in white and gold robes opens his arms above the clouds, light streaming down on disciples below.
Our Father
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.
Mary, veiled in white and gold, prays with folded hands beneath a golden halo.
Ten Hail Marys
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.

(Repeat ten times)

The Holy Trinity shown as three radiant lights joined by beams of glory above a white dove in golden clouds.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus in white and gold robes opens his hands in mercy, with his Sacred Heart glowing beside him.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Crowned Mary in white and gold stands on a golden globe among clouds, surrounded by angels holding lilies.
After the fifth decade

Closing

Hail Holy Queen · Final Prayer · St. Michael Prayer · Sign of the Cross

Show prayersHide prayers
Crowned Mary in white and gold stands on a golden globe among clouds, surrounded by angels holding lilies.
Hail Holy Queen
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.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The risen Jesus in white and gold robes stands among the apostles, hands open, beneath a glowing sky.
Final Prayer

Let us pray.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Michael the Archangel in white and gold armor, sword in hand, stands over a defeated dragon.
St. Michael Prayer (optional but traditional)
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
A friar in a white and brown habit prays with folded hands beneath a crucifix.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.