What Are the Mysteries of the Rosary?

The mysteries of the Rosary are twenty events from the lives of Jesus and Mary. You think about one event during each decade, which is a set of ten Hail Marys. They are divided into four sets of five: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious.

Why the Rosary has mysteries

The words of the Rosary are simple and repeated. The mysteries give the mind something to hold. While your lips pray the Hail Mary, you picture a scene from the Gospels and ask what it means for your own life.

Pope John Paul II described the Rosary as a prayer that walks through the life of Christ with Mary. The mysteries are the stops along that walk.

The four sets of mysteries

Joyful Mysteries. The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. These cover the infancy of Jesus. Pray the Joyful Mysteries.

Luminous Mysteries. The Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. These cover his public ministry. Pray the Luminous Mysteries.

Sorrowful Mysteries. The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion. Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Glorious Mysteries. The Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary. Pray the Glorious Mysteries.

Which mysteries to pray each day

Many Catholics follow this weekly pattern:

• Monday and Saturday: Joyful
• Tuesday and Friday: Sorrowful
• Wednesday and Sunday: Glorious
• Thursday: Luminous

Some people pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent. The pattern is a guide. The Church does not require it. You can see today’s set on our Rosary today page, or open a day directly, such as Monday or Thursday.

How to meditate on a mystery

You do not need to be an expert. Try these steps for each decade:

1. Name the mystery out loud.
2. Read a short Gospel passage, or recall the scene.
3. Pray the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and the Glory Be.
4. Ask for the fruit of that mystery, such as humility at the Nativity or courage at the Carrying of the Cross.

If your mind wanders, return to the scene gently. That return is part of the prayer.

Where to start

If you are new, begin with one set and one decade. Our guide on how to pray the Rosary walks through the beads step by step. Learn the Hail Mary first, since you will say it fifty times in a full Rosary.