Full prayers and meditations for each of the five mysteries, with scripture references.
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary invite us to contemplate the early events in the lives of Jesus and Mary — from the moment of the Annunciation through to the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. These mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, and they bear a particular richness for those who seek to grow in the virtues of humility, charity, obedience, and perseverance in seeking God.
The complete Rosary consists of five decades. Each decade begins with the Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery, then the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. Begin the entire Rosary with the Opening Prayers and conclude with the Hail Holy Queen.
Our free interactive tool guides you step-by-step through every prayer. No account needed.
✦ Open the Interactive RosaryScripture quoted from the Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), in the public domain.
The Angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and announces that she will conceive and bear the Son of God. Mary responds with the perfect act of faith and surrender: "Let it be done to me according to your word." This mystery invites us to grow in humility and total trust in God's will for our lives.
“And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”— Luke 1:28
“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee.”— Luke 1:35
“And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.”— Luke 1:38
Read one verse aloud before the 1st, 4th and 7th Hail Mary, then let it stay with you through the decade.
Pray 10 Hail Marys while meditating on this mystery:
Mary, carrying the Christ Child in her womb, travels in haste to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judah. At Mary's greeting, the infant John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out: "Blessed are you among women!" This mystery teaches us the virtue of charity and prompt service to others.
“And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”— Luke 1:42
“And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.”— Luke 1:45
“And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”— Luke 1:46–47
Read one verse aloud before the 1st, 4th and 7th Hail Mary, then let it stay with you through the decade.
Pray 10 Hail Marys while meditating on this mystery:
Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, is born in a humble stable in Bethlehem because there is no room at the inn. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Angels announce His birth to poor shepherds in the fields. This profound mystery of divine poverty calls us to simplicity and wonder before the mystery of the Incarnation.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”— Luke 2:7
“For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.”— Luke 2:11
“Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.”— Luke 2:14
Read one verse aloud before the 1st, 4th and 7th Hail Mary, then let it stay with you through the decade.
Pray 10 Hail Marys while meditating on this mystery:
In accordance with the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph bring the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after His birth. The holy man Simeon, who had been promised he would see the Messiah before his death, takes the Child in his arms and prays: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace." This mystery teaches obedience to God's law and the spirit of offering everything to Him.
“Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation.”— Luke 2:29–30
“A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”— Luke 2:32
“And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.”— Luke 2:35
Read one verse aloud before the 1st, 4th and 7th Hail Mary, then let it stay with you through the decade.
Pray 10 Hail Marys while meditating on this mystery:
When Jesus is twelve years old, he remains behind in Jerusalem after the Passover feast without his parents knowing. After three days of anguished searching, Mary and Joseph find Him in the Temple, seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. He speaks His first recorded words: "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" This mystery teaches us perseverance in seeking God above all else.
“And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business?”— Luke 2:49
“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.”— Luke 2:51
“And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.”— Luke 2:52
Read one verse aloud before the 1st, 4th and 7th Hail Mary, then let it stay with you through the decade.
Pray 10 Hail Marys while meditating on this mystery:
Each mystery of the Rosary is traditionally associated with a particular virtue to cultivate through meditation:
The Holy Rosary has four sets of mysteries, each prayed on specific days of the week:
Our free interactive rosary tool guides you step by step through every prayer, with the full text displayed on screen. Available in English and Spanish, with no account required.
Our interactive tool guides you step-by-step through all five the joyful mysteries with the full text of every prayer.
✦ Pray the Mon & Sat Rosary