October the Month of the Rosary
October is called the Month of the Rosary because Catholics are especially encouraged during this month to pray the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII formally dedicated October to this devotion in 1883.
The Rosary is a way of praying while remembering key moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. As you repeat familiar prayers, you think about these events—such as Jesus’ birth, his suffering and death, and his Resurrection. The prayers help keep your attention on Jesus; Mary is asked to pray for us and lead us closer to him.
You don’t have to pray it perfectly or all at once. You can pray a decade—a small section of the Rosary—or join your family or parish. October is simply a special opportunity to slow down, reflect on Jesus’ life, and ask Mary’s help in following him.
The Rosary is a way of praying that helps you think about the life of Jesus with Mary. It uses familiar prayers—especially the Our Father and Hail Mary—while you reflect on important events in Jesus’ life, called the mysteries. The Rosary is Marian in style, but its focus is Christ.
A usual Rosary has five sections called decades. Each decade begins with an Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys, and ends with a Glory Be. During those prayers, you keep one event from Jesus’ life in mind. The beads help you keep your place; they are not magical.
So, in simple terms: the Rosary is prayer with repeated words and a Scripture-inspired scene to think about. If your mind wanders, gently return to the mystery. The point is not to rush through the prayers, but to spend time with Jesus and ask Mary to pray with you.
How to Pray the Rosary:
The Rosary is a prayer in which you repeat familiar prayers while thinking about important moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. You can use rosary beads to keep your place, but you don’t need beads.
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
On the crucifix, pray the Apostles’ Creed.
On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
On the next three small beads, pray three Hail Marys.
Pray the Glory Be.
Announce the first mystery and briefly reflect on it. Pray the Our Father on the next large bead.
On the next ten small beads, pray ten Hail Marys, thinking about that mystery.
Pray the Glory Be. Then announce the next mystery and repeat the same pattern: Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Continue until you have prayed all five mysteries.
Finish with the Hail, Holy Queen and the closing prayer below, then make the Sign of the Cross.
You say the Hail Mary once for each of the ten small beads in a group.
The mysteries are scenes from Jesus’ and Mary’s lives to reflect on during those ten prayers.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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.
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.
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.
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.
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins;
save us from the fires
of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need of Thy mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this 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.
Almighty and everlasting God, Who by the working of the Holy Spirit didst prepare both body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother, Mary, that she might deserve to be made a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, grant that we who rejoice in her memory, may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and from lasting death, through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Closing prayer
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.
The Rosary has four sets of mysteries, each inviting you to reflect on events in Jesus’ life. Here are Bible passages you can read for each one. The Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries are the traditional sets; the Luminous Mysteries focus on Jesus’ public ministry.
The Annunciation — Gabriel tells Mary she will be the mother of Jesus: Luke 1:26–38
The Visitation — Mary visits Elizabeth: Luke 1:39–56
The Nativity — Jesus is born in Bethlehem: Luke 2:1–20
The Presentation — Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple: Luke 2:22–38
The Finding in the Temple — Mary and Joseph find Jesus among the teachers: Luke 2:41–52
The Agony in the Garden — Jesus prays before his arrest: Luke 22:39–46
The Scourging at the Pillar — Jesus is whipped: John 19:1
The Crowning with Thorns — The soldiers mock Jesus: Matthew 27:27–31
The Carrying of the Cross — Jesus carries his cross: Luke 23:26
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus — Luke 23:33–46
The Resurrection — Jesus rises from the dead: Luke 24:1–12
The Ascension — Jesus returns to the Father: Acts 1:6–11
The Descent of the Holy Spirit — The Spirit comes upon the disciples: Acts 2:1–4
The Assumption of Mary — The Church’s belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory. The Bible does not narrate this event directly; Revelation 12:1 is sometimes read as an image related to Mary.
The Coronation of Mary — Mary’s heavenly queenship. The Bible does not describe a coronation scene; Revelation 12:1 is often used as a related image.
The Baptism of Jesus — Matthew 3:13–17
The Wedding at Cana — Jesus changes water into wine: John 2:1–11
The Proclamation of the Kingdom — Jesus calls people to conversion: Mark 1:14–15
The Transfiguration — Jesus is revealed in glory: Luke 9:28–36
The Institution of the Eucharist — Jesus shares the bread and cup at the Last Supper: Luke 22:14–20
Prayer Table Setup
Color Theme Options:
Blue & White (traditional Marian honor) (Color choices are flexible and purely devotional.)
White & Gold (festive Marian celebration) (Color choices are flexible and purely devotional.)
Items to Display:
Crucifix
Bible
Rosary
Candles
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