The Catholic rosary is a devotional object used for prayer.

It consists of a string of beads, usually made of wood, glass, or metal, and is used to count prayers while meditating on the life of Jesus Christ and his mother, Mary.  

Here’s how it’s typically used:

Hold the rosary: The beads are divided into sets of ten, called decades. The larger bead at the end is often called the “Our Father” bead, and the smaller beads in each decade are for the Hail Marys.  

Say the introductory prayers: This usually includes the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father, and three Hail Marys.  

Meditate on the mysteries: The rosary has five sets of mysteries, each representing a different aspect of Jesus’ life. While reciting the Hail Marys in each decade, one meditates on a particular mystery.1  

Repeat for each decade: This process is repeated for all five decades.

The rosary is a popular form of prayer among Catholics and is often used for personal devotion, group prayer, or as a means of seeking intercession from Mary.

Mysteries:

Each set of mysteries focuses on a specific aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry. These mysteries are:

Joyful Mysteries: These mysteries focus on the early life of Jesus, including his Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation in the Temple, and Finding in the Temple.

Luminous Mysteries: These mysteries highlight key moments in Jesus’ public ministry, including his Baptism in the Jordan River, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Sorrowful Mysteries: These mysteries focus on the suffering and death of Jesus, including his Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning with Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, and Crucifixion.

Glorious Mysteries: These mysteries celebrate the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus, including his Resurrection, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Assumption of Mary, and Coronation of Mary.

Mysterious Mysteries: These are optional mysteries added in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. They focus on key moments in the life of Jesus that are not explicitly mentioned in the Gospels, including the Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.  

While meditating on these mysteries, Catholics often reflect on the events, emotions, and spiritual significance associated with each one. This meditation can be a powerful way to connect with Jesus’ life and teachings and to deepen one’s faith.