Make the Sign of the Cross.

1. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.

2. On the first bead, say an Our Father.

3. Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.

4. Say the Glory Be

5. For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.

6. While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.
   (After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.)

7. After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:
   V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
   R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
   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 while meditating on 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.

First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden.

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will"' (Mt 26:36-39).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.

Second Sorrowful Mystery:
The scourging at the pillar.

"Pilate released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified" (Mt 27,26).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.

Third Sorrowful Mystery:
The crowning with thorns.

"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, 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!"' (Mt 27:27-29).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery:
The carrying of the cross.

"And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull)" (Mk 15:21-22).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery:
The crucifixion.

"And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' ...
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last" (Lk 23:33-46).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, 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 towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

The Sorrowful Mysteries