Common questions
Questions About the Rosary
Short answers to the questions that people ask most frequently when they start to pray the Rosary.
How long does it take to pray the Rosary?
Five decades take about fifteen to twenty minutes. One decade takes three or four minutes.
Do Catholics worship Mary when they pray the Rosary?
No. Catholics adore God alone. Mary is honoured as the Mother of God and asked to pray for us, in the same way that we ask a friend to pray for us. The Catechism says that this devotion differs essentially from the adoration given to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (CCC 971).
Is the Rosary in the Bible?
The Rosary as a form of prayer developed in the Middle Ages, but its content is biblical. The Our Father is the prayer that Jesus taught (Matthew 6:9–13). The first half of the Hail Mary is from Luke 1:28 and 1:42. Most of the mysteries are events in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.
Did Jesus not forbid repeated prayers?
In Matthew 6:7, Jesus warns against heaping up empty phrases, as people did who thought that many words would force God to hear them. He does not forbid repetition. He himself prayed the same words three times in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:44), and Psalm 136 repeats one refrain in every verse. In the Rosary, the repeated words are a support for meditation on Christ.
Which mysteries do I pray today?
By custom: Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. You are free to choose another set.
Do I need rosary beads?
No. The beads help you count so that your mind is free to meditate. You can count on your fingers, or use a guide such as the one on this site.
Can someone who is not Catholic pray the Rosary?
Yes. Any person can pray it. Many Christians of other traditions pray it, and some people begin with it when they are first drawn to the Catholic faith.
What are the Luminous Mysteries?
They are five mysteries from the public ministry of Jesus: his Baptism, the wedding at Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the institution of the Eucharist. Pope Saint John Paul II proposed them in 2002.
Must I pray all five decades at one time?
No. You can pray one decade, or pray the five decades at different times in the day. For the plenary indulgence, the five decades are prayed without interruption.
What is the Fatima Prayer, and is it required?
It is the short prayer that begins “O my Jesus”. It comes from the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima in 1917. It is a widespread custom after each decade. It is not a required part of the Rosary.
Why is the Prayer to Saint Michael added at the end?
It is a popular addition, not part of the Rosary itself. Pope Leo XIII composed the prayer, and many people say it after the Rosary to ask for protection against evil.
Does a rosary need to be blessed?
No, you can pray with any rosary. A rosary blessed by a priest or deacon is a sacramental of the Church (CCC 1667–1670).