The Rosary

During the pandemic, our parish has a daily Rosary group at 3:00pm on Zoom. To join the Zoom, register here.

Introductory Prayers

The introductory prayers set the stage for the rosary. They prepare you for deeper reflection when you pray the decades.  Either before or after the introductory prayers, think of any needs or struggles in your life and bring them to Mary. She cares for you like a loving mother, and wants to take your needs to Jesus.

The Decades

There are five decades, or groups of 10 small beads, that make up the main portion of the rosary. Between each decade is one large bead set off by itself. Pray the Our Father (large bead) before saying 10 Hail Mary (small beads), and the Glory Be (large bead) after.

As you pray the decades, you can also meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary and learn valuable lessons from the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Closing Prayer

The closing prayer, Hail Holy Queen, is prayed on the medal, and it ends the rosary. With this prayer we ask God and Mary to watch over us, guide us, and help us become a-better-version-of-ourselves. In May 2020, we add two prayers from the Holy Father prior to ending with the Sign of the Cross.

How to Pray the Rosary

When the Rosary is prayed in a group, one person leads the Rosary and the rest of the group responds. In the prayers below, the leader’s part is shown in plain text and the group response is shown in blue text. Often before each decade, the leader will announce the mystery accompanied by the fruit of the mystery or a brief meditation.

Start with the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed (for the Cross)

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. He will come again in glory 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 (first bead)

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 (next 3 beads: for Faith, Hope, Charity)

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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 (next bead)

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.

For each of the Five Decades (Medallion or next bead)

.Announce the Mystery ~ Say the Our Father ~ Say the Hail Mary ten times while meditating on the Mystery ~  Say the Glory Be

Announce the Mystery (Medallion or next bead)

Refer to table above for the mystery and then say the:

Our Father

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 (one for each of next 10 beads while meditating on the mystery)

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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

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.

Fatima Prayer (optional)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.

Announce the next Mystery and repeat the prayers above for each decade

At the conclusion of the five decades, say

Hail Holy Queen

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
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 vale of tears.
Turn then most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this, our 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.
Amen.

Conclude with the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Concluding Prayers (optional)

Let Us Pray (from the Breviary)

Let us pray,
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and Resurrection,
has purchased for us the reward of eternal salvation.
Grant we beseech Thee that while 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.

Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
by the Power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits,
who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

San Jose Diocesan Eucharist Revival Prayer

Heavenly Father,
​​​​​​​In your loving mercy,
you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, 
anointed by the Spirit,
to redeem the world through his Paschal Mystery.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus
pleaded with the Lord, “Stay with us.”
Promising to remain with his church,
and to nourish us as the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation,
Jesus left us the Sacrament of Salvation in the Eucharist.

Stir up in our hearts a lively faith
in Jesus’ real, loving, and saving presence, and may the Eucharist become the pattern of our lives.

As a pilgrim church
may we be nourished and strengthened
at the Eucharistic table,
and so “do unto others” in love
as you have loved us.

Through the intercession of St. Joseph and St. Clare, may we remain in your love
through the Sacrament of your Love.  Amen.

Every Life is Worth Living

Heavenly Father, thank you
for the precious gift of life.

Help us to cherish and protect
this gift, even in the midst of fear,
pain, and suffering.

Give us love for all people,
especially the most vulnerable,
and help us bear witness to the
truth that every life is worth living.

Grant us the humility to accept
help when we are in need,
and teach us to be merciful to all.

Through our words and actions,
may others encounter the
outstretched hands
of Your mercy.

We ask this through
Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Every Life is Worth Living, © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

Christmas Prayer

Glory to God in the highest!
My precious Lord, Jesus,
I adore You with profound love and rejoice in the celebration of Your birth.
Your love for us is unfathomable,
it is glorious
transforming,
awe-inspiring,
and deeply personal.
You chose to come and dwell among us,
being born into poverty, rejection and humility.
Yet Your mother knew whom she bore,
Her heart was filled with the tenderest love
as she adored her Child and her God.
Help me, dear Lord.
to come to love You with the heart of Your mother.
Invite me to adore You with St. Joseph and the poor shepherds.
Reveal to me the glorious power of Your birth
and change my life on account of this perfect gift of Yourself.
I love You, dear Lord Jesus.
Help me to love You with all my heart.
Newborn Savior of the World,
I trust in You.
Mother Mary and St. Joseph,
Pray for me and for all.
Amen.

Prayers to Our Lady to End the Pandemic

In his Letter to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020, Pope Francis provided two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that Pope Francis himself prayed in May 2020, in spiritual union with all of you.

.
The First Prayer to Our Lady

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people,” you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.

For he took upon himself our suffering, and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.

We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin

.
The Second Prayer to Our Lady

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God.”

In the present tragic situation,
when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety,
we fly to you, Mother of God and our mother,
and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes toward us amid this coronavirus pandemic.
Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died,
and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply.
Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who,
in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them.
Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future
and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the father of mercies,
that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew.
Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana,
so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted,
and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers
who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others.
Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day,
and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel,
are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research,
that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity
they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life
and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested
in developing and stockpling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research
on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family
and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity,
we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need.
Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress
and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic,
so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves,
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary.

Amen.