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A guided five-decade Rosary

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Love faithful through the Passion

Remain beside Christ from Gethsemane to Calvary. The aim is not to observe suffering from a distance, but to recognize the love with which Jesus freely enters it and to let that love convert our fear, violence, pride, and despair.

5 mysteriesApproximately 20 minutesCustomarily prayed Tuesday and Friday

Before the first decade

Begin at the crucifix

Make the Sign of the Cross. Pray the Apostles’ Creed on the crucifix, an Our Father on the first large bead, three Hail Marys for growth in faith, hope, and charity, and the Glory Be.

These pacing notes and meditations are editorial guidance by Auxesis Library. Scripture references invite reading; they are not presented here as substitute quotations.

  1. 01Apostles’ CreedOn the crucifix
  2. 02Our FatherOn the first large bead
  3. 03Three Hail MarysFor faith, hope, and charity
  4. 04Glory BeBefore the first mystery
Christ kneels in prayer in Gethsemane while the disciples sleep.
Agony in the GardenAlbrecht Dürer · 1515The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain / CC0
01Sorrowful

The first mystery

The Agony in the Garden

ReadMatthew 26:36–46

Grace to askContrition and surrender to God’s will

Jesus does not disguise his sorrow, yet he carries it into prayer: not as I will, but as you will. Bring your dread honestly before the Father and ask for obedience that is deeper than the wish to escape.

1 Our Father10 Hail Marys1 Glory Be

Announce the mystery, read the passage if possible, then let the repeated prayer carry your attention through the scene. If it is your custom, add the Fatima decade prayer after the Glory Be.

Christ is bound to a pillar and scourged in a Renaissance devotional relief.
The Flagellation of ChristItalian, Milan · ca. 1492–1503The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain / CC0
02Sorrowful

The second mystery

The Scourging at the Pillar

ReadJohn 19:1; Matthew 27:26

Grace to askPurity and mercy for the afflicted

The innocent body of Christ receives the violence of fallen humanity. Ask for purity that refuses to use another person, compassion for every wounded body, and repentance for the cruelties we excuse or ignore.

1 Our Father10 Hail Marys1 Glory Be

Announce the mystery, read the passage if possible, then let the repeated prayer carry your attention through the scene. If it is your custom, add the Fatima decade prayer after the Glory Be.

Soldiers press the crown of thorns upon Christ and mock him.
The Crowning with Thorns, from The Passion of ChristLudovicus Siceram · ca. 1623The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain / CC0
03Sorrowful

The third mystery

The Crowning with Thorns

ReadMatthew 27:27–31

Grace to askMoral courage and freedom from pride

The true King is enthroned in mockery. Contemplate the silent majesty of Christ beneath ridicule, and ask to be freed from the hunger for status, retaliation, and the approval of the crowd.

1 Our Father10 Hail Marys1 Glory Be

Announce the mystery, read the passage if possible, then let the repeated prayer carry your attention through the scene. If it is your custom, add the Fatima decade prayer after the Glory Be.

Christ carries the cross through a crowd as Mary watches nearby.
Christ Carrying the CrossItalian · 14th centuryThe Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain / CC0
04Sorrowful

The fourth mystery

The Carrying of the Cross

ReadLuke 23:26–32; John 19:16–17

Grace to askPatience and perseverance

Jesus bears the instrument of his death while Simon is drawn into its weight. Ask for strength to carry today’s cross, humility to accept help, and readiness to help carry what has become too heavy for another.

1 Our Father10 Hail Marys1 Glory Be

Announce the mystery, read the passage if possible, then let the repeated prayer carry your attention through the scene. If it is your custom, add the Fatima decade prayer after the Glory Be.

Christ hangs upon the cross as Mary and the disciples grieve below.
The CrucifixionFra Angelico · ca. 1420–23The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain / CC0
05Sorrowful

The fifth mystery

The Crucifixion

ReadJohn 19:25–30; Luke 23:33–46

Grace to askLove, forgiveness, and final perseverance

At the Cross, Christ forgives, gives his Mother to the disciple, and completes the work entrusted to him. Stand with Mary and ask for the love that remains, forgives enemies, and entrusts everything to the Father.

1 Our Father10 Hail Marys1 Glory Be

Announce the mystery, read the passage if possible, then let the repeated prayer carry your attention through the scene. If it is your custom, add the Fatima decade prayer after the Glory Be.

After the fifth decade

Gather the prayer

Pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the concluding Rosary prayer. End with the Sign of the Cross. Carry one word, image, or grace from the mysteries into the duties immediately before you.

Open the principal prayer texts

Apostles’ Creed

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

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

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

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.

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 valley 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.