The mysteries of the rosary are significant events or moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary, they are part of the meditation of the Catholic Church and are used by the faithful or believers on different occasions to enhance faith. But do you know how many mysteries the rosary has? The mysteries of the holy rosary can be divided into 4:
- Joyful mysteries of the holy rosary (Monday and Saturday)
- Luminous mysteries of the holy rosary (Thursday)
- Sorrowful mysteries of the holy rosary (Tuesday and Friday)
- Glorious mysteries of the holy rosary (Wednesday and Sunday).
Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Praying the rosary comes in 4 “groups” of mysteries: joyful, luminous, sorrowful, glorious. Each of these “groups” (or meditations) comes in 5 mysteries. Praying the rosary, in its entirety, includes 20 mysteries in total. Praying the rosary is essentially praying 5 mysteries a day.
Initially there were 15 but the luminous mysteries were later added by Pope John Paul II, bringing them to 20. Therefore, for the mysteries of the rosary today, it is necessary to pray 4 rosaries (4 times 5 decades).
Holy Rosary Joyful Mysteries (Monday rosary mysteries and Saturday rosary mysteries)
1st Mystery: The Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel
- Fruit of the mystery: humility.
2nd Mystery: Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth
- Fruit of the mystery: fraternal charity.
3rd Mystery: The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem
- Fruit of the mystery: the spirit of poverty.
4th Mystery: The Presentation of the newborn Jesus in the Temple
- Fruit of the mystery: purity and obedience.
5th Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
- Fruit of the mystery: fervor, response to God’s call.
Luminous: mysteries of the Rosary (Thursday)
1st Mystery: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
- Fruit of the mystery: the state of grace.
2nd Mystery: The wedding at Cana
- Fruit of the mystery: trust in the will of God.
3rd Mystery: The announcement of the Kingdom of God with the invitation to conversion
- Fruit of the mystery: interior conversion, holiness.
4th Mystery: The Transfiguration
- Fruit of the mystery: contemplation.
5th Mystery: The institution of the Eucharist
- Fruit of the mystery: the practice of the sacraments.
Sorrowful Mysteries Rosary (Tuesday rosary mysteries and Friday rosary mysteries)
1st Mystery: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives
- Fruit of the mystery: repentance for our sins (contrition).
2nd Mystery: The Flagellation of Jesus
- Fruit of the mystery: the mortification of our senses and our body.
3rd Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns (
- Fruit of the mystery: the mortification of our thoughts and our spirit.
4th Mystery: The Burden of the Cross
- Fruit of the mystery: patience in trials.
5th Mystery: The Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross
- Fruit of the mystery: a greater love for Jesus, who died to save us.
Rosary glorious mysteries (Sunday rosary mysteries and Wednesday rosary mysteries)
1st Mystery: The Resurrection of Jesus
- Fruit of the mystery: faith.
2nd Mystery: The Ascension of Jesus to heaven
- Fruit of the Mystery: Hope and Desire for Heaven
3rd Mystery: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost
- Fruit of the mystery: the coming of the Holy Spirit into our souls.
4th Mystery: Dormition and Assumption of Mary into heaven
- Fruit of the mystery: the grace of a good death
5th Mystery: The Coronation of Mary in Heaven Fruit of the mystery: greater devotion to the Virgin Mary.