The structure and clauses for the Life of Christ are listed below. If you'd prefer to break this down by decade, please use this link or click the button below. If you don't know some of the prayers involved (like the Apostles' Creed), they're all provided on the "Text of prayers" page.



The Life of Christ Rosary, bead by bead


Begin by kissing the crucifix and signing yourself with the sign of the cross, saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Our Father bead

Recite the Apostles' Creed.

Three Hail Mary beads

Upon each say one Hail Mary, inserting a clause of your choosing related to our Lord and the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, such as:
  1. Jesus, to whom we can always turn in faith
  2. Jesus, the reason for our Hope
  3. Jesus, the source and goal of all charity

Our Father bead

Say one Glory Be, followed by one Our Father.

First Decade (His birth)

  1. Jesus, conceived in you by the Holy Spirit during the annunciation of the angel
  2. Jesus, with whom you visited Saint Elisabeth in the hill country, and whom John the Baptist recognized while yet in his mother’s womb
  3. Jesus, to whom you, perpetually virgin in body and soul, gave birth with joy
  4. Jesus, whom you wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger
  5. Jesus, whose birth the angels celebrated singing “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will”, and whom the shepherds visited in Bethlehem
  6. Jesus, who was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name which is above every other name
  7. Jesus, who was sought for and worshiped by the Magi
  8. Jesus, whom you carried to the Temple and presented to God, His Father
  9. Jesus, who was lovingly received in the arms of old Simeon, and recognized by the holy prophetess, Anna
  10. Jesus, with whom you fled into Egypt as directed by the angel, to avoid Herod’s persecution

Our Father bead

One Glory Be, one Fatima prayer, and one Our Father

Second decade (His youth and public ministry)  

  1. Jesus, with whom you returned home after seven years, when directed by the angel
  2. Jesus, left in Jerusalem when He was twelve years old, and found in the Temple after three days
  3. Jesus, who each day grew further in wisdom and grace before God and man
  4. Jesus, whom John baptized in the Jordan and called the Lamb of God
  5. Jesus, who fasted forty days in the desert and overcame the temptations put to Him by Satan
  6. Jesus, who called the disciples and proclaimed the kingdom of God
  7. Jesus, who healed the sick, freed the possessed, and raised the dead to life
  8. Jesus, whose feet Mary Magdalene washed with her tears, dried with her hair, and anointed with her perfume
  9. Jesus, who was transfigured on Mt. Tabor in the presence of Peter, James, and John
  10. Jesus, who raised Lazarus to life after he had been dead for four days

Our Father bead

One Glory Be, one Fatima prayer, and one Our Father

Third decade (His passion)

  1. Jesus, who was welcomed as the Messiah as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
  2. Jesus, who at the Last Supper instituted the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist
  3. Jesus, who prayed in agony in the garden of Gethsemane
  4. Jesus, who, betrayed by Judas and abandoned by His friends, willingly placed Himself in the hands of His captors
  5. Jesus, who, captured and roughly bound, was before the high priest
  6. Jesus, who was denied three times by Simon Peter and was falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and spat upon by the crowd
  7. Jesus, who was scourged at the pillar on orders given by Pilate
  8. Jesus, who was wrapped in a purple robe, crowned with thorns, and hailed as king by mocking soldiers
  9. Jesus, who before Caiaphas and Pilate was condemned to a wicked death 
  10. Jesus, who was given the burden of the cross to bear like a criminal to the hill of Golgotha

Our Father bead

One Glory Be, one Fatima prayer, and one Our Father

Fourth decade (His crucifixion)

  1. Jesus, nailed to the cross beneath the inscription “This is the King of the Jews”
  2. Jesus, who prayed for His murderers, saying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”
  3. Jesus, who said to the thief at His right  “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in paradise”
  4. Jesus, who said to you, His Mother, “Woman, behold thy son”, and to John “Behold thy Mother”
  5. Jesus, who cried out upon the cross:  “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
  6. Jesus, who said “I thirst”, and after having tasted the vinegar offered to Him said “It is consummated”
  7. Jesus, who at the ninth hour cried out “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit”
  8. Jesus, who for us, poor sinners, suffered a cruel and painful death. Alleluia.
  9. Jesus, whose side was pierced with a spear and from whose Sacred Heart Blood and Water poured out for the forgiveness of our sins
  10. Jesus, whose sacred body was taken down from the cross and lovingly received in your arms 

Our Father bead

One Glory Be, one Fatima prayer, and one Our Father

Fifth decade (His resurrection)

  1. Jesus, whose body was wrapped in a shroud and laid in the tomb by holy men
  2. Jesus, whose tomb was sealed and guarded by Pilate’s soldiers 
  3. Jesus, whose holy soul descended into Hell to preach the good news and conduct the holy patriarchs to Heaven
  4. Jesus, who rose from the dead on the third day, filling you with ineffable joy
  5. Jesus, who after His Resurrection appeared frequently to His disciples and friends to strengthen their faith
  6. Jesus, who, before you and His apostles, ascended into Heaven on the fortieth day and was seated at the right hand of the Father
  7. Jesus, who, as He had promised, sent the Holy Spirit to you and to His apostles on the day of Pentecost
  8. Jesus, who finally called you, His dearest Mother, to Himself, seating you at His right hand and crowning you with glory as Queen of Heaven
  9. Jesus, who wants to call us, His servants and yours, to Himself after this life and through your intercession, we pray, receive us into the joy of His Father’s Kingdom
  10. Jesus, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and with you most Holy Mother, reigns triumphant and glorious forever

One Glory Be, one Fatima prayer, and one Our Father


Concluding Prayers


Dom. Dominic’s Prayer to Our Lady

Oh Immaculate, ever blessed, and glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God; oh Temple of God, the most beautiful of all temples; oh Doorway of the Kingdom of Heaven through which the whole world has been saved, do hear me mercifully and become my sweet protectress, for me a poor and wretched sinner.  Be my help in all my needs.  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 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.

Rosary Prayer

Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

For the Intentions of the Holy Father

For the intentions of the Holy Father (say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be).

Conclusion

Kiss the crucifix and sign yourself with the sign of the cross, saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”




Original text Copyright 2012 by Daniel A.C. Frattarelli