Rosary Opening Prayers

I’m posting Live Twitter Rosary Threads with prayer intentions aimed at cultivating a civilization of Life and Love, and ending the culture of death. See the Rosary Project Live Archives page for more.

Opening Prayers of the Rosary

These are the opening prayers of the Rosary. The Queen of the Holy Rosary prayer is optional, but I personally always include it because that’s the way I learned to pray the Rosary and because it references Fatima.

Go to the First Joyful – Luminous – Sorrowful – Glorious Mystery or Table of Contents.

Image: Padre Pio, from my friend Rose. Thank you, Rose!

Sign of the Cross:

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

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,

thou hast deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three shepherd children there the treasures of grace hidden in the Rosary. Inspire my heart with a sincere love of this devotion, in order that by meditating on the Mysteries of our Redemption which are recalled in it, I may be enriched by its fruits and obtain peace for the world, the conversion of sinners and of Russia, and the graces which I ask of thee in this Rosary. (Here mention your request.) I ask this for the greater glory of God, for thine own honor, and for the good of souls, especially for my own. Amen.

Image: Luca Rossetti da Orta, *The Holy Trinity,*
*fresco, 1738-9, St. Gaudenzio Church at Ivrea (Torino)*

For those who don’t believe, I pray:

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.

God the Father, by Cima da Conegliano. From Wikimedia, public domain.

For the Holy Father, I pray:

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.

The Annunciation, by Orazio Gentileschi, 1623. From WikiArt. Public domain.

For an increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity in our souls and in our world, I pray:

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. (3 times for increase in the virtues of faith, hope and charity.)