Thursday Rosary: Luminous Mysteries for Thursday, Step by Step

On Thursday the Rosary is prayed with the Luminous Mysteries. Thursday recalls the Last Supper, and the Luminous Mysteries, the “mysteries of light” from the public life of Jesus, end with the Institution of the Eucharist. Below is the whole Thursday Rosary, step by step: the opening prayers, the five Luminous Mysteries with their Scripture passages and a short meditation for Thursday, the closing prayers, and Thursday’s traditional devotion to the Eucharist. It takes about 20 minutes. Thursday is the only day of the Luminous Mysteries.

Decade	Luminous Mystery	Scripture	Fruit
1	The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan	Matthew 3:13–17	Openness to the Holy Spirit
2	The Wedding at Cana	John 2:1–11	To Jesus through Mary
3	The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God	Mark 1:14–15	Repentance and trust in God
4	The Transfiguration	Matthew 17:1–8	Desire for holiness
5	The Institution of the Eucharist	Matthew 26:26–28; John 13:1	Adoration

Rosary for each day: Monday · Tuesday · Wednesday · Thursday · Friday · Saturday · Sunday

Offering for the Thursday Rosary

Before you begin, offer the Rosary for an intention. A Thursday offering, written for this page:

Lord Jesus, light of the world, I offer you this Rosary in thanksgiving for the Holy Eucharist and for the gift of the priesthood, and for the priests I know. Amen.

Opening prayers

1. On the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross:

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

2. Still holding the crucifix, pray the 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified;
died, and was buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

3. On the first large bead, pray 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.

4. On the next three beads, pray three Hail Marys, traditionally for an increase of faith, hope and 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.

5. Pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

The five Luminous Mysteries

For each decade: announce the mystery, read or recall the Scripture, pause on the meditation, then pray one Our Father on the large bead, ten Hail Marys on the small beads, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer:

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

The meditations below were written for Thursday. For a longer reflection on each mystery, see our page on the Luminous Mysteries.

First Luminous Mystery: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan

Scripture: Matthew 3:13–17 · Fruit of the mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit

At the Jordan the Father says, “This is my beloved Son.” Remember your own baptism: you too are a beloved child of God.