The Rosary has twenty mysteries in four sets, and Catholics traditionally pray one set each day: the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday, and the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday. The box below shows today’s mysteries automatically.
Today’s Rosary mysteries
The weekly schedule of Rosary mysteries
| Day | Mysteries |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Glorious Mysteries |
| Monday | Joyful Mysteries |
| Tuesday | Sorrowful Mysteries |
| Wednesday | Glorious Mysteries |
| Thursday | Luminous Mysteries |
| Friday | Sorrowful Mysteries |
| Saturday | Joyful Mysteries |
This is the schedule Pope St. John Paul II proposed in 2002, when he added the Luminous Mysteries (Rosarium Virginis Mariae 38). Friday is the day of the Lord’s death, so it belongs to the Sorrowful Mysteries; Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, so it belongs to the Glorious; Saturday, traditionally dedicated to Mary, belongs to the Joyful.
Seasonal custom
Many Catholics adapt the Sunday mysteries to the liturgical season: the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent. This is a pious custom, not a rule; the weekly schedule above is always correct. In 2026, the Sundays of Advent are November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20 (Advent 2026).
The five mysteries for each day
Monday and Saturday: the Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity of Our Lord
- The Presentation in the Temple
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Tuesday and Friday: the Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
Wednesday and Sunday: the Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary
Thursday: the Luminous Mysteries
- The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
For Scripture passages, fruits and short meditations on all twenty, see the Mysteries of the Rosary.
How to pray today’s Rosary
- Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed on the crucifix.
- On the first bead, pray the Our Father; on the next three, three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity); then the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery of today’s set, pause to picture it, then pray an Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Many add the Fatima Prayer (“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…”).
- Repeat for the second to fifth mysteries.
- Finish with the Hail, Holy Queen and a closing prayer.
If you would like to be guided bead by bead, use the interactive Rosary, which walks you through every prayer on screen. The full text of every prayer is on the prayers of the Rosary page.
Frequently asked questions
What mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Sunday?
The Glorious Mysteries. Many people pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sundays of Advent and Christmas and the Sorrowful Mysteries on the Sundays of Lent.
What mysteries are prayed on Thursday?
The Luminous Mysteries, added by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002.
Do I have to follow the schedule?
No. The schedule is a help, not an obligation. You may pray any set of mysteries on any day, for example the Sorrowful Mysteries for someone who is suffering or the Glorious Mysteries for someone who has died.
How long does it take to pray the Rosary?
About 15 to 20 minutes for one set of five mysteries.
Can I pray only one decade?
Yes. One decade prayed attentively is a real prayer. Many people pray a decade on their commute or before sleep.