1. Hold Crucifix and pray:

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, † and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then 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 Spirit, 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

2. Hold first large bead and 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.

3. For Faith, Hope and Charity on each of the three small beads 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.

4. Hold the next large bead and pray:

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

5. Recall the first rosary mystery (See right) and recite the Our Father on the large bead.

6. On each of the 10 small beads (also known as a decade) recite a Hail Mary while reflecting on the mystery.

7. On the next large bead, recite the Glory Be to the Father.

8. Each succeeding decade is prayed in a similar manner by recalling the appropriate mystery, reciting the Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and the Glory Be to the Father while reflecting on the mystery.

9. When the fifth mystery is completed, the rosary is finished. Make sign of the cross and pray: 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 unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Joyful Mysteries

to be prayed Mondays and Thursdays, Sundays of Advent and after Epiphany until Lent

1st Joyful Mystery,

The Annunciation

2nd Joyful Mystery,

The Visitation

3rd Joyful Mystery,

The Nativity

4th Joyful Mystery,

The Presentation

5th Joyful Mystery,

The Finding in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries

to be prayed Tuesdays and Fridays, Sundays in Lent

1st Sorrowful Mystery, Agony in the Garden

2nd Sorrowful Mystery,

The Scourging

3rd Sorrowful Mystery, Crowning with Thorns

4th Sorrowful Mystery, Carrying of the Cross

5th Sorrowful Mystery,

The Crucifixion

The Glorious Mysteries

to be prayed Wednesdays and Saturdays, Sundays after Easter until Advent

1st Glorious Mystery,

The Resurrection

2nd Glorious Mystery,

The Ascension

3rd Glorious Mystery, Descent of the Holy Spirit

4th Glorious Mystery,

The Assumption

5th Glorious Mystery,

The Coronation

Wearing your faith isn’t a new concept at all. In fact, wearable Christian art has been around since the first days of the Church’s existence. And, guess what? It wasn’t a cross that heralded one’s faith – it was a fish. Yes, a fish became a symbol of recognition among Christians.

First, one person would draw half a fish and the other person would finish it, signifying their faith in the resurrected Jesus. In later years, the fish symbol was made of metal or stone and worn about the neck. The fish remained popular until the fourth century when the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and ended the centuries old persecution of followers of Jesus.

Christianity became the state religion and people openly wore the cross as a sign of their belief – free from persecution. As a matter of fact, St. Helen, Constantine’s mother, is credited with discovering the “true” cross in a sepulcher – a buried cave – in Jerusalem.

Whether made of ornate metals, such as gold or silver, or bonded pieces of iron nails banded by a leather strap, the cross or the crucifix serves as the universal decorative symbol of Christianity today.

You show your style every day – no matter what you wear. Now show the world that you have faith, too!