Rosary for Sunday: The 5 Glorious Mysteries with Full Prayers (2026)

On Sunday, Catholics pray the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary: the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary and the Coronation of Mary. Sunday is the day Jesus rose from the dead, so these five mysteries of victory and hope belong to it naturally. This guide gives you the complete holy rosary for Sunday, with every prayer written out, a short Sunday meditation on each mystery, and what to do in Advent and Lent.

Why Is Sunday the Day of the Resurrection?

All four Gospels tell us that the tomb was found empty “on the first day of the week” (Luke 24:1). From the time of the apostles, Christians gathered on that day to break bread. They called it the Lord’s Day.

The Catechism teaches that Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, is the first of all days and the foremost holy day of obligation (CCC 2174, 2177). St. John Paul II called it “the weekly Easter” in his letter Dies Domini.

So the Glorious Mysteries are a perfect Sunday prayer. Each one shows what Easter makes possible: Christ alive, the Spirit given, and Mary, a creature like us, already sharing his glory.

Which Mysteries Are Prayed on Sunday?

St. John Paul II, in Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002), suggested this weekly pattern:

Day	Mysteries
Monday	Joyful
Tuesday	Sorrowful
Wednesday	Glorious
Thursday	Luminous
Friday	Sorrowful
Saturday	Joyful
Sunday	Glorious

The Sunday Rosary in Advent, Christmas and Lent

Before 2002, a widespread custom matched the Sunday rosary to the season, and many Catholics still follow it:

• Sundays of Advent and Christmas: the Joyful Mysteries, which tell the story of Jesus’ coming. In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29.
• Sundays of Lent: the Sorrowful Mysteries, which walk with Jesus to the cross. Lent 2027 begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10.
• All other Sundays, including the whole Easter season: the Glorious Mysteries.

This is a pious custom, not a rule. St. John Paul II presented his weekly pattern as a suggestion, so you are free to pray the Glorious Mysteries every Sunday of the year.

How to Pray the Rosary for Sunday, Step by Step

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed while holding the crucifix.
2. Pray the Our Father on the first large bead.
3. Pray three Hail Marys on the next three beads, for faith, hope and charity.
4. Pray the Glory Be.
5. Announce the First Glorious Mystery and pray the Our Father.
6. Pray ten Hail Marys while you picture the mystery.
7. Finish the decade with the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.
8. Repeat for the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
9. Close with the Hail, Holy Queen, the closing prayer and the Sign of the Cross.

A good Sunday habit: before you begin, recall one line from that day’s Gospel at Mass and carry it into your rosary.

The Prayers of the Sunday Rosary

The Sign of the Cross

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

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; 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.

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.

The Hail Mary

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.

The Glory Be

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.

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.
Amen.

The 5 Glorious Mysteries: A Sunday Meditation

Each mystery below has a Scripture passage, its traditional fruit (the grace to ask for) and a short reflection. Each also suggests a Sunday intention.

1. The Resurrection

Scripture: Luke 24:1–12 · Fruit: faith

The women come to the tomb with spices and find the stone rolled away. Two men in dazzling garments ask them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised” (Luke 24:5–6). Every Sunday repeats this good news.

Sunday intention: Pray for anyone who has stopped going to Mass, that they may meet the risen Lord again.

2. The Ascension

Scripture: Acts 1:6–11 · Fruit: hope and longing for heaven

Forty days after Easter, Jesus blesses his disciples and is lifted up before their eyes. He does not leave us orphans. He goes ahead to prepare a place for us, and he will come again.

Sunday intention: Pray for your loved ones who have died, and for a holy death for yourself when your time comes.

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Acts 2:1–4 · Fruit: love of God; the gifts of the Holy Spirit

On Pentecost the apostles are gathered with Mary in prayer. The Spirit comes like a strong wind and tongues of fire, and frightened men become bold witnesses. The same Spirit was given to you at Baptism and Confirmation.

Sunday intention: Pray for your parish, your priests and all who will be baptized or confirmed this year.

4. The Assumption of Mary

Scripture: Revelation 12:1 (traditionally applied to Mary) · Fruit: devotion to Mary; a holy death

At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory. Pope Pius XII defined this as a dogma of faith in 1950. The Catechism calls it “a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians” (CCC 966).

Sunday intention: Pray for the sick and the elderly, especially anyone you know who is near the end of life. To learn more, see what the Catholic Church believes about Mary.

5. The Coronation of Mary

Scripture: Revelation 12:1 · Fruit: perseverance; trust in Mary’s intercession

Mary, the humble handmaid of Nazareth, is honored by her Son as Queen of heaven and earth. Her queenship is one of service: she still cares for the brothers and sisters of her Son (CCC 969).

Sunday intention: Pray for your family, entrusting each person by name to Mary’s care for the week ahead.

Closing Prayers

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 unto 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.
Amen.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son,
by his life, death and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life;
grant, we beseech thee, that meditating upon these mysteries
of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A Sunday Offering (Original Prayer)

Risen Lord Jesus, this is the day you have made.
Thank you for the gift of this Sunday,
for your Word, your Body and your Church.
Through the prayers of Mary, our Mother and Queen,
keep me faithful through the week ahead,
and bring me one day to the joy of heaven.
Amen.

4 Ways to Make Your Sunday Rosary Deeper

Pray it before Mass. Many parishes pray the rosary together before Sunday Mass. Arriving early to join them is a lovely way to quiet the heart.

Pray it as a family. Sunday is a day of rest and family (CCC 2184–2186). One decade after dinner, with each person leading a Hail Mary, is enough to start a tradition.

Bring Sunday to the homebound. If a friend can’t get to church, pray the Sunday rosary with them in person or by phone. It is a true work of mercy.

Let the season guide you. In Advent, add a prayer at the Advent wreath after your rosary. In the Easter season, pray the Glorious Mysteries with special joy.

Ending the Week with Easter Joy

The Glorious Mysteries remind us how the story ends. The cross of Friday is not the last word. On Sunday, the Church celebrates that Christ is risen, that the Spirit is with us, and that Mary already shares the glory promised to all who are faithful.

Tomorrow, Monday, the rosary returns to the Joyful Mysteries. But the joy of Sunday is meant to carry us through the whole week.