How to Pray a Protestant Rosary:

The Glorious Mysteries - May 29, 2025

Darlene Hull

May 29, 2025

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I shared earlier about how my journey with the rosary started. In that article I wrote about the Orthodox prayer rope and praying the Jesus prayer. At different times throughout this year I’ve been interrupting whatever we’re otherwise working on to share my journey with a “protestantized” version of the Catholic rosary. What I particularly love about the Catholic rosary is that it’s a combination of repetitive prayers, and then a pause to meditate on scripture. It’s a beautiful tool for meditating on the life of Christ.

There are four different main rosaries:

The Joyful Mysteries: where we focus on Jesus’ early life from the annunciation to Mary by Gabriel, up to the presentation of Jesus in the temple.
The Luminous Mysteries: where we begin with Jesus’ baptism and continue through to the last supper.
The Sorrowful Mysteries: where we meditate on the story of the crucifixion.
The Glorious Mysteries: focusing on the resurrection, ascension, pentecost, and the Catholic rosary also includes the assumption of Mary and her coronation. We will, instead, focus on the communion of saints and the heavenly Jerusalem.

Catholics are encouraged to pray the different rosaries on different days of the week:

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

In this newsletter I will introduce the different rosaries according to the church year. That way we can practice it enough so that we’re not fumbling, and then, if you choose, you can follow the pattern above to work through them on a weekly basis. You can also just pray the rosary when you feel like it. No rules here…

We’ve recently come through Lent, when I would traditionally pray the Sorrowful Mystery rosary, and the Glorious Mysteries begin on Easter Sunday. I’m a little late with this due to extenuating circumstances, but better late than never, right?

The Glorious Mysteries help us reflect on the resurrection of Jesus, and the birth of the Church, incorporating Scripture and Christ-centered prayers.

The great thing about the Catholic Rosary is they’re available everywhere, so they’re easy to find. I prefer one without the Marian medal in the centre, so the Rosary I have is a Benedictine** one which traditionally represents both spiritual strength and protection, and the Marian medal is replaced by the medal representing St. Benedict’s prayer of protection:

Ok, with that being said, let’s get down to the business of praying!

Structure of the Protestant Rosary

To make this easier, I have created a PDF with a picture of the rosary and links to all the passages you’ll be reading and reciting. I recommend you open that and keep it handy as I go through the steps below.

Note that this is how I’ve created a protestant version. There are many other ways of praying a protestant version, and you can search for those on the Internet.

Opening - the Cross

Hold the cross in your left hand while making the sign of the cross with your right hand, saying “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
While still holding the cross, recite The Apostles’ Creed: a foundational Christian statement of faith.

On the First Bead

Pray the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (Matthew 6:9-13).

On Each of the Next Three Beads

Prayerfully recite Colossians 3:1: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

On the Next Large Bead

Recite the Kenosis Hymn found in Philippians 2:5-11

On the Medallion and the Large Beads Between Decades

Announce the mystery by saying something like, “The first Glorious Mystery is the Resurrection”. Read the corresponding passage - in this case, Mark 16: 1-7, and reflect on its meaning.
On each of the 10 beads in each decade that follow that large bead:
1. Recite Corinthians 6:14: “And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.”

Repeat

Repeat that pattern of announcing the mystery on the large bead, reading the corresponding passage and reflecting on its meaning, and then on each of the 10 decade beads reciting Corinthians 6:14.

After the Fifth Decade

On the medallion prayerfully recite:
- Philippians 2:10-11: “... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
On the First large Bead

Recite the Kenosis Hymn found in Philippians 2:5-11

On Each of the Next Three Beads
- Prayerfully recite Colossians 3:1: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
On the Final Large Bead

Pray the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Finally, end with holding the cross, making the sign of the cross, and praying, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Here are the 5 mysteries, and some things to ponder with each scripture:

1. The Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16: 1-7).

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”

Reflect: When the Sabbath was over, faithful women came to anoint Jesus' body, only to discover the stone rolled away and an angel proclaiming His resurrection. Their fear turned to astonishment as they received the first news that death had been defeated and Christ had risen as promised.
Questions:
- How does the reality of Christ's resurrection transform your understanding of seemingly impossible situations in your life?
- In what ways are you being called, like the women at the tomb, to share the good news of resurrection hope with others who need to hear it?

2. The Ascension (Luke 24: 45-53)

“ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.”

Reflect: After opening the disciples' minds to understand the Scriptures, Jesus led them to Bethany where He blessed them and was taken up into heaven. Rather than mourning His departure, the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, continually praising God in the temple.
Questions:
- How does Jesus' ascension and the disciples' joyful response challenge you to view separations and endings in your life with hope rather than sorrow?
- In what specific ways can you, like the disciples, make worship and praise a consistent part of your daily life as you await Christ's return?

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-7, 11)

“And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

Reflect: When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were gathered in one place when suddenly the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire. Filled with the Spirit, they began speaking in different languages, enabling people from many nations to hear God's wonders proclaimed in their own tongues.
Questions:
- How are you being called to open yourself to a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life, and what barriers might you need to remove to receive this gift more fully?
- In what ways can you use the gifts and abilities God has given you to communicate His love across barriers of language, culture, or understanding to those around you?

4. The Communion of Saints (1 Cor. 12: 23-27)

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”

Reflect: Paul teaches that in Christ's body, our seemingly less honorable parts are treated with special honor, and God has designed the body so there is no division but rather mutual care among all members. When one part suffers, all suffer; when one part is honored, all rejoice together—for we are the body of Christ, and each a member of it.
Questions:
- How might you better recognize and honor the gifts of those in the body of Christ who are different from you or whose contributions often go unnoticed?
- In what specific ways can you demonstrate greater care and compassion for fellow believers who are suffering, remembering that their pain affects the entire body of Christ?

5. The Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21: 1-4, 22-27)

“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Reflect: John witnessed a new heaven and earth, with the Holy City descending from God like a bride adorned for her husband. In this New Jerusalem, God will dwell among His people, wiping away every tear; death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. The city has no temple, for God and the Lamb are its temple, and its gates will never be shut as the glory and honor of the nations are brought into it.
Questions:
- How does the promise that God will one day wipe away every tear and eliminate all suffering shape your perspective on current hardships and give you hope for the future?
- In what ways can you help manifest glimpses of the Heavenly Jerusalem in your community today, creating spaces where God's presence is felt and where healing and restoration begin?

And that’s the rosary. At first, praying it is going to feel awkward, complicated, and overwhelming. However, as you become fluent with both the moving of the beads and the regular recitations, you will find that this becomes a beautiful oasis in your busy day. When you’re worried, anxious, feeling lost, unsure how to pray about something or for someone, and struggling to get your eyes back on Jesus, you will find the rosary a fabulous tool to shift your focus and your heart.

My invitation and encouragement to you is to set aside time daily between now and Advent to practice this. By then you’ll be pretty fluent at it, and you’ll be reaping the rewards of the meditation. Shortly before Advent I’ll introduce the Joyful Mysteries so you can be prepared to learn that one over the Advent season

I’d love to hear how you get on with this. Don’t be afraid to message me and let me know if you need help or what benefits this has brought you.

Go with God and be blessed!