Rosary for Tuesday: How to Pray the 5 Sorrowful Mysteries (2026 Guide)

On Tuesday, Catholics pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary: the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion. This guide takes you through the whole Tuesday rosary step by step, with the full text of every prayer and a short meditation on each mystery of Christ’s Passion.

Which Mysteries Are Prayed on Tuesday?

Following the schedule St. John Paul II proposed in Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002), the Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesday and Friday:

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

During Lent, many Catholics also pray the Sorrowful Mysteries on Sundays. This is a popular custom, not an obligation.

How to Pray the Rosary for Tuesday, Step by Step

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed on 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 Sorrowful Mystery and pray the Our Father.
6. Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery.
7. End 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.

The Prayers of the 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 Sorrowful Mysteries, with Meditations

1. The Agony in the Garden

Scripture: Matthew 26:36–46 · Fruit: sorrow for sin; conformity to God’s will

After the Last Supper, Jesus goes to Gethsemane with Peter, James and John. In deep anguish he prays, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). His friends fall asleep. Bring to Jesus whatever you are dreading, and ask for the grace to pray as he did: “Thy will be done.”

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

Scripture: John 19:1; Matthew 27:26 · Fruit: purity; mortification

Pilate has Jesus scourged. The Lord accepts terrible physical suffering in silence, out of love for us. Pray for purity of heart and body, and for all who suffer violence, abuse or chronic pain. Unite your own aches and illnesses to his.

3. The Crowning with Thorns

Scripture: Matthew 27:27–31 · Fruit: courage; humility

The soldiers twist a crown of thorns, press it on Jesus’ head, mock him as “King of the Jews,” and strike him. The true King is humiliated. Ask for the courage to remain faithful when you are misunderstood or ridiculed for your faith, and for freedom from pride.

4. The Carrying of the Cross

Scripture: Luke 23:26–32; John 19:17 · Fruit: patience

Weakened and bleeding, Jesus carries his cross to Calvary. Simon of Cyrene is made to help him, and the women of Jerusalem weep for him. Tradition remembers that he met his Mother along the way. Ask for patience to carry your own daily crosses: caring for a sick spouse, loneliness, worry about your children, the limits of age. Remember that Jesus does not ask us to carry them alone.

5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord

Scripture: Luke 23:33–46; John 19:25–30 · Fruit: perseverance; love of God

Jesus is nailed to the cross between two thieves. He forgives those who crucify him, promises paradise to the repentant thief, and gives his Mother to the beloved disciple: “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). Then he says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46), and dies. Thank him for his love, ask forgiveness for your sins, and pray for the grace of a holy death for yourself and those you love.

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.

Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries When You Are Suffering

The Church teaches that, united to Christ’s Passion, our own suffering can take on a new meaning (CCC 1521). That is why so many people who are sick, caring for someone, or grieving find the Sorrowful Mysteries consoling. You might offer each decade for a specific person: one for a sick friend, one for a family member far from God, one for the dying, one for the souls in purgatory, and one for yourself.

A few practical suggestions:

• Pray one decade at a time if a full rosary is tiring. Five decades over a day are still a full rosary.
• Hold a crucifix as you pray these mysteries; it helps keep your attention on Jesus.
• Combine it with the Stations of the Cross on Fridays, especially in Lent. Our guide to the 14 Stations of the Cross explains each one.

On Monday, the rosary returns to the joy of Christ’s birth with the Joyful Mysteries. For more on Our Lady’s share in her Son’s Passion, see our Our Lady of Sorrows prayer.