Tuesday Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries, All Prayers & Scripture
The Tuesday Rosary uses the Sorrowful Mysteries — five decades drawn from the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. This guide walks you through the complete Rosary for Tuesday, step by step, so you can pray it from beginning to end with confidence.
Each decade enters into a specific moment of Christ’s suffering, helping the soul grow in trust, repentance, and love. These mysteries are especially fitting during Lent, though the Church prays them every Tuesday and Friday throughout the year.
Begin with the opening prayers below and continue through each mystery.
The Tuesday Rosary: Sorrowful Mysteries Step-by-Step
The Tuesday Rosary meditates on the Sorrowful Mysteries — five decades drawn from the Passion of Jesus Christ. Walking these mysteries with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the faithful enter into His suffering at Gethsemane, His scourging, His crowning with thorns, His carrying of the Cross, and His crucifixion on Calvary. This step-by-step guide provides every prayer and scripture needed to pray the complete Tuesday Rosary, whether for the first time or the hundredth. The Church has traditionally assigned the Sorrowful Mysteries to Tuesdays and Fridays as a way of keeping the memory of Christ’s Passion close throughout the week — a custom rooted in centuries of Catholic prayer and given renewed emphasis by Our Lady of Fatima. These same mysteries are also prayed on Fridays.
What Mysteries Are Prayed on Tuesday?
The Rosary prayed on Tuesday is the Sorrowful Mysteries. These mysteries focus on the Passion and death of Jesus Christ, drawing the soul into His suffering, sacrifice, and mercy.
While praying the Tuesday Rosary, Catholics meditate on Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His scourging at the pillar, His crowning with thorns, His carrying of the Cross, and His crucifixion on Calvary. These mysteries help the faithful grow in repentance, perseverance, humility, and love for Jesus Christ. They are especially powerful to pray during Lent, when the Church meditates most deeply on the suffering of our Lord.
The five Sorrowful Mysteries are:
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
These same mysteries are also prayed on Fridays.
Quick Start Guide for the Tuesday Rosary
To pray the Tuesday Rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles’ Creed. Continue with one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be before entering into the five Sorrowful Mysteries.
For each mystery, pray:
- One Our Father
- Ten Hail Marys
- One Glory Be
- The Fatima Prayer
After completing all five decades, finish with the Hail Holy Queen and the Rosary closing prayer.
How to Pray the Tuesday Rosary
To pray the Tuesday Rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the Apostles’ Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.
Then pray each of the five Sorrowful Mysteries, announcing the mystery before each decade. For each decade, pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be, followed by the Fatima Prayer.
After completing all five decades, finish with the Hail Holy Queen and the closing prayer.
Opening Prayers
Sign of the Cross
In the Name Of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(As you say this, with your right hand touch your forehead when you say Father, touch your breastbone when you say Son, touch your left shoulder when you say Holy, and touch your right shoulder when you say Spirit.)
Queen of the Holy Rosary Prayer
Queen of the Holy Rosary,
you have deigned to come to Fatima,
to reveal to the three shepherd children
the treasures of grace hidden in the Rosary.
Inspire my heart with a sincere love of this devotion,
in order that by meditating on the Mysteries of our Redemption,
which are recalled in it,
I may be enriched with its fruits,
and obtain peace for the world,
the conversion of sinners and of Russia,
and the favor which I ask of you in this Rosary.
(Mention your request here)
I ask it for the greater glory of God,
for your own honor,
and for the good of souls,
especially for my own.
Amen.
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,
and sits 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
In the Agony in the Garden, Jesus willingly accepts the suffering that awaits Him for the salvation of mankind. Though filled with sorrow and anguish, He submits completely to the will of the Father. This mystery teaches the faithful to trust God during times of fear, suffering, temptation, and uncertainty.
And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him.
And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast; and kneeling down, he prayed, Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. (Luke 22:39-46)
Decade Prayers
(Meditate on the Agony in the Garden)
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
Hail Mary
Repeat 10 Times
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.
Glory Be to the Father
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
The Scourging at the Pillar
In the Scourging at the Pillar, Jesus suffers brutal punishment, though He is completely innocent. He accepts humiliation and pain out of love for sinners and for the redemption of the world. This mystery reminds the faithful of the terrible reality of sin and the immense price paid for salvation.
And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee? And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barrabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barrabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask for Barabbas, and take Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barrabbas. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children. Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified. (Matthew 27: 11-26)
Decade Prayers
(Meditate on the Scourging at the Pillar)
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
Hail Mary
Repeat 10 Times
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.
Glory Be to the Father
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
The Crowning with Thorns
In the Crowning with Thorns, Jesus is mocked, rejected, and ridiculed as King, yet He remains silent and humble before His persecutors. The Savior accepts humiliation and suffering to reveal the true nature of divine love and mercy.
Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band; And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews. And spitting upon him, they took the reed, and struck his head. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31)
Decade Prayers
(Meditate on the Crowning with Thorns)
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
Hail Mary
Repeat 10 Times
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.
Glory Be to the Father
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
The Carrying of the Cross
In the Carrying of the Cross, Jesus carries the weight of mankind’s sins on the road to Calvary. Though weakened by suffering, He continues forward in love and obedience to the Father. Simon of Cyrene helps carry the Cross, showing that God often works through others during times of suffering.
And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country; and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.
And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.
But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (Luke 23:26-33)
Decade Prayers
(Meditate on the Carrying of the Cross)
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
Hail Mary
Repeat 10 Times
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.
Glory Be to the Father
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
The Crucifixion of Christ
In the Crucifixion, Jesus offers His life on the Cross for the salvation of the world. Through His suffering and death, sin is conquered, and the gates of Heaven are opened to mankind. From the Cross, Christ reveals the fullness of divine mercy, forgiveness, and sacrificial love.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. (John 19:25-27)
Decade Prayers
(Meditate on the Crucifixion of Christ)
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
Hail Mary
Repeat 10 Times
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.
Glory Be to the Father
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those who have most need of your mercy.
Amen.
Closing Prayers
Salve Regina (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.
Rosary Closing Prayer
O God whose only begotten Son has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life,
Grant that we beseech Thee while meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Fatima Pardon Prayer
My God,
I believe,
I adore,
I hope, and I love You.
I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe,
do not adore,
do not hope,
and do not love You.
Amen.
Sign of the Cross
In the Name Of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Rosary is more than a series of repeated prayers. Through meditation on the suffering of Jesus Christ, countless souls have found peace, strength, conversion, and a deeper love for God. The testimony below is from the author of this site — a man who prayed this Rosary with nothing but his fingers, survived a widow-maker heart attack, and met Our Lady seven days later.
Why I Pray the Tuesday Rosary — A Convert's Story
“I have experienced the profound power of the Rosary and a deep relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which helped me overcome both a struggle with alcoholism and a widow-maker heart attack on a golf course, in which I died. They say I coded twice, but I’m not sure. I come from a family with no history of heart problems. I have fully recovered through faith, the Rosary, and the efforts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Read My Catholic Conversion – A Marian Journey into the Catholic Church)
I invite you to discover the same strength and peace freely available to you in your life. It all begins here with the Daily Rosary.”
Charles Rogers
Why the Tuesday Rosary Still Matters
The Tuesday Rosary is one of the oldest unbroken devotional practices in the Catholic Church. For centuries, the faithful have brought their suffering, their grief, and their petitions into these five mysteries — not because the prayers are easy, but because walking beside Christ in His Passion has a way of changing what we carry.
Through the Sorrowful Mysteries, the soul learns that suffering united to Christ is never wasted. Every decade becomes a prayer of trust, repentance, and love offered through the Blessed Virgin Mary to her Son. Whether you pray with the full scripture passages or in silence, this rosary for Tuesday is always available — bringing grace and comfort at any hour.
Download the printable PDF version of this page to carry the Sorrowful Mysteries with you wherever you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesday. These five mysteries meditate on the Passion and death of Jesus Christ — from His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to His crucifixion on Calvary. The Sorrowful Mysteries are also prayed on Fridays.
The decade mysteries, or the biblical events, that are foundational to the Rosary for Tuesday are:
- Agony in the Garden - Luke 22:39-46
- Scourging at the Pillar - Matthew 27:11-26
- Crowning with Thorns - Matthew 27:27-31
- Carrying of the Cross - Luke 23:26-33
- Crucifixion of Christ - John 19:25-27
There are ten prayers in the Rosary for Tuesday:
- Queen of the Holy Rosary Prayer
- Sign of the Cross
- Apostles Creed
- Our Father (Lord’s Prayer)
- Hail Mary
- Glory Be
- Fatima Prayer
- Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
- Rosary Closing Prayer
- Fatima Pardon Prayer
If the Scriptural Rosary is being prayed, all scriptures are read aloud, which takes about forty-five minutes. If the non-scriptural Rosary is being prayed, it will take about twenty-five minutes.
The Rosary has been prayed for over 800 years. According to The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort, it was given by the Holy Trinity through the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic in 1214 in Prouille, France.
Yes. When the author began praying the Tuesday Rosary, he had no Rosary beads — only his fingers. Seven days later, Our Lady made her presence known, and he experienced the Odor of Sanctity — a sign of grace often reported in Marian devotion.
Praying the Tuesday Rosary, which meditates on the Sorrowful Mysteries, draws the soul deeply into the Passion and suffering of Jesus Christ. These mysteries help Catholics reflect on Christ's obedience, sacrifice, mercy, and love shown through His suffering and death on the Cross.
The Church teaches that every Rosary prayed with devotion brings grace. The Rosary strengthens faith, helps resist sin, increases love for God, and draws the soul closer to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Many faithful also look to the traditional 15 Promises of the Rosary — graces Our Lady promised to St. Dominic for all who pray the Rosary faithfully. These promises remind the faithful that Our Lady never abandons those who remain close to her Son through prayer.
More Rosary Resources
Daily Rosary Mysteries
PDFs
Tuesday Decade Mysteries
Litanies & Chaplet
Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he came to faith in Jesus Christ early in life. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hands, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
May Our Lady of the Rosary lead you deeper into the grace you have been given. Pray always, and trust the mercy of God while the door remains open.
— Two Percent Survival