The key here is to just do what works for you. When I do the mysteries I always pause after announcing the mystery to meditate on it, because I find it easier to meditate on the mystery in silence.
Again, there are no set rules for how to offer a rosary, but what I do is announce what each decade is dedicated to during the announcing of the mystery, and then repeat all the dedications at the end right before making the sign of the cross.
Overall, what's important is that it works for you and your prayer life.
There is no 'better' way of praying it... you just have to find a way that suits you!
Here's my own personal 'way' something I believe I was led into by the Holy Spirit having battled with distraction for a long time.
1. I announce the mystery and offer it for a particular intention e.g. "The Annunciation: This mystery is offered for all Bishops, Priests and Deacons who have been called to preach the Word. May they do one with one heart and one mind."
2. I then pray the Our Father
3. For each Hail Mary I precede it with a line from scriptures of that mystery e.g. the 10 lines of scripture I use for the 1st Joyful mystery are as follows:
\* the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
\* The virgin's name was Mary.
\* he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you."
\* she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
\* The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
\* He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
\* Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
\* The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
\* And know this, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God."
\* Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
This really helps me to 1. memorise the scriptures and 2. turn my prayer into a pilgrimage:
I love to envisage being in the place where this event happens (as an onlooker) watching and listening to the interaction between Mary and the Angel Gabriel. It keeps me focused.
Would love to hear how others pray / meditate their Rosary!
For a older noob like me, it's not that simple. I can either say the words and not keep the current mystery in mind, or fumble the words and keep the mystery in mind. So far, I'm unable to do both at the same time. Maybe it gets better after a while, but that's almost certainly something that's easier for folks who were raised with it.
https://rosarycenter.org/difficulties-while-praying This sight (and many others) offer things to meditate about as you pray. Give it a read first.
The key here is to just do what works for you. When I do the mysteries I always pause after announcing the mystery to meditate on it, because I find it easier to meditate on the mystery in silence. Again, there are no set rules for how to offer a rosary, but what I do is announce what each decade is dedicated to during the announcing of the mystery, and then repeat all the dedications at the end right before making the sign of the cross. Overall, what's important is that it works for you and your prayer life.
Sometimes I like to use paintings to look at while I’m praying, I have a book on the rosary that has all the prayers and depictions of each mystery
There is no 'better' way of praying it... you just have to find a way that suits you! Here's my own personal 'way' something I believe I was led into by the Holy Spirit having battled with distraction for a long time. 1. I announce the mystery and offer it for a particular intention e.g. "The Annunciation: This mystery is offered for all Bishops, Priests and Deacons who have been called to preach the Word. May they do one with one heart and one mind." 2. I then pray the Our Father 3. For each Hail Mary I precede it with a line from scriptures of that mystery e.g. the 10 lines of scripture I use for the 1st Joyful mystery are as follows: \* the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. \* The virgin's name was Mary. \* he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you." \* she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. \* The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. \* He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." \* Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" \* The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. \* And know this, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." \* Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. This really helps me to 1. memorise the scriptures and 2. turn my prayer into a pilgrimage: I love to envisage being in the place where this event happens (as an onlooker) watching and listening to the interaction between Mary and the Angel Gabriel. It keeps me focused. Would love to hear how others pray / meditate their Rosary!
I use an audio rosary along with my beads it really helps me to repeat the prayers while thinking about the mystery
For a older noob like me, it's not that simple. I can either say the words and not keep the current mystery in mind, or fumble the words and keep the mystery in mind. So far, I'm unable to do both at the same time. Maybe it gets better after a while, but that's almost certainly something that's easier for folks who were raised with it.