There is a school of thought that insists St. Dominic, credited by tradition with espousing the new Rosary, had little to do with it, or at best adopted this from existing chaplets of repetitive prayers. Whatever the ancient origin, The Rosary, now, and by holy tradition, tends to be this 'Dominican' Rosary; and even while there are other variations on The Rosary, it's this people mean most of the time. The Rosary consists of 10) Ave Marias (Latin, for Hail Marys), started off with 1) Pater (the Our Father, Lord's Prayer, Apostle's Prayer). And this decade of 10) Aves concludes with the Glory Be (or 'lesser' Doxology), and a prayer requested by Our Lady at Fatima (just this century).
 

  There are 15 of these decades in The Rosary, though one can say just 5) decades in a row, to complete the prayer – if one is unable to say all 15. Whichever number is begun with the Sign of the Cross, then the Apostle's Creed. This is followed by one Pater, and then three Hail Marys (for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). And however many decades conclude with the Salve Regina (or Hail, Holy Queen). There are even a few optional prayers, in addition to this.

  The other part, or other half, of the Rosary, beyond just the prayers, and the order of prayers, is what one prays about. It's not merely the repetition of a decade of 10) Aves, for say, 5) decades. There is a Mystery of our faith to be considered, to meditate on, while praying any one of the decades. It is important to think about the Mystery, how it ramified then, and now. The traditional association of Mystery with decade is as follows:
 

    These are brief descriptions, above. But I have provided separate pages for the Mysteries.

    It's important, at last, to take care with The Rosary. It seems a popular thing, among a few Catholics, to hurry off the prayers even in the specific interest, some say, of spending all their time on the meditation – on the Holy Mysteries. However, it's a false choice to pit one part of The Rosary against the other. Care must be taken to remove distractions, to speak the words aloud (to prevent the mind from wandering), and to meditate on the particular Mystery, as seen above, and not merely in imaginative images but in terms of what we actually know, and what seems to support that even by way of approved reports by Catholic visionaries.

    In order to fairly count the Aves of the decade, it's recommended one use the Rosary beads, or knotted cord, or whatever truly lends itself to this. And so, again, it's important to concentrate on what one is doing, so as not to lose count. And, on the other hand, it's important not to worry so much about the count that one forgets what the prayer means, and what the Mystery for that decade is all about. That is, as in all things Catholic, it's a matter measure, and a matter of proper proportion and application. And another way to help keep count, if one doesn't have the beads, is to clasp your hands together, in prayer, and count off the opposing knuckles with the fingertips of each hand, in turn, until you've reached 10.

    Perhaps the only 'skill' to the Rosary is learning not just the opening and closing prayers, perhaps – which are easy – but taking the care, slowing down – but not too slow you lose track of things in that way – to remember to say all the prayers in their time. If that's a skill, then it is one developed, I think, quickly if one's heart is in the prayer. And if one's heart is not in the prayer, if it's a mechanical thing, even mostly, then it's really not only not the Rosary, but not much of a prayer, at all.

    In sum, then, and with the additional prayers noted in passing, above, here is the Rosary.