The Mysteries of the Rosary are a key part of this popular devotional practice. There are five main Mysteries, which are traditionally divided into three sets: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. Each Mystery corresponds to a specific event in the life of Jesus Christ or in the lives of Mary and Joseph.
The first Mystery is the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to the Son of God. The second Mystery is the Visitation, when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and proclaimed her own faith in God's plan. The third Mystery is the Nativity, when Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. The fourth Mystery is the Presentation, when Jesus was presented in the Temple and acknowledged as Lord by Simeon. The fifth Mystery is the Finding in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph found Jesus teaching in Jerusalem after they had searched for him for three days.
These five events form a foundation for our understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do. They also provide us with model for our own lives: we are called to be obedient like Mary; we are called to proclaim our faith like Elizabeth; we are called to be humble like Jesus; we are called present our bodies as living sacrifices like Christ; and we are called seek out wisdom like Joseph and Mary did when they found Jesus in the Temple.