2 rosaries

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Kathrin

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I am very hopeful that some people here, who have been sooo supportive, can give me their true opinions here.

At the end of this month I am going on a long trip and there is an issue (or some issues) I am nervous about. I decided to say a rosary every day until then; I have done this before and it has helped me.
I am a LITTLE afraid that I do it out of compulsion, as in: If I do, things will turn out fine.
But the part in me that does it out of faith is strong and it has felt good before, doing this… I just wouldn’t want to offend God by praying compulsively!!

Now, remembering that in November we pray for the souls of the dead, I thought, hm, I should really say a rosary for the souls of the dead every day for the rest of this month. (Praying just for myself seeming a bit selfish, maybe?)

So I decided to say two rosaries every day for the rest of this month.

It feels, on a level, very good and spiritual. But a part of me is still afraid I do it out of compulsion and that when I tell myself it feels good I am just fooling myself.

If I post this here and get some good feedback on it, maybe I will feel better about it!
(But please also tell me that if you think in my case, with my scrupulosity issues, I shouldn’t do it at all.)

I really don’t want to pray compulsively.
But sometimes it is hard to differentiate!
And part of me is afraid it might set a whole new compulsion thing into motion, like: Ok, if I pray for this, I also have to pray for THAT…

While deep inside I know praying is not a HAVE TO but a WANT TO and of course, everybody can only do so much (or, so much at a time).

Maybe the meditation of it will be good for me. But I want to do it for the right reasons!!

Kathrin
 
Kathrin said:
I really don’t want to pray compulsively.
But sometimes it is hard to differentiate!
And part of me is afraid it might set a whole new compulsion thing into motion, like: Ok, if I pray for this, I also have to pray for THAT…
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Well, to be honest, I wish more people had the compulsion to pray. If you are blessed by feeling compelled to pray, praise God… there are certainly worse things to be compelled to do. God bless and try to relax. God bless you.
 
St. Bernadette would pray the rosary when she was nervous. I agree with the previous poster, we should all pray at all times during the day, but especially when we are tempted, nervous, and such. It shows in a way our dependence on God and that we trust everything is in his hands. If you have not done so already, I would suggest you get a good rosary meditation book. I personally like and use Fr. Peyton’s Rosary Prayer Book.
 
Kathrin said:
While deep inside I know praying is not a HAVE TO but a WANT TO and of course, everybody can only do so much (or, so much at a time).
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I wish praying was a ‘want to’ for me most days. If you have the desire to pray, go for it. I don’t think it’s possible to pray too much. If you have the time and the desire to pray 2 rosaries per day, that’s awesome. You’re turning to God for help with your problems; I don’t see anything wrong with that at all. 😃
 
Thanks, everybody.🙂

I think I was mostly concerned because I do have a history of severe OCD, including superstitious OCD (telling myself if I didn’t do certain things bad things would happen to me or somebody else). And I would not want to pray just because I am afraid that if I don’t, something bad will happen - that is, I would pray out of anxiety.
But then, yes, of course, anxiety is RELIEVED by prayer. It is really a delicate issue.🤷

I think for somebody who has problems with scrupulosity and/or OCD, things sometimes take on a different form.

I have had much worse times though and I really really want to get over all that anxiety stuff and trust the Lord!!!

Kathrin
 
St. Louis de Montfort includes the following in his instructions for praying the rosary: “Holy Trinity, I offer this Creed in honor of all the mysteries of the faith, this Our Father and these three Hail Marys in honor of the unity of your Essence and the Trinity of your persons. I ask for a lively faith, a firm hope, and an ardent charity.”
Each day as I begin the rosary, I consecrate all my family members to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After I end the rosary, I add a number of other prayers including “Eternal Father, I offer you all the Masses being said today throughout the World for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.” I end with “May the divine assistance remain with us always and may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.” Saying that simple prayer rather than another rosary should help if you are concerned about scrupulosity.
I do pray the complete rosary on Saturdays which the Church has set aside for Mary, the mother of God because it is the day that she mourned the death of her son.
 
Kathrin said:
Thanks, everybody.🙂

I think I was mostly concerned because I do have a history of severe OCD, including superstitious OCD (telling myself if I didn’t do certain things bad things would happen to me or somebody else). And I would not want to pray just because I am afraid that if I don’t, something bad will happen - that is, I would pray out of anxiety.
But then, yes, of course, anxiety is RELIEVED by prayer. It is really a delicate issue.🤷

I think for somebody who has problems with scrupulosity and/or OCD, things sometimes take on a different form.

I have had much worse times though and I really really want to get over all that anxiety stuff and trust the Lord!!!

Kathrin
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If you have problems with OCD/scrupulosity issues, I would suggest that you put a limit on yourself as to the number of rosaries you “allow” yourself to pray. Just limit yourself to one or two. Also, if you’re worried about you’re prayer intentions, just offer the rosary to the Lord and our Blessed Mother, and let them decide where the graces will be most needed.
Or mention a few (yes, just a few) of your specific intentions at the beginning of the rosary, and then tell the Lord to put any other intentions that he wishes to on the the prayers too. He knows who/what issues need praying for better than we do, and just trust that he will use the rosary to the best advantage for everyone.

I hope this helps.🙂
 
It does help, Mary. Thank you! 🙂

I came up with a solution I think!!! I don’t know if any of you have read my other post “special prayers”. That one I posted because I really got into a struggle with myself about that prayer that is said to free 1000 souls from purgatory every time it is said. I was wondering, now, do we have to say it all day long to free as many sould as possible? While a part of me doesn’t quite totally believe that God would work this way???

Anyway, I thought that for the rest of this month of November, I could say one rosary per day and instead of the other rosary use the length of the rosary to repeat that other prayer? That would then be the one specifically for the souls.

I feel kind of guilty though of breaking my two rosary intention. But maybe this one is even better?
I did say two rosaries yesterday.

I generally have this problem: If I intend to do something, am I bound to it, or can I change my mind later…

Kathrin
 
Kathrin said:
It does help, Mary. Thank you! 🙂

I came up with a solution I think!!! I don’t know if any of you have read my other post “special prayers”. That one I posted because I really got into a struggle with myself about that prayer that is said to free 1000 souls from purgatory every time it is said. I was wondering, now, do we have to say it all day long to free as many sould as possible? While a part of me doesn’t quite totally believe that God would work this way???

Anyway, I thought that for the rest of this month of November, I could say one rosary per day and instead of the other rosary use the length of the rosary to repeat that other prayer? That would then be the one specifically for the souls.

I feel kind of guilty though of breaking my two rosary intention. But maybe this one is even better?
I did say two rosaries yesterday.

I generally have this problem: If I intend to do something, am I bound to it, or can I change my mind later…

Kathrin
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Modifying what prayers you say in a day isn’t a bad thing! I know I enjoy variety. 😃 Unless you’re changing what prayers you say for selfish reasons… But that’s another topic altogether, which I think I might start a thread on. Anyways, in your case, don’t worry about it. 2 rosaries, 1 rosary and a rosary-worth of this other special prayer; I think God will just be happy that you’re praying to Him and for the intentions of others.
 
Kathrin said:
Thanks, everybody.🙂

I think I was mostly concerned because I do have a history of severe OCD, including superstitious OCD (telling myself if I didn’t do certain things bad things would happen to me or somebody else). And I would not want to pray just because I am afraid that if I don’t, something bad will happen - that is, I would pray out of anxiety.
But then, yes, of course, anxiety is RELIEVED by prayer. It is really a delicate issue.🤷

I think for somebody who has problems with scrupulosity and/or OCD, things sometimes take on a different form.

I have had much worse times though and I really really want to get over all that anxiety stuff and trust the Lord!!!

Kathrin
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Kathrin,
I also have probems with scrupulosity and OCD. I try to trust that God will take care of me, but at times, it just gets so difficult. I fear so many things…germs, even the cleaning products that I use to get rid of the germs. I think everything is going to hurt me. I don’t like handling my mail because I fear anthrax even though it makes no sense to think that way. I’m not on here much because I don’t have a computer at home so if you respond and don’t hear from me don’t think it’s because I’m ignoring you just know I will get on when I can. I pray and pray to be healed of my fears, phobias, worries, and anxieties because I know God doesn’t want us to live that way, but man, it’s hard sometimes. I will pray for you. I know everything will work for good. Take care. Have faith. May God Bless you.

J
 
The Divine Mercy is to be said at 3pm. There are other prayers that are scheduled to be prayed at a specific time of day.
God is not a stickler when it comes to detail. What is in our heart is more important than how many times we say a particular prayer or that we stop whatever we are doing at a particular moment to pray. What we are doing may actually be more important.
When it comes to the Divine Mercy, for instance, I will pray while waiting at the bus stop. It may not be 3:00 where I am, but it is 3:00 somewhere. I may be interrupted in the middle of my prayer. I learned this while praying the Divine Office. If somebody should telephone me, it was more important that I listen and help that person in his/her need than to complete the Office.
There is a story I once read about prayer. This monk had been praying for years for a vision. One day the vision appeared to him. At the same time the bell to serve the poor also rang. He was torn, but in obedience he answered the bell. When he returned to prayer, he prostrated himself before the vision. The vision said, “If you had not gone, I would have.”
I only pray the “Eternal Father, I offer the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in union with all the Masses said today throughout the world for all the holy souls in Purgatory” once a day. Your prayer has already been joined with all the Masses being said. Repitition is not necessary.
As mentioned in my earlier post, I consecrate my family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the beginning of my daily rosary. I may pray additional prayers after its recitation.
At Cursillo, a specific intention was mentioned at the beginning of each decade. There are a myriad ways of praying that are pleasing to God. Relax.
 
DebChris,

thank you for your reply. In my heart I feel exactly this: God is not a stickler for prayer. It is only when the OCD part of my brain wants to become active and starts bugging me about something, that I get confused. Even though that is not really the way I feel.

Thank you for all you said in your post.

I pray the rosary on the bus/train too. I usually don’t even have a rosary with me but use my fingers…😊

Kathrin
 
Kathrin said:
I pray the rosary on the bus/train too. I usually don’t even have a rosary with me but use my fingers…😊

Kathrin
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I pray the rosary that way often too. I usually have a rosary in my purse, but if I don’t I will just start praying.

Prayer times and those sorts of suggestions are mostly for people like me who would forgot or might skip prayers if there wasn’t a set time or format. People like you do not need those things. Your own intention to say 2 rosaries is enough to keep you going.

God is not a magic box (as I know you know) and does not ‘need’ our recitation of certain prayers at certain times to work his will. If you have time in your day without neglecting your duties to family to say 2 rosaries a day, than do so. The month is half over and your intentions for the poor souls in purgatory I am sure will be used by God no matter which prayer you say.

Enjoy your time away!
 
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