A question concerning the Rosary

[jmm08]

I also find that I must sometimes re-read the “Fifteen Promises Of The Blessed Virgin To Christians Who Faithfully Pray The Rosary”

See pacifier.com/~rosarweb/nconobl.htm#prom

Padre Pio said “Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry”.
Padre Pio loved the Rosary. Generally speaking, he prayed it many times each day.

 

[Andruschak]

If you took time and understood it all, I am impressed.

…"

Please don’t be impressed. I did not understand it all, or even much of it, but enough to figure out that the Dominican Rosary is the one that the Pope wants us to pray daily, no substitutions allowed.

So however strange the suggested schedule is, that is the schedule I’ll use in the future (with one slight change).

Joyful Mysteries on Monday and saturday
Luminious Mysteries on Thursday (and Sunday)
Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday
Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sundays

Adding a second recital of the Luminous Mysteries on Sundays insures that all mysteries get two outings per week, and Sunday is when i would have enough time for 5+5=10 decades of Rosry.

 

[jmm08]

So however strange the suggested schedule is, that is the schedule I’ll use in the future (with one slight change).

My understanding is that there is a slight change during Lent. I haven’t really gotten used to the change during Lent.

And by the way, those are suggested days. However, I think it is best to pray along with the Church (if you are by yourself). When you find yourself praying with others in a group, just go ahead and pray whatever mysteries they happen to be praying.

You are in RCIA now, and I went through it just two years ago. There are so many things that bring so much joy. Take your time and enjoy each thing that you discover. And try to keep the joy that you discover with each thing. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you too much because some of the joy is in the discoverying itself. Imagine the glad surprise you would have if you discovered a treasure that you didn’t know about. Discovering and then enjoying the things that Jesus or Mary have for you can be such fun.

For me, one of the earliest joys I had was with Holy Water. I still find it so useful and I think I have found some additional uses that really matter. Sure, others have already made those discoveries as well. But it is so exciting to have something new and meaningful.

Perhaps it really is like a love relationship (an engagement to a spouse). You discover more and more that you like. And I think it is OK to take time and allow everything to grow on you more naturally.

 

[RedHawkCircles]

What about meditating on other intentions when saying the rosary? I find it easy to reflect and ask God for help or thank Him for different things on each prayer in the rosary. Is this ok?

 

[jmm08]

What about meditating on other intentions when saying the rosary? I find it easy to reflect and ask God for help or thank Him for different things on each prayer in the rosary. Is this ok?

Maybe it is OK. But I find it easier to just pray the Rosary without worrying about the intentions while I pray the Rosary. I may consider the intentions before, and more often I add the intentions at the end. It is hard enough to focus on and keep concentration in prayer without purposefully thinking of other things.

I think it was St. Bernard who was on horseback with a friend one day. He told his friend how he found it difficult to pray without distractions. St. Bernard’s friend said he had no such trouble at all.

St. Bernard replied with a brief challenge. “If you can pray the Lord’s prayer right now without being distracted, I’ll give you my horse.”

So the friend began to pray “Our Father who art in heaven – say can I have the saddle too?” So it is that distractions are more common in prayer than realized.

 

[harleymonk]

The Rosary is not a collection of magical formulas such that, if we say them faithfully (and say the “right” one), we will be graced with this, that, or the other.

The Rosary is, in fact, a device that fosters meditative prayer and is generally recited in the manner of lectio divina: slowly, deliberately, out loud, and with a quite mind.

During the course of vocal prayer, the Pater Noster, e.g., we speak, God listens. If one wishes, one can employ the Rosary vocally, (in whatever form) and say to God, “OK God, now I am going to say this Rosary and, in exchange, I want you to perform for me.”

During the course of meditative prayer, God speaks, we listen. The object of meditative prayer is to clear the mind of its noise so that we may perceive God’s voice - that “quiet whispering sound” - if He chooses to speak. Employing the Rosary meditatively (again, as in lectio) focuses our attention on the words and quiets the mind. What we say is not the point: it’s how we say it.

As an aside, I would note that one can employ the Rosary as a device that prompts one to call to mind Jesus’ Pascal sacrifice - as does a crucifix, an icon of Mary or the Sacred Heart, or the pain of my aching back. If that is the goal, then simply do whatever works.

May God Bless,

Monk