Can non-Catholics explain what the Rosary focuses on?

[whatevergirl]

It’s up to you. Do what you want and I’ll do what the Bible says. I am always open to reproof. The Bible says not to repeat and I obey it. Because if I hate reproof, the Bible says I shall die.

I think the Bible’s meaning behind the statement of ‘not repeating,’ is to do it with no meaning…like the Pharisees…they just repeated things, thinking that through repition alone, this was somehow going to grab God’s attention, more than someone who simply stated…"Please forgive me God, I’m a poor sinner,’’ for example. That’s my take on it, anyways. I can’t see why repeating verses, when said with heartfelt and holy intentions, would be ‘wrong?’ But, to each’s own. Just wanted to comment on your post.

 

[whatevergirl]

This may sound really unusual, but when I pray the Rosary…it’s as though Mary’s and Jesus’ presence are literally in the room with me…almost like a ‘family’ listening to my prayers…my needs…my thanksgiving, etc…

It’s neat…has anyone else had such an experience praying the Rosary…or the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy?

 

[Mickey]

Sadly, sometimes people accuse Catholics are being vainly repetitious with their prayers, and there is no amount of appeal to Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition that will convince them otherwise. They will believe what has been ingrained in their minds over a long period of time. Sometimes we must shake the dust from our sandals and say a rosary for those who would mock us.

 

[Mickey]

It’s neat…has anyone else had such an experience praying the Rosary…or the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy?

Absolutely!

 

[IHS]

Why do catholics not pray directly to Jesus? Jesus said ask anything in my name and it shall be granted.Jesus said no one can come to the Father but through me. Jesus is the sole mediator to the Father. Why seek Mary when Jesus tells usk to ask Him? .

 

[LilyM]

Why do catholics not pray directly to Jesus? Jesus said ask anything in my name and it shall be granted.Jesus said no one can come to the Father but through me. Jesus is the sole mediator to the Father. Why seek Mary when Jesus tells usk to ask Him? .

Because there’s power in group prayer - that’s why Paul constantly requests those he writes to to pray with and for each other and for him, and he tells them of his prayers for them, and James says ‘the prayer of a righteous man availeth much’.

We Catholics believe that the righteous who have passed on are nonetheless still very much alive in Christ and active in his service, and able to pray with us and for us just like our fellow humans do

So we talk to them to ask for their prayers, same as if I asked you to pray for me.

 

[jim1130]

Why do catholics not pray directly to Jesus? Jesus said ask anything in my name and it shall be granted.Jesus said no one can come to the Father but through me. Jesus is the sole mediator to the Father. Why seek Mary when Jesus tells usk to ask Him? .

We ask ALL prayers through Christ our Lord. The Rosary is Christ centered. We are asking Mary to join in our prayers and pray along with us and for us though Christ our Lord. I even ask the Apostles, the Martyrs, the Saints, and the Angels and Archangels to pray the Rosary with me, and I ask them to keep praying for my intentions throughout the day.

Do not fear what you may have heard: That the Rosary is “worshipping” Mary and that we are bypassing Christ. I pray the Rosary because it allows me to center upon Christ. Catholics are not required to pray the Rosary, but it is a fine instrument of prayer.

 

[cazayoux]

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus, thank you for this day and all the blessings we’ve received. Thank you Father for bringing us together today for fellowship. We honor you Father for all that you’ve done. We give you the honor and glory. We praise your name and your name alone. In Jesus Name, Amen

That is a beautiful prayer. Thank you.

michel

 

[cazayoux]

That verse is very clear. Don’t create “much speaking” by repitition. God’s Word says it’s vain. But do what you want. I’ll believe the Word and only the Word.

It’s not just what I want to do.
Just like you, I want is to be inline with Christ’s teachings.
I’m hoping that you are here to help your brother Christians out of a sense of charity and not just here to be argumentative.

Let’s look at this verse again.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

You are not correct in reading it this way.

But when ye pray, use not repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

So we have a difference in how to read (interpret) this passage.
Why is your interpretation better than mine?
In your opinion, as I pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, do I have the authority to interpret this passage myself? If you ask the same question of yourself, is the answer the same?

michel

 

[jmcrae]

Why do catholics not pray directly to Jesus? Jesus said ask anything in my name and it shall be granted.Jesus said no one can come to the Father but through me. Jesus is the sole mediator to the Father. Why seek Mary when Jesus tells usk to ask Him? .

We do. In the Rosary, we are standing next to Mary, and Mary and us are both looking at Jesus.

Mary prays for us because that’s what the Communion of Saints is all about (all Christians affirm that they believe in the Communion of Saints in the Apostles’ Creed) - us all praying for each other. Mary doesn’t need our prayers, but we can ask to pray with her, to her Son, as we do in the Rosary, and we can also ask her to pray for us, just as we can ask anyone to pray for us, whenever we are in a time of need.

 

[cecilia97]

According to Webster,

Praying a pray twice, thrice or even 150 times, does not make it worthless or idle.

Amen! Christ prayed the same thing three TIMES in the Garden of Olives.

 

[Steadfast]

What is prayer if not communication with God?

What is a hymn if not a song sung to God?

What is a song sung to God if not communication with Him?

A hymn is certainly a prayer.

Luther said, “He who sings, prays twice.”

 

[Jeanette_L]

Sadly, sometimes people accuse Catholics are being vainly repetitious with their prayers, and there is no amount of appeal to Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition that will convince them otherwise. They will believe what has been ingrained in their minds over a long period of time. Sometimes we must shake the dust from our sandals and say a rosary for those who would mock us.

I get this argument all the time from my Evangelical family concerning vain repetitions, ie, the Rosary…and I used to buy into the arguments myself until I really stopped and thought about them, I mean really thought them through.

The funny thing is, they don’t apply it to themselves. They tend to say the same prayers all the time. The same formula used at meals, the same formula used before travel, the same formula when praying for the sick, the same formula before bible devotions…

Lets face it, we as humans have a limited vocabulary. We tend to pray about the same things, the same people, the same situations, on a daily basis. There are only so many variations on how to pray for these things. It seems you can spend way too much energy on trying to come up with creative ways to say these prayers, when really, God is only concerned that you pray! And pray from the heart! And you can use the same prayer everyday and pray it from the heart and God will be very pleased!

Sometimes these arguments about repeating yourself are just ridiculous. They are hypocrytical and illogical and ridiculous. :tsktsk:

(and if you ask me, I’ll tell you how I really feel about it! )

 

[Mr.Ex_Nihilo]

Actually if you want the math behind it here you go:
We reiterate all our core beliefs once in the Creed.
I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, I believe in the Communion of Saints, I believe in the ressurection of the body, I believe in life everlasting. this gives 3 references to God.

We pray the the Our Father six times during the Rosary. This means that the seven fold prayer within the Our Father is repeated six times giving 42 direct prayers to the Father.

Then we have six Gloria’s each of which give three fold glory to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit of the Trinity gives another 18 prayers directly to the one God of the Trinity.

This gives a total of 63 prayers to God so far since prayer is a raising of the heart and mind to God.

God is mentioned in every Hail Mary. Therefore another 53 mentions of God.

The name Jesus is mentioned at the heart of each Hail Mary which is another 53 times we mention the name of Jesus.

At the end of each decade we call on Jesus to save us from the fires of hell which is another 5 times we call on His Holy Name.

How are we doing? I make it 174 clear references to God in the Rosary.

Mary is mentioned twice in each of the 53 Hail Marys = 106 references.

Mathematically the Rosary is focused on God and directed to God through Mary.

Excellent point! :clapping:

 

[bella5110]

I get this argument all the time from my Evangelical family concerning vain repetitions, ie, the Rosary…and I used to buy into the arguments myself until I really stopped and thought about them, I mean really thought them through.

The funny thing is, they don’t apply it to themselves. They tend to say the same prayers all the time. The same formula used at meals, the same formula used before travel, the same formula when praying for the sick, the same formula before bible devotions…

Lets face it, we as humans have a limited vocabulary. We tend to pray about the same things, the same people, the same situations, on a daily basis. There are only so many variations on how to pray for these things. It seems you can spend way too much energy on trying to come up with creative ways to say these prayers, when really, God is only concerned that you pray! And pray from the heart! And you can use the same prayer everyday and pray it from the heart and God will be very pleased!

Sometimes these arguments about repeating yourself are just ridiculous. They are hypocrytical and illogical and ridiculous. :tsktsk:

(and if you ask me, I’ll tell you how I really feel about it! )

Talk about being repititious, a friend of mine who wants to be a Catholic, said last week at her church, they repeated the same verse 42 times in a row “Jesus save me etc…”

 

[Mickey]

What is prayer if not communication with God?

What is a hymn if not a song sung to God?

What is a song sung to God if not communication with Him?

A hymn is certainly a prayer.

Amen Steadfast. The psalms are sometimes referred to as “the school of prayer”. As a matter of fact the entire Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgy is sung.

Luther said, “He who sings, prays twice.”

Actually, it was St Augustine who said this.

For he that singeth praise, not only praiseth, but only praiseth with gladness: he that singeth praise, not only singeth, but also loveth him of whom he singeth. In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing; in singing, the affection of one loving."
(St. Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 73, 1)

Apparently this has been abridged to “He who sings prays twice” over the centuries.

The quote is referenced in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1156: 1156"The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. The Church continues and develops this tradition: “Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.” "He who sings prays twice."

 

[Mickey]

Talk about being repititious, a friend of mine who wants to be a Catholic, said last week at her church, they repeated the same verse 42 times in a row “Jesus save me etc…”

There’s nothing wrong with that–as long as it is prayed with the heart. The Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches use a pray rope called “Komboskini” in Greek, and “Chotki” in Rusyn. On each knot of the rope we say “The Jesus prayer” (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner). There are prayer ropes with 30, 50 ,and 100 knots and there is no limit as to how many times you recite this powerful prayer. It is a wonderful meditation.

 

[bella5110]

There’s nothing wrong with that–as long as it is prayed with the heart. The Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches use a pray rope called “Komboskini” in Greek, and “Chotki” in Rusyn. On each knot of the rope we say “The Jesus prayer” (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner). There are prayer ropes with 30, 50 ,and 100 knots and there is no limit as to how many times you recite this powerful prayer. It is a wonderful meditation.

This is not the same, you misunderstood. Saying Jesus save me 42 times in a row, with clapping and such. I don’t think the Eastern Orthodox do that.

 

[Mickey]

This is not the same, you misunderstood. Saying Jesus save me 42 times in a row, with clapping and such. I don’t think the Eastern Orthodox do that.

I didn’t say the Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox do that–and I do not misunderstand you. I am saying that if someone wants to say “Jesus save me” 42 times in a row with clapping and such it is okay. If they do this from the heart, who are you to say it is wrong?

 

[bella5110]

I didn’t say the Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox do that–and I do not misunderstand you. I am saying that if someone wants to say “Jesus save me” 42 times in a row with clapping and such it is okay. If they do this from the heart, who are you to say it is wrong?

Is this another Catholic arguement? Because I am getting tired of them. I didn’t say it was wrong SHE said it and that’s all that matters.