Can non-Catholics explain what the Rosary focuses on?

[Gareth]

As a Catholic we also have something else to overcome bad language and that is the Divine Praises;

Blessed be God!
Blessed be his Holy Name!
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man!
Blessed be the Name of Jesus!
Blessed be his Most Sacred Heart!
Blessed be his Most Precious Blood!
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete!
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy!
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception!
Blessed be her glorious Assumption!
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother!
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse!
Blessed be God in his Angles and his Saints!

Yes it sure does work. And God pours graces on you accordingly. Yes we should strive to live a sin free life but we know that we are weak and we constantly sin. As a Catholic I know that my venial sins are still kicking at times. But I pray to stay away from mortal sin. Confession and receiving Jesus in Holy Communion along with the Rosary helps a lot with keeping mortal sin away.

I’ll definitly try the Divine praises as well, I also believe in the Real Prescence and totally agree with you about recieving Holy Communion regularly, as it also forces you to think about your actions in preparation for it each week.

Anglicans have confession available if you want it, it’s somthing I’ve only done once, I actually have an accountability partner I talk to, about certain issues and this helps. If confession was more common, I’d like to use it, it’s one of the main things I like about the Roman Catholic Church.

The other think I find helpful is; in the Spiritual Excercises St. Ignatius speaks of placing dots on a piece of paper when trying to overcome certain faults, so I do this, and then say a decade for each dot. This gives me a consequence for my swearing, and while you could think of it unhealthily (as a punishment) I think of it as medicine, obivously the sicker you are the more you should take.

I read my posts and think I may as well become a Catholic.

 

[AlegreFe]

I’ll definitly try the Divine praises as well, I also believe in the Real Prescence and totally agree with you about recieving Holy Communion regularly, as it also forces you to think about your actions in preparation for it each week.

Are you sure you’re Protestant?

Gareth:

Anglicans have confession available if you want it, it’s somthing I’ve only done once, I actually have an accountability partner I talk to, about certain issues and this helps. If confession was more common, I’d like to use it, it’s one of the main things I like about the Roman Catholic Church.

Wow, I didn’t know that. You have accountability partner? That sounds like “confess your sins one to another” doesn’t it?

Gareth:

The other think I find helpful is; in the Spiritual Excercises St. Ignatius speaks of placing dots on a piece of paper when trying to overcome certain faults, so I do this, and then say a decade for each dot. This gives me a consequence for my swearing, and while you could think of it unhealthily (as a punishment) I think of it as medicine, obivously the sicker you are the more you should take.

That’s good. It sounds like the Rosary. You say that you “say a decade for each dot?” A decade of what?

When I say the Rosary, I definitely don’t think of it as punishment but as spiritual food for my soul because I am meditating on the life of Jesus Christ. So yes, medicine. And “the sicker you are the more you should take” is right! You know what that sounds like? GRACE! God’s Grace abounds when we sin. So when we sin we should realize that and then breathe in that Grace that God gives us so that we can repent, go to Confession and then receive Jesus in Holy Communion so that we can be in a State of Grace. That is what I truly believe as a Catholic.

Gareth:

I read my posts and think I may as well become a Catholic.

:dancing: :yup: :bounce: We would love to have you! And so would Jesus! He would love to see you in His Church! You are more than welcome!

 

[whatevergirl]

Sorry it doesn,t help. You missed what Jesus said. It went right over your head. Again why would I want to pray to a saint when Jesus clearly says to ask in His name and it shall be granted. Do we trust and have faith in what Jesus is saying?

so–you never pray for others, then? you didn’t answer my question. do you pray FOR others, and have you ever asked someone to pray for you?

 

[IHS]

so–you never pray for others, then? you didn’t answer my question. do you pray FOR others, and have you ever asked someone to pray for you?

I believe I have answered this question in previous posts.

 

[twiggymoo]

Hang on, let me check my Bible for the part that says, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death.”

One thing I want to interject about prayer is this…Protestants like to form their own stammering prayers which many essentially are repititive. I attend an evangelical church (still on my journey to Rome) and someone is always called upon to pray before the service and it is usually like that. It’s like they think God doesn’t hear written prayers. I find that written prayers help me to focus more and they are very relevant and as sincere as those stammering prayers.
I find the Rosary helps me to focus on the eternal and I have a greater appreciation for Mary, Mother of God. Her holy example is our Light, our Sweetness, and our Hope.

 

[jonfan]

Saint Paul prayed for the saints.

Col:
1:2. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus who are at Colossa.

1:3. Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.

And here is a prayer of supplication that also recognizes the good work that Christ put in Servants and Saints.

Phil 1
1:1. Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

1:2. Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3. I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you:

1:4. Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all with joy:

1:5. For your communication in the gospel of Christ, from the first day unto now.

1:6. Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

But to get back to the original point of this post if St. Paul can pray for supplication for others including the saints to Christ and through the Body of Christ why can’t you focus on Christ with other examples? Does not a boy learn through his parents? Does this mean the boy does not love or worship God? This is what the Rosary does. I am sure a lot of people have been brought to Christ through the bible. This doesn’t mean you worship the Bible. This doesn’t mean you worship Jonah and his whale.

God bless,
Jon

GOd bless,
Jon

 

[MariaG]

I believe I have answered this question in previous posts.

So respectfully, why don’t you believe that the Entire body of Christ is called to pray for one another? Why do you give Satan power over the followers of Christ in death and separate the body of Christ?

Those in heaven are more alive than you and I. Christ defeated death. We are one body. What about that is untrue? And if true, why is it wrong to ask though who are alive in Christ to pray for us, and asking all through Christ Our Lord?

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

 

[IHS]

So respectfully, why don’t you believe that the Entire body of Christ is called to pray for one another? Why do you give Satan power over the followers of Christ in death and separate the body of Christ?

Those in heaven are more alive than you and I. Christ defeated death. We are one body. What about that is untrue? And if true, why is it wrong to ask though who are alive in Christ to pray for us, and asking all through Christ Our Lord?

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

Maria ,I know you believe Gods Word to be Truth. Jesus clearly tells us to ask anything in His name and it will be granted. Why would I pray to anyone else? .

 

[IHS]

Saint Paul prayed for the saints.

Col:
1:2. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus who are at Colossa.

1:3. Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.

And here is a prayer of supplication that also recognizes the good work that Christ put in Servants and Saints.

Phil 1
1:1. Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

1:2. Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3. I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you:

1:4. Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all with joy:

1:5. For your communication in the gospel of Christ, from the first day unto now.

1:6. Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

But to get back to the original point of this post if St. Paul can pray for supplication for others including the saints to Christ and through the Body of Christ why can’t you focus on Christ with other examples? Does not a boy learn through his parents? Does this mean the boy does not love or worship God? This is what the Rosary does. I am sure a lot of people have been brought to Christ through the bible. This doesn’t mean you worship the Bible. This doesn’t mean you worship Jonah and his whale.

God bless,
Jon

GOd bless,
Jon

St.Paul prayed for the saints not TO the saints. There is a difference.

 

[MariaG]

Maria ,I know you believe Gods Word to be Truth. Jesus clearly tells us to ask anything in His name and it will be granted. Why would I pray to anyone else? .

YES! I 100% believe God’s word to be Truth.

But we are not “praying” to the saints in the manner you mean here.

And the answer is, we should NEVER pray and worship anyone as we do God as scripture tells us.

But there is a difference between praying to God and praying to Saints, more accurately said, asking saints to pray for us in today’s language.

Asking saints to pray for us is no different than me asking you to pray for me. I know you do not think it is wrong for fellow saints to ask other saints to pray for each other so why is it wrong for saints on earth to ask the saints in heaven to pray for us?

What is the difference?

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

 

[Jeanette_L]

So respectfully, why don’t you believe that the Entire body of Christ is called to pray for one another? Why do you give Satan power over the followers of Christ in death and separate the body of Christ?

Those in heaven are more alive than you and I. Christ defeated death. We are one body. What about that is untrue? And if true, why is it wrong to ask though who are alive in Christ to pray for us, and asking all through Christ Our Lord?

YES! I 100% believe God’s word to be Truth.

But we are not “praying” to the saints in the manner you mean here.

And the answer is, we should NEVER pray and worship anyone as we do God as scripture tells us.

But there is a difference between praying to God and praying to Saints, more accurately said, asking saints to pray for us in today’s language.

Asking saints to pray for us is no different than me asking you to pray for me. I know you do not think it is wrong for fellow saints to ask other saints to pray for each other so why is it wrong for saints on earth to ask the saints in heaven to pray for us?

What is the difference?

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

It really is so simple, and yet people try to make it out to be so difficult! They get hung up on the word “prayer”, not understanding it to mean “request” or simply “asking a favor” from one member of Christ to another. :whacky: These same people would have no problem asking their best friend to pray for them, this somehow isn’t a theological wall, though it is exactly the same act.

Fear is an awsome emotion, it keeps some of the best and brightest people in chains often times.

 

[MariaG]

It really is so simple, and yet people try to make it out to be so difficult! They get hung up on the word “prayer”, not understanding it to mean “request” or simply “asking a favor” from one member of Christ to another. :whacky: These same people would have no problem asking their best friend to pray for them, this somehow isn’t a theological wall, though it is exactly the same act.

Fear is an awsome emotion, it keeps some of the best and brightest people in chains often times.

Yes, it is true that fear keeps people in chains.

Christ freed us from the prison of death. Our God is not the God of the dead but of the living. Yet many Christians mistake the death of the body with a separation from the body of Christ from those who are living.

Truly, I would think the communion of Saints would be easier for Baptists to understand since they believe once one is part of the body of Christ, nothing can separate them from His hand. And yet, many non-Catholic Chrisitians allow death to separate the body of Christ. This belief is completely contrary to scripture.

Are not those who are here on earth Christ’s hands and feet showing the love of Christ to those who do not know Him? Do those who die in His love, truly die and are cut off from His body or do the promises in Scripture really mean something? Are we One Body? How does death separate the Body of Christ when Christ conquered death?

In today’s common use of the word prayer by non-Catholics, Catholics DO NOT pray to the saints in heaven. We ask them to pray for us just as There is no difference between asking a saint who is right next to us, a saint online, or a saint in heaven to pray for us. All of those are part of the Body of Christ. As such, it is proper and appropriate to ask saints, (since there is no such thing as a “dead” saint) for prayer.

Christ Has conquered death! We are still united with those who have died and were saved, united through His Power and for His Glory!

God Bless,
Maria

 

[valient_Lucy]

We do have different bodies. In heaven we have glorified bodies. On earth we have carnal bodies, for we know human flesh cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven…(1Corinth 15;44)

Don’t you believe in the Resurrection and the Ascension? After the Resurrection, Christ had His earthly body (if he did not, why was His body not in the tomb? Did it dissapear? ) At the Ascension, he rose Body and Soul, into Heaven. Do you believe that Christ somehow shed his earthly body in heaven? If so, on what basis do you believe that? Does the Bible say that Christ eliminated his earthly body in heaven? What about Elijah, who was taken up to heaven body and soul, without dying? If death is the seperation of the soul from the body, did he die in heaven? Why did God take his earthly body to heaven if flesh cannot enter into heaven?
Keep in mind, the human body is NOT evil. It is SIN that is evil, and it is SIN that CANNOT enter into heaven. St. Paul refers to our sinful nature as flesh, but the body is NOT evil. That is Gnosticism, which also denied the Incarnation.

 

[LilyM]

St.Paul prayed for the saints not TO the saints. There is a difference.

IHS - if he asked them to pray for him then he did in fact pray to 'em. As has been pointed out, ‘pray’ simply means ask or request. So one makes a request to them to make a request to God for something.

Copeesh?

 

[valient_Lucy]

St.Paul prayed for the saints not TO the saints. There is a difference.

Pray means “to ask.” If St. Paul asked other Christians to pray for him, then he DID pray TO them. Also, if he prayed FOR other Christians, then he served as a mediator between God and those Christians.

 

[believers]

What do you think the psalms are if not prayers?

YES.

Yes Baptism washes away Original Sin for infant baptizm. And if a convert comes in to the Catholic Church that has not been baptized, they can be baptized into the Catholic Church and with the Sacrament of Baptizm Original Sin is forgiven AND all their OWN sins are ALSO forgiven.

You were already baptized as an infant so your original sin was wiped clean. But let’s say you were never baptized and you want to come back to the Catholic Church, you would be baptized and then ALL your sins would be forgiven including Original Sin.

What did you think? That I was going to say that Baptizm ONLY washes away Original sin? Well you thought wrong.

Psalms in and of itself IS NOT a prayer. Jesus said, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven… "

NOTICE how is says… “OUR FATHER” and NOT HAIL MARY.

How exactly do you believe that the blood of Jesus washes ALL your sins, then you say that baptism washes away sins? You just contradicted yourself.

 

[LilyM]

Psalms in and of itself IS NOT a prayer. Jesus said, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven… "

NOTICE how is says… “OUR FATHER” and NOT HAIL MARY.

How exactly do you believe that the blood of Jesus washes ALL your sins, then you say that baptism washes away sins? You just contradicted yourself.

By that logic nothing AT ALL apart from the Our Father is a prayer in and of itself - not your made-up spontaneous outpourings, not any of the contents of your church services, nothing but the Our Father.

If God’s own messenger, the Angel Gabriel, can say ‘Hail full of grace’ to Mary (are you saying that you know better than the angels what is pleasing to God?), if he and Elizabeth can BOTH say ‘blessed are you among women’ and if she can both predict and request that all generations call her blessed, then of course we can say the ‘Hail Mary’.

 

[jmcrae]

Psalms in and of itself IS NOT a prayer. Jesus said, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven… "

NOTICE how is says… “OUR FATHER” and NOT HAIL MARY.

No, it was the Angel Gabriel who said “Hail, Mary.” (Luke 1:28) We don’t worship Mary; we ask her to pray for us, and we praise her for her obedience to God, and we try to follow the example that she has set for us.

How exactly do you believe that the blood of Jesus washes ALL your sins, then you say that baptism washes away sins? You just contradicted yourself.

No he didn’t. Baptism is the first of the Sacraments.

A Sacrament is a means of grace.

A means of grace is a kind of “time machine” connecting us up to Christ on the Cross.

The blood of Christ washes us in Baptism because Baptism is a Sacrament.

Christ’s blood comes through the Sacrament in a spiritual way - it travels through time and space by means of the Sacraments - to wash us clean.

Remember the blood and water that poured forth from Jesus’ side when He died? (John 19:31ff)

 

[believers]

By that logic nothing AT ALL apart from the Our Father is a prayer in and of itself - not your made-up spontaneous outpourings, not any of the contents of your church services, nothing but the Our Father.

If God’s own messenger, the Angel Gabriel, can say ‘Hail full of grace’ to Mary (are you saying that you know better than the angels what is pleasing to God?), if he and Elizabeth can BOTH say ‘blessed are you among women’ and if she can both predict and request that all generations call her blessed, then of course we can say the ‘Hail Mary’.

Jesus said and I obey. Did Jesus say to pray to anyone other than the Father?

 

[jmcrae]

Jesus said and I obey. Did Jesus say to pray to anyone other than the Father?

Did Jesus ever say that we are not allowed to talk to anyone other than the Father?