Can the Rosary be prayed during the EF Low Mass Liturgy?

[Timothysis]

The Mass is the supreme prayer of the Church, where we as the Body of Christ gather to offer Sacrifice in accord with Jesus’ own words to "do this in memory of me."

How can anyone think that for those 45 minutes they should pray a private devotion instead of focusing their entire heart, mind and soul on what is going on at the altar?

Pray the rosary before or after Mass; concentrate on what is going on *during *Mass.

 

[agnes_therese]

While the Rosary is an awesome, powerful, and important prayer, I cannot fathom why anyone would take their attention away from the holy sacrifice of the Mass for it.

 

[Laudate_Dominum]

Do you not understand what the rosary is? It’s a combination of vocal and mental prayer. If you meditate on the appropriate mysteries you will be contemplating the Mystery of the Altar.

 

[ProVobis]

It’s true that one does have to study the prayers of the mass in Latin to understand an EF mass, which doesn’t take too long, because they are relatively stagnant (in both Forms, for that matter), but it does take a little while.

To some extent this is true, but since much of the EF Low Mass is silent or low-toned, following the priest’s bows, genuflections, signs of cross, washing of hands, etc. can be a very valuable guide in understanding the Mass as well. In the EF Mass, there is much more than text which has deep meaning.

 

[Mike30]

Some people pray the Rosary during Mass, some don’t, some always have, some never will. If some people choose to do that is entirely their own concern. Not yours, not mine. Why should it concern those who do not choose to do so?

In one encyclical the Holy Father stated it was a mistake to do it, while stopping short of prohibiting it totally.

 

[Padraig1972]

Traditional or not traditional mass. I am at mass to attend the entire mass and show my love and devotion to the Lord and His sacrifice from day to day.

The rosay i pray before or after mass. But that is me. I am sure, if you ask 100 CAF members, you get like 100 different views about this. Or even more.

 

[Paxvobis]

The Rosary can be prayed at Holy Mass. That doesn’t mean it should be prayed at Holy Mass. The best way to pray the Holy Mass was told by Pope St. Pius X, who wrote “Don’t pray at Holy Mass, but pray the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists. It is the Sacrifice, dedicated by our Redeemer at the Cross, and repeated every day on the altar. If you wish to hear Mass as it should be heard, you must follow with eye, heart and mouth all that happens at the altar. Further, you must pray with the priest the holy words said by him in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens at the altar. When acting in this way, you have prayed Holy Mass.”

The best way to pray the Holy Mass is to follow the sacrifice and implore God to send down the graces of Calvary to your intention. The Rosary can definitely distract from this.

 

[TimothyH]

While the Rosary is an awesome, powerful, and important prayer, I cannot fathom why anyone would take their attention away from the holy sacrifice of the Mass for it.

The second person of the Trinity was made present by the power of the Holy Spirit through Mary. That hasn’t stopped.

The priest makes Christ present on the altar, by the power of the Holy Spirit. through…

Mary does not cease to be the means by which Christ is made present for us, physically present for us in Palestine 2000 years ago, sacramentally present for us on the altar, present in our hearts and souls, ever present, through Mary.

That’s why some pray the rosary. I try to pray a decade after receiving It is a wonderful way to remember that Christ comes to us, through Mary.

-Tim-

 

[mick321]

I’m stuck for an answer. Michelle Arnold on CA says that you probably shouldn’t, yet I don’t know if she means only for the OF or for the EF as well. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf says that he has no problem with it.

Traditionalist websites say that it is a pious practice and disapprove of the opinion that it should be discouraged: Whilst non-Traditionalist websites say that it should be discouraged, even though it is a pious practice: Your opinion?

To the OP:

Those who assist the Eucharistic Liturgy should unite their hearts, minds and voices with those of the priest in the Church’s formal corporate worship of God.

• First, before your EF Mass begins, ask the priest [who will offer the Mass] how he feels about the adding of non-liturgical prayers to the EF liturgy.
• Then, regardless of his response, NEVER pray the Rosary or say a even single Hail Mary during ANY Catholic Mass, EF, OF, high, low or otherwise.

Any website that would advocate this practice is NOT traditional. Feel free to pray the Rosary before or after Mass, privately or with others, anywhere in the world.

Fr. Z seems like a nice young man.

 

[thistle]

I believe that until someone does understand what is going on in an EF mass, that it is perfectly acceptable to pray the rosary instead.

It’s true that one does have to study the prayers of the mass in Latin to understand an EF mass, which doesn’t take too long, because they are relatively stagnant (in both Forms, for that matter), but it does take a little while.

Learning Latin prayers by heart does not mean you understand them.
Even Pope Benedict XVI said that priests wanting to say an EF Mass must have at least a proficient working knowledge of Latin and it is not enough just to learn the prayers by heart.

 

[ProVobis]

Learning Latin prayers by heart does not mean you understand them.

I don’t know what this has to do with the topic but how many understand them in their own language? Like a three year old knows what “hallowed” means when he prays? I’ve heard people pray “for our sinners” in the Hail Mary; one only hopes they don’t understand what they pray.

There was a rock group ABBA who sang and sold many English songs in the 70’s. Yet they couldn’t do an interview in English but did anyone complain?

 

[thistle]

I don’t know what this has to do with the topic but how many understand them in their own language? Like a three year old knows what “hallowed” means when he prays? I’ve heard people pray “for our sinners” in the Hail Mary; one only hopes they don’t understand what they pray.

There was a rock group ABBA who sang and sold many English songs in the 70’s. Yet they couldn’t do an interview in English but did anyone complain?

It was a response to the comment made by youngtradcath if you had bothered to read it.

 

[po18guy]

Should we not be immersing ourselves in the mystery of the Mass?
Should we not be giving our full attention to all that the Mass is before God, and in the words of the Liturgy, the readings, in the great privilege of the Mass?
There are plenty of times to say the Rosary.

***MYSTERIUM FIDEI ***ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI

ON THE HOLY EUCHARIST

2. For if the sacred liturgy holds first place in the life of the Church, then the Eucharistic Mystery stands at the heart and center of the liturgy, since it is the font of life that cleanses us and strengthens us to live not for ourselves but for God and to be united to each other by the closest ties of love.
vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium_en.html

"Christ’s love towards men was so great that not only was He willing to endure most cruel sufferings for our salvation and an atrocious death on the cross, but also He wished to nourish us eternally in the sacrament of His body and blood. In this way, He might strengthen us by the presence of His divinity and be the safest bulwark of our spiritual life… He decreed that that same sacrifice which He performed is to redeem the whole human race from the yoke of sin to reconcile all things in heaven and earth, and to remain until the consummation of the world. He decreed that it be renewed and take plaice daily by the ministry of the priesthood. Only the reason for the offering is diverse, namely, that the salvific and most abundant fruits of His passion might forever be dispersed upon mankind.

AMANTISSIMI REDEMPTORIS, ON PRIESTS AND THE CARE OF SOULS, ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS IX

1. In the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated by priests, the same life-giving victim is offered up. This entreaty reconciles us to God the Father. It “renews in a mysterious way the death of Christ, who having risen from the dead dies no longer. Death no longer has domination over Him. Still, He is sacrificed for us in the mystery of this sacred oblation.” papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9amant1.htm

What she says! We have the NO because so many were, in effect, disengaged from the eternal sacrifice via their engagement in private devotions such as the Rosary. There is a time and place for everything.

This is NOT a reflection upon the EF mass - only upon the actions of some within the mass.

 

[po18guy]

Learning Latin prayers by heart does not mean you understand them.

As a boy, I memorized the song “Dominique” by the Singing Nun. I still know it, but only recently learned its meaning from a French-speaking Priest.

 

[adstrinity]

There are quotes on this thread from TWO Popes who seem to not want people praying anything BUT the Mass during the Mass…but it hasn’t been forbidden.

That being said…The Rosary unites us to Jesus and Mary. I can not think of a more appropriate time to unite yourself to Jesus and Mary during the Mass.

I don’t know where I stand on this. I want to say yes, pray the Rosary (or it can be prayed…well, it CAN be prayed, but, the question is, is it right to do so?) during Mass, BUT, with the literacy rates of the west and missals provided, and the ability to find out all one needs to know about the Latin Mass online regarding prayers, gestures, and attire (for laity & priest), why wouldn’t one want to pray that? Maybe for the first few Latin Masses one attend’s it is alright. Unite yourself to Jesus and His Mother, period.

 

[TimothyH]

What she says! We have the NO because so many were, in effect, disengaged from the eternal sacrifice via their engagement in private devotions such as the Rosary. There is a time and place for everything.

This is NOT a reflection upon the EF mass - only upon the actions of those within the mass.

For the the sake of clarity and truth, I would like to point out that people have been praying the rosary at Mass and engaged and engaged in private devotions at Mass for many, many centuries before the NO came into existence.

-Tim-

 

[LilyM]

The second person of the Trinity was made present by the power of the Holy Spirit through Mary. That hasn’t stopped.

The priest makes Christ present on the altar, by the power of the Holy Spirit. through…

Mary does not cease to be the means by which Christ is made present for us, physically present for us in Palestine 2000 years ago, sacramentally present for us on the altar, present in our hearts and souls, ever present, through Mary.

That’s why some pray the rosary. I try to pray a decade after receiving It is a wonderful way to remember that Christ comes to us, through Mary.

-Tim-

Praying private prayers during quiet and reflective moments in the Mass (such as after Communion) is fine - that is precisely what those quiet and reflective moments are there for.

I’d be hesitant to pray anything else while the actual prayers are being said, scripture being read, consecration occurring and so forth.

 

[LilyM]

For the the sake of clarity and truth, I would like to point out that people have been praying the rosary at Mass and engaged and engaged in private devotions at Mass for many, many centuries before the NO came into existence.

-Tim-

Yes, and priests, in places, were doing all sorts of other things as well during those centuries. Saying Mass in the vernacular (initially Latin in fact WAS the vernacular, and Greek the liturgical language) and/or languages other than Latin. Saying it versus populum. Things like that. ‘People have been doing it for ages’ is not sufficient reason to continue.

 

[ProVobis]

The Rosary can be prayed at Holy Mass. That doesn’t mean it should be prayed at Holy Mass. The best way to pray the Holy Mass was told by Pope St. Pius X, who wrote “Don’t pray at Holy Mass, but pray the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists. It is the Sacrifice, dedicated by our Redeemer at the Cross, and repeated every day on the altar. If you wish to hear Mass as it should be heard, you must follow with eye, heart and mouth all that happens at the altar. Further, you must pray with the priest the holy words said by him in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens at the altar. When acting in this way, you have prayed Holy Mass.”

The best way to pray the Holy Mass is to follow the sacrifice and implore God to send down the graces of Calvary to your intention. The Rosary can definitely distract from this.

I agree with this. I have to ask, though, because many if not most of those who attend an EF drive a great distance, why do they wait till they get to the Mass before they pray the rosary?

That said, I can understand saying Penance prayers after confession during Mass, either form.

 

[TimothyH]

Praying private prayers during quiet and reflective moments in the Mass (such as after Communion) is fine - that is precisely what those quiet and reflective moments are there for.

I’d be hesitant to pray anything else while the actual prayers are being said, scripture being read, consecration occurring and so forth.

Fine. That is your prerogative. And I agree that it is probably disrespectful, under most circumstances, not to give your attention to the readings.

What I think people may forget here is that the rosary has been prayed at Mass for many centuries, and in light of this fact, I find it difficult to accept the argument that it is suddently irreverent to do so, or that the NO came into being because people did so. People have been praying the rosary at mass for ten centuries without correction from Holy Mother the Church.

Looking at the history of our Church, I don’t understand why is it suddenly wrong.

-Tim-