Concentrating While Praying the Rosary

[SeekingDaughter]

I would love to pray the rosary (still waiting to get one), and see if it works for me. I have tried the basics, but I spend so much time thinking about the words I am saying, I can’t meditate on the Mysteries… and what exactly are you supposed to be thinking while meditating on them??

Help? Suggestions?

 

[Nimzovik]

Try visualizations. A St. Ignatius technique. See the scene in your mind’s eye. If the Lord can use the intellect to help us understand Him, He can use the imagination as well.

Take the 2nd sorrowful mystery as an example. the Scourging at the Pillar. How would you feel as Mary to watch your Son be whipped to such a sad and bloody state while many were jeering at him? Especially so as He is being sacrificed for not only mankind but for the vey people that were whipping Him? How would Mary feel knowning that her Son earnestly desired to suffer this? Would you not then start to learn to appreciate Mary ever so much more? Would you not learn to love our Lord more as well? Would you not begin to understand how much we are loved by the Lord? Would you not begin to understand that if He were to tolerate the scourging for us , would we not begin to understand that there is no sin he will not forgive if but asked with a contrite heart? When one ‘sees’ such love it is quite natural to want to love in return. So we grow in love and sin less. This, then learned, love, also assists our fellow man methinks! The prayers of the Rosary -as has been said- is likened unto a dark, stained and dusty Mirror (the soul) placed in front of a warm bright fire. (God’s Love.) With each Hail Mary some of the grime is wiped off the mirror. Eventually the Mirror reflects the light and the fire of our Lord’s love.

So. Do not just say the Rosary. (Although know that, at least by just even merely saying the the prayers you are exercisng your will - aided perhaps by the Holy Spirit!) You may just fall asleep! Rather -be in the Rosary.

 

[InLight247]

I have memorized the Bible verses for each mysteries. For example, before praying the decade of Annunciation, I would recite: "When the angel came to her, he said, Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are you among women. " Then I would visualize Angel Gabriel speaking to Mary along with each “Hail Mary”. Sometimes I focus on the words I am praying. Either way, it helps fight away distractions.

I find reciting the Bible verses for each mystery helps my meditation and recollection. There are twenty Bible passages to memorize, but it is doable and worth it. With the Bible passages memorized, I don’t have to look at any rosary booklet, and the scriptural rosary helps visualization.

Hope this helps.

 

[SeekNFind]

I’m on day 3 of a 54 day rosary novena and it is my first time praying the rosary (I think. . .if I prayed it in school, I don’t remember). Since I don’t know it by heart, I have a cheat sheet with all the mysteries and the meditations for each prayer and it has really helped me to stay focused.

 

[pollycarp]

Can’t remember where I read this, maybe here at CAF - To help stop distractions I imagine that as I say every Hail Mary my angel is there and takes each one as a rose up to heaven to Mary, so I want to send good ones. I imagine that happening and it helps. Rosary means garland of roses.

 

[JerrySeibert]

Try visualizations. A St. Ignatius technique. See the scene in your mind’s eye. If the Lord can use the intellect to help us understand Him, He can use the imagination as well.

Take the 2nd sorrowful mystery as an example. the Scourging at the Pillar. How would you feel as Mary to watch your Son be whipped to such a sad and bloody state while many were jeering at him? Especially so as He is being sacrificed for not only mankind but for the vey people that were whipping Him? How would Mary feel knowning that her Son earnestly desired to suffer this? Would you not then start to learn to appreciate Mary ever so much more? Would you not learn to love our Lord more as well? Would you not begin to understand how much we are loved by the Lord? Would you not begin to understand that if He were to tolerate the scourging for us , would we not begin to understand that there is no sin he will not forgive if but asked with a contrite heart? When one ‘sees’ such love it is quite natural to want to love in return. So we grow in love and sin less. This, then learned, love, also assists our fellow man methinks! The prayers of the Rosary -as has been said- is likened unto a dark, stained and dusty Mirror (the soul) placed in front of a warm bright fire. (God’s Love.) With each Hail Mary some of the grime is wiped off the mirror. Eventually the Mirror reflects the light and the fire of our Lord’s love.

So. Do not just say the Rosary. (Although know that, at least by just even merely saying the the prayers you are exercisng your will - aided perhaps by the Holy Spirit!) You may just fall asleep! Rather -be in the Rosary.

Well Said

 

[SeekingDaughter]

Thank you! That helps me understand what to think about and visualize.

Now how do remember to say the words AND visual at the same time? LOL

 

[InLight247]

Thank you! That helps me understand what to think about and visualize.

Now how do remember to say the words AND visual at the same time? LOL

You can create a mental picture. For example, while praying the mystery of the birth of Christ, after reciting or reading the related Bible verses, you can put yourself in the scene of the “Silent Night”,a cold snowy night where the shepherds and animals are around the Holy Family with the bright star above shining on baby Jesus… The mental picture can stay with you in your mind while you pray the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”. It can be a static picture. Or, you can just focus on the words - “Hail Mary, full of grace…” The purpose is to concentrate on God and eliminate distractions. Yet no matter how hard we try, distraction will happen. When distraction comes, just brush it off gently and pull yourself back.

 

[DebChris]

I have memorized the Bible verses for each mysteries. For example, before praying the decade of Annunciation, I would recite: "When the angel came to her, he said, Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are you among women. " Then I would visualize Angel Gabriel speaking to Mary along with each “Hail Mary”. Sometimes I focus on the words I am praying. Either way, it helps fight away distractions.

I find reciting the Bible verses for each mystery helps my meditation and recollection. There are twenty Bible passages to memorize, but it is doable and worth it. With the Bible passages memorized, I don’t have to look at any rosary booklet, and the scriptural rosary helps visualization.

Hope this helps.

Reading a scripture verse before each mystery was recommended by Pope John Paul II. I don’t have the verses memorized. There are also scriptural rosaries in which you read a scripture verse before each Hail Mary.
A technique I learned in catechist training that keeps my mind focused on the mystery is to add a simple word or phrase after the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary that is directly related to the mystery. By adding the phrase “in the garden,” for instance, I see not only Jesus as He prays, but also the apostles sleeping; I even experience Christ working “in the garden” of my heart. [See my next post for words/phrases I use.]
As a person just beginning to pray the rosary, there is quite acceptable to read the prayers until they are naturally memorized. Praying the rosary was part of the family ritual as I was growing up. I still use a rosary booklet for the scriptural verses.

 

[DebChris]

Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation = Jesus Incarnate
The Visitation = Jesus Sanctifying
The Nativity = Jesus Emmanuel
The Presentation = Jesus Redeemer
Finding Jesus in the Temple = Jesus Teaching

Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden = Jesus in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar = Jesus Scourged
The Crowning with Thorns = Jesus King of kings
The Carrying of the Cross = Jesus taking my cross
The Crucifixion = Jesus Crucified

Luminous Mysteries
Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan = Jesus Baptized
The Wedding at Cana = Jesus Providing
The Proclamation of the Kingdom= Jesus Messiah
The Transfiguration = Jesus Transfigured
The Institution of the Eucharist = Jesus in the Eucharist

Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection = Jesus Resurrected
The Ascension = Jesus Lord of lords
The Descent of the Holy Spirit = Jesus Indwelling
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven = Jesus raising us up
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven = Jesus Prince of Peace.

 

[Nelka]

It happens, it happened to me too in the past.

Try to find a nice picture of each mystery to help “burn” the image into your mind.

 

[Langdell]

Thank you! That helps me understand what to think about and visualize.

Now how do remember to say the words AND visual at the same time? LOL

This comes with practice. Just keep praying the Rosary daily, and it will eventually feel natural.

 

[domandcarols]

Can’t remember where I read this, maybe here at CAF - To help stop distractions I imagine that as I say every Hail Mary my angel is there and takes each one as a rose up to heaven to Mary, so I want to send good ones. I imagine that happening and it helps. Rosary means garland of roses.

Awwwwwww I like that!!

 

[InLight247]

Reading a scripture verse before each mystery was recommended by Pope John Paul II. I don’t have the verses memorized. There are also scriptural rosaries in which you read a scripture verse before each Hail Mary.
A technique I learned in catechist training that keeps my mind focused on the mystery is to add a simple word or phrase after the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary that is directly related to the mystery. By adding the phrase “in the garden,” for instance, I see not only Jesus as He prays, but also the apostles sleeping; I even experience Christ working “in the garden” of my heart. [See my next post for words/phrases I use.]
As a person just beginning to pray the rosary, there is quite acceptable to read the prayers until they are naturally memorized. Praying the rosary was part of the family ritual as I was growing up. I still use a rosary booklet for the scriptural verses.

It is always acceptable to use a rosary booklet and read the prayers. I just found by memorizing all Bible passages is convenient and helps me pray better. This way I can pray scriptural rosaries any time, anywhere, while driving, walking or even shopping.

Your way of adding a phrase is very good also. God bless!

 

[Alan55]

You won’t be able to focus fully both on the words of the prayers (Hail Mary, Our Father, etc.) and to the mysteries. Praying the Rosary takes some getting used to, but generally people meditate on the mysteries while saying the prayers.

One way to get used to this is to use the Scriptural Rosary, which is available at most Catholic bookstores or online:

amazon.com/Scriptural-Rosary-English-Christianica/dp/0911346163/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325720633&sr=1-1

With a little bit of practice, you’ll find your own way to pray the Rosary, which can include bringing your own needs into prayer, interceding for other people, and so on. It’s a wonderful way to pray which is why people have been praying this way for centuries.