Difficulties with the rosary

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leastofthese

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I want to begin by saying that the rosary is my favorite prayer. I love how it gives me time to meditate more closely on the mysteries of the Gospel as well as how it brings me closer to our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary. I pray the rosary nearly every day and use scripture and the rosary confraternity’s guide to help me stay focused while praying.

My problem is this: lately I have found it very difficult to keep alert and focused while saying the rosary. Not due to distractions (as seems to be the typical problem most people have while praying the rosary) but due to drowsiness. At least 85% of the time I’m praying the rosary I quite suddenly feel a nearly overpowering sleepiness descend upon me (which usually goes away within half an hour after I finish praying). It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day I am praying the rosary, nor how much sleep I’ve gotten (which I get a good 8 hours every night). I’ve tried having a cup of coffee shortly before praying the rosary. I’ve tried praying in different positions to see if that helps (i.e. standing instead of kneeling). I’ve tried making myself mildly uncomfortable by doing things like having a fan blowing on me so as to make me slightly cold. But not no avail!

I do not have this problem at any other time. So I do not feel that it is any sort of physical disorder. I don’t think it is a spiritual attack either, but I can’t rule that out. I make an act of contrition prior to saying the rosary and also ask Saint Michael and my guardian angel to keep me safe from the evil one while I pray.

I just don’t know what else I could try in order to resolve this problem. I should note that I do not give up saying the rosary when this happens. I continue to the end despite feeling that once I’ve finished I’ve prayed very poorly due to being so sleepy. I am not discouraged, I will not stop praying the rosary, but I do wish I could pray it like I used to without this difficulty.

If anyone can give me some constructive advice I’d love to hear it. Thanks.
 
I have the same problem in praying the rosary. There are times when I can be super alert but some days I find myself yawning at every Hail Mary. What I have done to combat the drowsiness is saying the rosary standing up and gently swaying my body as I pray it.

I don’t know if you have ever seen Jewish rabbi’s when they pray…they tend to rock themselves back and forth when reading from the scriptures. This is a technique to help keep them alert. I also make sure to focus slowly and clearly on each word as I am praying while I envision the mystery in my mind. This has helped me tremedously in not drifting off into other thoughts or getting overly drowsy.

Hope this helps.

God bless
 
Perhaps you could break up the praying of the rosary into separate decades. It’s much easier to stay awake for the space of 10 Hail Marys than 50 of them. You will have to give up that meditative mood that develops when you pray the whole thing at once, but maybe it can just be a temporary measure until you form the habit of staying awake and alert. At this point, you probably expect to get sleepy, from your past experience. Praying in small sections will help you stop expecting to get sleepy and start expecting to stay alert. Once alertness is habitual, try saying 2 decades, then 3, then 4, then all 5.

Sometimes you have to work with your mind instead of against it. 🙂

Betsy
 
I usually pray the Rosary while standing up and while walking back and forth–it’s hard to become drowsy in this way.
 
You may want to download an audio of the Rosary and let it lead you through the Rosary.

alabamacatholicresources.com/the_rosary.html

Remember, the Rosary has two parts: a “soul” and a “body.” The “body” is all the Our Father’s and Hail Mary’s. The “soul” is the Mysteries. 🙂
 
I have the same problem. When it occurs, I pace. I walk back and forth with while praying the Rosary. Leads to some some stubbed toes on occasion, but it keeps me alert and focused.

I have a similar problem in that sometimes I find it difficult to even SAY the prayers of the Rosary. It only happens in my house, and I never have a problem speaking anything else. But at times, it feels like I have a mouth full of cotton and my tongue doesnt work right. I just force my way through and by the end of the rosary I am ok.

FSC
 
I have the same thing happen to me once in a while. I kinda just…let it happen. If I doze of I just continue where I left off. Kind of relaxing really.
 
I sometimes have a problem saying the rosary because I start thinking about the mysteries and stop reciting the prayers or I can’t seem to get my tongue around the words when I’m tired. Or sometimes I just can’t concentrate at all. At this stage in my life, I find I can focus on the mystery or on saying the words but I can no longer do both at the same time the way I used to do.

I find that it’s now much easier for me to say the rosary with other people. I’m lucky that the opportunity to do so is available a couple times a week. While walking around outside at the abortion clinic with others once a week the rosary is a great blessing and support.

One thing that helps me, especially while driving, is praying along with a CD. One that I particularly like is in Spanish by a small group of Christian Brothers from California called ‘Los Lasallistas y Annamaria’. You can tell they’re really praying it, not just saying the words. The little bit of extra effort it takes to really pray it in Spanish somehow helps me to concentrate better. The same might be true if I found a CD in Latin or French.

Going to Catholic schools meant I learned the Our Father and Hail Mary in whatever languages I took and somehow they stayed with me all these years. I have friends who can still say those prayers in Polish because they attended grade school in Polish parishes in Baltimore:D. Anyway, I highly recommend that CD, called El Rosario, for those of you who know Spanish. You can probably google it.
 
My theory on the Rosary is that we’re really blessed to have tons of devotional aids and helps and I’m going to use them all! I have a variety of books and CDs and brochures and I rotate them because it seems like I get something new every time I pick up a different aid or listen to a different CD and that helps me focus more effectively.

Sometimes I know I’ll have more trouble concentrating, though, usually if I haven’t gotten enough sleep. Then I go the Internet and find a video of people praying the Rosary. I’ve found a lot, on the Catholic TV sites, on You Tube, and on other Rosary sites. They all have different people and different images, so there’s something new to focus on and think about. Some of them also have meditations. And I do love the sense of praying with other people!
 
A priest once told me that when you fall asleep while praying the Rosary, Our Lady will pick up where you left off. I tend to fall asleep if I pray the Rosary in the morning. This never happens to me in the early evening. Maybe you should try a different time when you pray the Rosary.
 
Same thing happens to me, except that’s actually normal for me. I use to nod off all the time in college no matter how interesting the subject matter was and no matter if it was a morning or evening class. If I sit down to read a book I will almost instantly start yawning.

During the work week the best time for me to pray the rosary is in the evening. It’s virtually impossible for me to stay awake for the entire rosary. I have enough trouble praying the Divine Mercy chaplet without falling asleep. I haven’t been praying the rosary for about 3 weeks now…the time I use to spend praying the rosary I spend on the Liturgy of the Hours evening prayer and if I’m up for it/have time the Office of Readings, or scripture reading. It’s more spiritually nourishing/mentally engaging to me so I prefer these over the rosary, especially in the evening. I do miss praying the rosary so today I prayed one decade after I was done with the LOTH evening prayer and I put all the attention I could into that one decade. It felt weird not praying the entire rosary, but if that’s what I can manage then so be it. It’s conflicting though cause I enjoy praying the rosary, but I love the LOTH. So even when I have time to pray the rosary on the weekends I’d rather be praying one of the offices from the LOTH.
 
I know this is not what you’re looking for, but I have sometimes prayed the Rosary to help me fall asleep. I suppose it’s not so bad falling asleep while reciting the holy names of Jesus and Mary. 🙂
 
Wow what wonderful responses! Thank you all so much! I’m sorry I haven’t thanked you all sooner, but I was out of town for a few days without any internet (a strange thing in this day and age, I know). I think I am going to try what several of you suggested, which is to stand if I feel tired and if need be move in some way (whether swaying or pacing). I am by nature a fidgety person, so perhaps this will help. If that doesn’t help then I will move on to some of the other great suggestions that have been given. Thanks again everyone. May God bless all of your prayer lives. 🙂
 
baltobetsy said:
Perhaps you could break up the praying of the rosary into separate decades. It’s much easier to stay awake for the space of 10 Hail Marys than 50 of them. You will have to give up that meditative mood that develops when you pray the whole thing at once, but maybe it can just be a temporary measure until you form the habit of staying awake and alert. At this point, you probably expect to get sleepy, from your past experience. Praying in small sections will help you stop expecting to get sleepy and start expecting to stay alert. Once alertness is habitual, try saying 2 decades, then 3, then 4, then all 5.

Sometimes you have to work with your mind instead of against it. 🙂

Betsy
Click to expand...
This is what my parish priest recommended and it gives one the sense of a throughout-the-day rosary prayer. Alertness is never really habitual (although I know what you mean) sometimes you’re just EXHAUSTED…

Have you ever read Fr. Romano Guardini’s little book on the rosary? Reading selections here but buy it and have it in the house.

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/12/03/book-recommendation-the-rosary-of-our-lady-%e2%80%93-romano-guardini/

dj
 
I love the rosary, but have often had the same problems that you’ve mentioned. I have found a solution that works for me in the lives of Saint Dominic and Saint Louis de Montfort.

Since we were created body and soul, we should worship body and soul. When Saint Dominic passed a crucifix, he would bow deeply in addition to saying a small prayer in his head. In this way, all of his created self paid homage to his creator. Saint Louis speaks of ways to increase both the meditative and the vocal quality of our rosaries. I didn’t find all of them useful, but one has come in extremely handy for me, increased my fervor to pray the rosary, and made it feel as if I am speaking with my heart.

It takes me 50 minutes to an hour (I pray before work, so I had to get the timing down to know when to wake up!) to pray a rosary using this method. Before beginning, I place myself in the presence of Our Lady, my guardian angel, and Saint Dominic. Put into English- I picture them standing behind me, to my right. I ask that my prayers will be pleasing to the Virgin and to God, then I begin.

My primary posture is standing, in front of my home altar. I hold the rosary in my left hand, and hold my hands out like a supplicant. After announcing a mystery, I close my eyes and place myself there until something “catches” me. It might be a virtue (complete trust in God during the annunciation, for example) or a particular event (Jesus falling). Then, I begin praying. I take breaks, cross myself, and bow deeply at particular points in each prayer. I kneel during the Fatima prayer. During each Hail Mary, after saying “Jesus”, I make a small statement related to my meditation. For example- “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus - who made John the Baptist leap for joy/who you willingly accepted/, God who you raised as man/path to the Father/, savior who took my sins/crucified Lord/, God who descended to a manger/etc - Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death”.

These are the places that I bow and cross myself during each prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (stop and bow)
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. (stop and bow)
Give us this day our daily bread (stop and bow)
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us (stop and bow)
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (stop and bow)
amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. (stop and bow)
Blessed art Thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus (stop and bow)
Holy Mary, Mother of God (stop and bow)
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death (stop and bow)

(bow deeply):
Gory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit
(rise slowly):
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen.

(kneel before the crucifix I have on my home altar)
O my Jesus, Forgive us ours sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.
(rise slowly):
Amen.

I don’t know if this will work for you or if you have time to follow the suggestions, but hopefully you will have something to take away from all the good advice here.
 
I have a tough time with praying the rosary too–along with being a convert, I was unfamiliar with the Bible and have problems with memorizing the mysteries.

I go with a “scriptural version” of the rosary–not only are the prayers recited, but a line of scripture is also recited before each Hail Mary. This version keeps me focused on prayer.

Unfortunately I don’t have a link to an audio file, but I’ve seen books and CD’s for sale.
 
Thanks for the continued advice everyone! I’ve actually been able to get back into a pretty good state of mind while praying the rosary. I’ve been taking the advice of either standing or walking around while praying if I find myself getting a little drowsy while kneeling. Though I still prefer to kneel. I’m sure breaking the rosary up would probably help fight off the sleepiness too, but I really don’t like to say less than 5 decades. I find that if I do that I don’t feel as connected to the prayers as I would otherwise (if that makes sense to anyone out there). I’m sure it’s a wonderful way to go about things for some, but not for me.

As for remembering Scripture, I don’t tend to have problems with that. I read the Bible regularly, but even if I didn’t do so, I also read the corresponding passage in the Bible after stating each mystery. So for instance, if I’m praying the Joyful Mysteries and I’m on the thrid decade then I will read either Luke’s or Matthews Nativity story prior to praying that decade. Along with that I also use the booklet put out by the Rosary Confraternity that gives you a brief point to focus on for each bead in the decade regarding the mystery you’re on. It’s quite helpful. And in case anyone’s praying the rosary and isn’t a member of the Rosary Confraternity I would highly suggest joining.

Here’s the link to their website:

rosary-center.org/

Anyway, thanks again everyone for the wonderful tips. 🙂
 
Have you tried a cold shower? Screaming usually works! Kidding.😉

I am constantly yawning when praying the rosary- it is usually nonstop, decade after decade. It is a fight not to take a nap. But it is better to plod on through. Remember, I believe Montfort said it; it is much better to struggle during praying, it is a sign of merit.
 
The suggestions posted are good ones, many that I will remember!

My suggestion is that maybe the time of day or the place could be changed to help you out.

Usually, my plan is to pray the rosary each evening before bed. And that works well. But I have tried other things that I like very much.

For instance, I always have my rosary with me and I like to take walks in our park. Often I find a nice shady spot by myself and offer up my prayers while enjoying being outside. I’ve had some of my best learning moments outside in that way.

I also enjoy remaining after Mass (not Sunday Mass) to pray. The church is soon quiet and it’s a nice choice for me because I’m already focused. I particularly love to pray the rosary with vespers in the background. It’s a sublime experience.

So far, those are situations that have helped keep the rosary fresh for me. Maybe you can adapt these ideas to your lifestyle and schedule.

Hope
 
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