freerf…this is an inspiring thread, very refreshing…to find Protestants like you praying the rosary…just keep at it and graces you will find are boundless.
I’m always open to new prayers that can help
Hi, Mck…I’m always open to new prayers that can help
I’m not familiar with the Divine Mercy prayer I would love to know it!
This is what I do every night before bed while holding my rosary:
Sign of the Cross
Apostle’s Creed
Our Father
Three Hail Mary’s
Glory Be
Oh my Jesus
Memorare
St. Michael
Personal Prayer (Where I get specific like Help me with a test, find a job, etc)
Sign of the Cross
Sleep
Thank you so very much! :thankyou:
freef, the only true victory over sin is an abiding faith in Jesus Christ. Everything else is a counterfeit which provides only “temporary fixes”. God alone is the one that scripture tells us to pray to. Angels are God’s messengers and He will direct them according to His will. Mary was a human being and though she played a special role while here on earth, she does not act as God.The question is this: what do you make of this victory and it’s realtionship to this type of prayer? I personally don’t know what to make of it.
Catholics, sorry but this question is directed to non-catholics. i think i pretty well know what your opinions will be.
I hear the truth in what you’re saying, but don’t really agree with the application of that truth.
some of the psalms are very repetitious. and they are prayers. the purpose of the rosary, is not repetitive prayer. it is designed (like the AMIDA in Jewish prayer) to bring you closer to your creator. do you ever wonder why you see orthodox Jews swaying at the western wall? they are in a deep state of contemplative prayer. the apostle peter also we are told, went into a trance where he recieved a vision, during such a time of deep prayer. there is nothing wrong with this. we also have many other prayers, that are not as repetitious. ive never envisioned myself as a machine, or God as an auditory slot machine. your view shows a very limited knowledge of what Catholic prayer really is. but… we can help. Peace
Freerf, if you’ve had a victory over sin in that very important dept., that’s super, but the above caution by cooter is consistent with Jesus’ warning, “When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matt. 6:7)
Would you want your friends, parents, siblings or true love to address you with repetitious formulaic speech? I doubt it, because you and they have a relationship. And it’s no different with God: you’re not a prayer machine and He’s not some sort of giant auditory slot machine where the right type and number of incantations will hit you the jackpot.
love this response freerf! CS Lewis is an excellent example. i cant remember if it was his last book or what, of the narnia chronicles, where aslan is telling them to go further in, and the further they traveled into narnia, the bigger it became. i cant remember the actual phrasing. its been too long. but the rosary is like that. the longer you practice it, the more insights you receive. into the life of Christ, walking like Christ, loving your neighbor etc. i remember my friends mother telling me how when she got done praying the rosary, she half expected the Lord to give her direction to lay hands on and heal someone. also she expected to see the Blessed Mother. Catholicism was not even a thought in my head at the time. but one thing i remember. my attitude that they were just praying repetitiously, went out the window. i knew there was something more to it than that. keep praying. you may also like the chaplet of divine mercy. Peace to you and yours. and blessings on your spiritual journey.
Unfortunately for you and all other non-Catholics who use this verse to preach against the Rosary, it doesn’t apply to the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, or any other repetitive prayers. Here is the translation I prefer:
Freerf, if you’ve had a victory over sin in that very important dept., that’s super, but the above caution by cooter is consistent with Jesus’ warning, “When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matt. 6:7)
Would you want your friends, parents, siblings or true love to address you with repetitious formulaic speech? I doubt it, because you and they have a relationship. And it’s no different with God: you’re not a prayer machine and He’s not some sort of giant auditory slot machine where the right type and number of incantations will hit you the jackpot.
Perhaps I should clarify what I was referring to when I mentioned “counterfeit”. I was referring to going in prayer to anyone or anything other than God. The result of going to any spirit other than God can provide only a “temporary fix” at best because the one prayed to was not God, but only His counterfeit. I really didn’t word that well at all.I hear the truth in what you’re saying, but don’t really agree with the application of that truth.
Every “true Christian” has “true victory”. But even with this victory, Paul himself speaks of a “thorn in the flesh” as I do here.
Surely you don’t believe prayer, good works, and love for your neighbor is “counterfeit” and provides only “temporary fixes”. Of course not!
Sure - if I’m understanding you right, you would in agreement with the scripture I posted from Ephesians 6.
I’m glad you agree with that.
I hope that you agree too that praying to angels is not a practise that God teaches us in scripture.Before I answer that, I’m curious as to why you posted that here. It’s taking us away from the topic at hand - or do you see something there that pertains to your situation and I’m just not seeing?
I can only speak from personal experience. What I’m about to say, you’ll have to take me on my word or there is no point in going further. The following is truly my understanding of what I experienced.Perhaps I should clarify what I was referring to when I mentioned “counterfeit”. I was referring to going in prayer to anyone or anything other than God. The result of going to any spirit other than God can provide only a “temporary fix” at best because the one prayed to was not God, but only His counterfeit. I really didn’t word that well at all.
Sure - if I’m understanding you right, you would in agreement with the scripture I posted from Ephesians 6.
I’m glad you agree with that.
Before I answer that, I’m curious as to why you posted that here. It’s taking us away from the topic at hand - or do you see something there that pertains to your situation and I’m just not seeing?
Yes, I remember that story vividly.love this response freerf! CS Lewis is an excellent example. i cant remember if it was his last book or what, of the narnia chronicles, where aslan is telling them to go further in, and the further they traveled into narnia, the bigger it became. i cant remember the actual phrasing. its been too long. but the rosary is like that. the longer you practice it, the more insights you receive. into the life of Christ, walking like Christ, loving your neighbor etc. i remember my friends mother telling me how when she got done praying the rosary, she half expected the Lord to give her direction to lay hands on and heal someone. also she expected to see the Blessed Mother. Catholicism was not even a thought in my head at the time. but one thing i remember. my attitude that they were just praying repetitiously, went out the window. i knew there was something more to it than that. keep praying. you may also like the chaplet of divine mercy. Peace to you and yours. and blessings on your spiritual journey.
Please read the OP. It would be unfortuante if this thread turned into a defense of the rosary or defense of mary thread. we have many of those already.
Hi Freerf…well, contrary to what alot of protestants believe or what is told them, Mary does not point to herself, she guides all to Jesus her Son…to be closer to Him…and you praying the Hail Mary’s is a manifestation of that.
Hi freerf,
Thanks for the response. This is essentially what i’m conflicted with. Underneath it all is a common sense concern with any prayer to anything besides God.Hi freerf,
I just wanted to give you a word of encouragement. I had an experience very similar to yours, except for me the sin in question was anger.
As a new Protestant-to-Catholic convert, I started saying a Hail Mary every time I noticed my temper starting to rise – and my anger vanished entirely. I felt filled with peace and close to God. Sometimes I felt Mary’s presence as well. I had prayed directly to God about my anger in the past, but with little apparent effect. Why God chose to work this way I don’t know, but I expect it was Jesus’s way of introducing me to his mother.
After about six weeks of this, my evangelical Protestant husband noticed that I was no longer getting mad at him all the time and asked what happened. I got to tell him it was Mary. I think that finally convinced him that I was not, in fact, fraternizing with demons.
Like you said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Also, “By their fruits you shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20) Satan doesn’t produce virtue. God does. And sometimes he uses his angels and saints to bring it about.
Thanks for sharing your story!
I am always encouraged to hear the effect of prayers. It doesn’t matter whether it is related by a Protestant or Catholic. Thanks for the sharing, it is very touching. I am not much into Marian devotion but I have never heard anything negative spiritually from those who ask the intercession of Mary. I tend to think that it is a mystery especially how the incident in Cana can repeat itself today.
Hi freerf…I’m an Anglican who was raised in the protestant tradition and I struggled with that for a few years. But I love praying the rosary and while praying it brings me closer to Mary, even more important - it brings me much closer to Christ.
