Help Praying the Rosary

[BlueinSD]

Hey Folks,

I wasn’t sure what section of the forum to post this under, so I went with this one, because I’ve gotten all of my questions answered satisfactorily here.

I prayed the Rosary for the first time tonight and one of the things I was concerned about was around the 5th Sorrowful Mystery, the Hail Marys started to blur together and I kind of prayed them unconsciously, without thinking about it. Furthermore, I had some difficulty focusing on each of the mysteries. I would spend some time focusing on each mystery, what it meant, how Christ suffered, how it applied to me and how it glorified God, but then I would kind of stray into thinking about nothing. I would pull myself back later on in the mystery and then the process would repeat itself.

Is this normal for anyone who has gone through this? If it is, does it get easier with time to discipline the mind to focus on what I want to? Lastly, do you have any suggestions on how to keep myself focused on the meaning of each of the mysteries and to keep my mind disciplined?

For what it was worth, when I was able to keep my mind focused, I felt I was able to connect with the Passion much better in any way I had before.

Thanks All!

 

[fermat]

Say the rosary on my drive to work everyday. The key is to meditate and let the Hail Mary’s set the tempo for you. The benefit is found in praying the rosary, not necessarily praying it well at first. As it becomes a habit, it will start to be automatic, in a good way. You can slip right into thinking about Jesus with no effort.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

… around the 5th Sorrowful Mystery, the Hail Marys started to blur together and I kind of prayed them unconsciously, without thinking about…

Two things help me in this area. One is to imagine that the Blessed Mother is standing right there in front of me hearing my prayer. So that makes me think how privileged I am to be able to address her. That gives me incentive to pray the Hail Mary well. The other thing that helps me, especially near the end of the rosary, is that I imagine that this is that last rosary I will ever have a chance to say. Therefore I want the very last Hail Marys to be said well.

 

[Boulder257]

Blue, I say the Rosary every day and there is not a day that i don’t find myself distracted at some point. That is not to say that it is okay, but to let you know that you are not alone. I struggle every day with this very thing.

Remember, we are praying. Sometimes we get distracted when we have a conversation and that is going to happen. When it happens, bring yourself back to the meditation and focus. And, as many times as you need to refocus, do so. You don’t have to start over, you don’t have to “redo” parts. Just keep trying.

Pax,

 

[Glennonite]

Hey Folks,

I wasn’t sure what section of the forum to post this under, so I went with this one, because I’ve gotten all of my questions answered satisfactorily here.

I prayed the Rosary for the first time tonight and one of the things I was concerned about was around the 5th Sorrowful Mystery, the Hail Marys started to blur together and I kind of prayed them unconsciously, without thinking about it. Furthermore, I had some difficulty focusing on each of the mysteries. I would spend some time focusing on each mystery, what it meant, how Christ suffered, how it applied to me and how it glorified God, but then I would kind of stray into thinking about nothing. I would pull myself back later on in the mystery and then the process would repeat itself.

Is this normal for anyone who has gone through this? If it is, does it get easier with time to discipline the mind to focus on what I want to? Lastly, do you have any suggestions on how to keep myself focused on the meaning of each of the mysteries and to keep my mind disciplined?

For what it was worth, when I was able to keep my mind focused, I felt I was able to connect with the Passion much better in any way I had before.

Thanks All!

“Don’t worry about it, wonder about it”–Mother Theresa

Everybody has had these experiences. I think the power of the Rosary is over the long-haul. There will be days of seemingly useless time spent. There will be days of real understanding and insight.

I have found that the daily Rosary begins to creep into my spirit when I am not praying it. The Mysteries are influencing my thoughts and actions throughout the day. Because of the long-term, daily meditations on Our Lady’s Joy, Illumiation, Sorrow, and Awe of Christ’s life, I am a better Catholic to the world.

BTW, everything takes practice.

Glennonite