Help w/ rosary and meditating

[Garyjohn2]

Hello, I am re-learning how to pray the rosary. I’m learning to focus on the various mysteries while I pray, and I think it’s great. However I did have one question.

Sometimes people mention praying the rosary for an intention, such as “lets pray to rosary for world peace.” In those cases, should I pray while meditating on the mysteries while also thinking of the prayer intention? I find this very difficult at the moment.

Or do I focus on the prayer intention instead of the traditional mysteries. This makes more sense to me, but I’m not certain.

Or, do I just focus on the mysteries as usual, and just say to myself “all these prayers are for world peace.”

I’m wondering what other people do, and the best way to go about it.

Thanks all for kind answers and responses.

 

[sungirl]

I’m wondering what other people do, and the best way to go about it.

I don’t know how other people do it, but this is how I do it. Before I start the Rosary prayers, I hold my Rosary and state my intentions (“This Rosary is for world peace”) and then I think about that and do a little bit of praying on my own about world peace. Then I start the Rosary and focus on the mysteries. Sometimes, they really seem to relate to my intention and if they do then I meditate on how they relate (so focusing on the mysteries and on my intention). If I don’t have any new insights, then I keep focusing on the mysteries. At the end, sometimes I have extra thoughts and prayers about my intention that came up during the Rosary prayers, so I pray/meditate about those.

Even if I have no new thoughts or prayers or insights about world peace while I’m praying the Rosary, I know that I’m still praying for world peace. In fact, that’s a big part of why I think the Rosary is so good for praying about personal issues that are filled with emotion and anxiety. When I pray on my own about those kinds of problems, I stay focused on the problem while I’m talking to God about it. With the Rosary, I leave my problem with God and I focus on Jesus. Much MUCH better, in my opinion.

 

[Garyjohn2]

With the Rosary, I leave my problem with God and I focus on Jesus. Much MUCH better, in my opinion.

I think this is very cool. Thank you for sharing.

 

[InLight247]

I think the Rosary is so good for praying about personal issues that are filled with emotion and anxiety. When I pray on my own about those kinds of problems, I stay focused on the problem while I’m talking to God about it. With the Rosary, I leave my problem with God and I focus on Jesus. Much MUCH better, in my opinion.

That is so well said. I feel the same way. I usually state my intention of the rosary then concentrate on Jesus and the mysteries. This way my concern is handed over, the petition or intercession is supported with trust and affection, and I am filled with peace and love.

 

[EmeraldWings]

Hello, I am re-learning how to pray the rosary. I’m learning to focus on the various mysteries while I pray, and I think it’s great. However I did have one question.

Sometimes people mention praying the rosary for an intention, such as “lets pray to rosary for world peace.” In those cases, should I pray while meditating on the mysteries while also thinking of the prayer intention? I find this very difficult at the moment.

Or do I focus on the prayer intention instead of the traditional mysteries. This makes more sense to me, but I’m not certain.

Or, do I just focus on the mysteries as usual, and just say to myself “all these prayers are for world peace.”

I’m wondering what other people do, and the best way to go about it.

Thanks all for kind answers and responses.

what i do, and what pretty much everyone i know does, is just mention the intentions at the beginning of the rosary, and meditate on the mysteries during the rosary.

we are supposed to meditate on the mysteries during the rosary, that is what the rosary is all about, the prayers are more of a background noise, and the meditations are what’s really meritorious, when we meditate well we receive many graces, and give a wonderful gift to our Blessed Mother, the word rosary actually means rose garden, so when you pray the rosary, you are giving many roses to Our Lady.

if you can, read “the secret of the rosary” by Saint Louis De Montfort, it’s really a must read for all Catholics,
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/37

that will tell you pretty much everything you need to know about the rosary,

as for intentions though, you can mention whatever and however many intentions you want,
for example, some of my usual prayer intentions are - for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for the conversion of poor sinners, the salvation of souls, purity in our youth, an end to abortion, for all priests and religious, for the Pope, for those who have asked for my prayers and those i have promised them to, for my own needs spiritual and temporal, for an increase in my virtues and a deeper love of God,

and then i add in a few more personal intentions, i try not to list to many, but just what’s most important,
and if you don’t list alot of intentions or even if you don’t list any at all, that’s ok to, cause God will use your prayers for what He knows is best whether you request something or not…so don’t worry about it to much.

alright that’s all, hope this helps, take care.

 

[Robintrinket]

Yes, during the ten Hail Mary’s you meditate on the mystery. The idea of the Rosary is to bring to mind the mysteries and to praise God for them. When you have an intention, you offer your meditation on the mysteries for the intention, but you concentrate on the mysteries as you pray the Hail Mary’s, not the intention.