How to get the family get started (and continue) praying a daily Rosary

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Laura_B

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Hi:
Yes, I am the one who was just asking about distractions in prayer on another thread (thanks for the responses by the way, they will help!), so it may be odd for me to ask this, but here goes:

What are some good ways to get my family started praying a family Rosary and keep on doing so? I am the mom in a family with three kids ages 15, 13 and 5. My husband is a very good man (who will probably bypass Purgatory while I will be stuck there for a few millenenia!) but is much less into the devotionals than I. I would really like to have the family say a Rosary together, but even when I suggest saying just a decade every night, we’ll start well for a night or two then forego it “just for tonight”. Life then gets in the way and we don’t seem to get back to it.

Any suggestions anybody? Thanks again in advance.
 
I don’t know if this will help, esp. since you have teenagers, but set a time to say it every night, regardless of who is there. My family began about six years ago, when I was 17 (siblings were 15, 11, 9, 7, and 5) and it wasn’t easy. My mom would have us say it right after dinner (which was usually late and a family dinner) - sometimes dishes would be cleared, but most of the time we’d just get up and move to the living room. I was working some nights and as we got older, there were times when there were only two or three of us, but we usually still said it. Also, my mom had a lot of negative reactions for the first couple of years and kids falling asleep (my sister esp. since she’s kind of been anti-religion for a while), but we persevere. It doesn’t have to be long or elaborate or even terribly meditative. You have to start out small. Also, if you don’t say it every night, don’t worry…try for once a week or something at first, maybe. Then build up. 🙂
 
start with one decade, let each child lead one prayer, as you move to more than one decade, let each child lead on decade. Better to start slow with one decade, and read one or two scripture verses on the mystery first (gives them practice finding verses in the bible as well), than to try and recite the whole rosary with a lot of opposition. turn off TV, phone, cell phones, make a rule, we will not answer the phone until we are done. The longer you kids horse around, whine, complain and use delaying tactics, the longer it will take to pray our decade, and the longer you will go without contact with the outside world.
 
I try with my 2 oldes girls (8 and 5) It is hard becuase of the baby 11mos. but I just get the rosary out and say come on guys. and we do it my 5 y.o loves it and my 8 y.o. sulks and does not really participate but sometimes I catch her praying in her room. For us it is random but you have to start somewhere.
 
I like this idea for me. If I say 1 decade a day, the whole thing will be done each week (weekdays). Sometimes it is overwhelming to face doing the entire rosary–mind wonders, seems to take forever. This will be a baby step to get me started.
puzzleannie said:
start with one decade, let each child lead one prayer, as you move to more than one decade, let each child lead on decade. Better to start slow with one decade, and read one or two scripture verses on the mystery first (gives them practice finding verses in the bible as well), than to try and recite the whole rosary with a lot of opposition. turn off TV, phone, cell phones, make a rule, we will not answer the phone until we are done. The longer you kids horse around, whine, complain and use delaying tactics, the longer it will take to pray our decade, and the longer you will go without contact with the outside world.
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Good ideas ther - I especially like the idea of doing it at the same time every day. Maybe you also need to reconsider what time is best for you. Are you usually all together just before bedtime? What about in the morning? Maybe talking about it as a family and agreeing on the time to do it will help your older children be more willing.

My family (younger kids though) does one decade per night, but only 5 nights a week. This way, it takes exactly 4 weeks to go through the entire rosary - one set of mysteries a week, and there is no confusion on which mystery we’re on. We do the opening prayers and first mystery (of whichever set) on Mondays, then continue with a decade each on tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. Then Friday, we take a break and do the Chaplet of Mercy, and Saturday we do the 5th mystery and hail holy queen etc. Sunday, we pray the Regina Caeli instead. This variation helps me not feel like my prayer is too monotonous, along with helping me keep track.

If you are still having trouble keeping it going in a couple of months, you might consider making it a lenten resolution. That’s what we did last year, and we felt a lot of pressure to keep our resolution.
 
Laura_B said:
Hi:
Yes, I am the one who was just asking about distractions in prayer on another thread (thanks for the responses by the way, they will help!), so it may be odd for me to ask this, but here goes:

What are some good ways to get my family started praying a family Rosary and keep on doing so? I am the mom in a family with three kids ages 15, 13 and 5. My husband is a very good man (who will probably bypass Purgatory while I will be stuck there for a few millenenia!) but is much less into the devotionals than I. I would really like to have the family say a Rosary together, but even when I suggest saying just a decade every night, we’ll start well for a night or two then forego it “just for tonight”. Life then gets in the way and we don’t seem to get back to it.

Any suggestions anybody? Thanks again in advance.
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I would think that kids 13 and 15 will give you resistance on this, so don’t force it. You’ll only drive them away from religion. If you want to inspire the habit, let them know that you’re praying the Rosary. They will reflect on this over the course of their life and perhaps be inspired to follow your example.

Been there done that!

Jim
 
If your husband decides it should happen, it will happen. It makes a big difference when the dad leads the way. See if you can negotiate with him. Trade him something he likes for his taking the lead in this matter. I think when he sees the fruit of it, he will continue.

Also, what if you had a specific intention. You could do a rosary novena. I think men like a purpose versus a “what a nice family tradition.” Could you pray for a cure for a sick person you know? How about a conversion in the family? Or, for a person in the family who has died. Maybe you could do one Rosary novena a month from the first to the ninth.

Also, sometimes, the timing is important. Experiment with different times.

The key really is the dad’s leadership.
 
leonie said:
If your husband decides it should happen, it will happen. It makes a big difference when the dad leads the way. See if you can negotiate with him. Trade him something he likes for his taking the lead in this matter. I think when he sees the fruit of it, he will continue.

Also, what if you had a specific intention. You could do a rosary novena. I think men like a purpose versus a “what a nice family tradition.” Could you pray for a cure for a sick person you know? How about a conversion in the family? Or, for a person in the family who has died. Maybe you could do one Rosary novena a month from the first to the ninth.

Also, sometimes, the timing is important. Experiment with different times.

The key really is the dad’s leadership.
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I would definitely second this! When we first started, my dad was not terribly supportive and we were not happy about having to pray. However, after a while, it came to dad suggesting it first and everyone listens more when he says it and grumbles less.
 
We do prayer and Bible readings during dinner… It’s part of the “Family Discussion” and Family Talk time at dinner.

Sometimes right after dinner we do a decade of the rosary.
So I like the right after dinner suggestion.
 
One more suggestion wouldn’t hurt -

I am an adult and was very lazy at praying in general. My mom, from another state, asked me to do just 1 decade per day, and she would do the other four decades.

After one year of doing what my mom asked, I now pray the whole rosary.
 
water said:
One more suggestion wouldn’t hurt -

I am an adult and was very lazy at praying in general. My mom, from another state, asked me to do just 1 decade per day, and she would do the other four decades.

After one year of doing what my mom asked, I now pray the whole rosary.
Click to expand...
That is so sweet! It reminds me of what Our Lady does for us.
 
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