That is one way. You can also think about what each decade teaches us. Sometimes I relate it to hope, love or Charity how they teach each one of these. My favorite way however is a scriptual rosary which I constructed myself. I recite a scripture with each bead. I find this very helpful with meditation.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer. I’ve been looking at some online resources on how to pray the rosary, but I’m not sure what it means to meditate on the mysteries. Does it just mean visualizing a particular scene and holding that image, or is it something else?
Thanks for the help.
be open to grace.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer. I’ve been looking at some online resources on how to pray the rosary, but I’m not sure what it means to meditate on the mysteries. Does it just mean visualizing a particular scene and holding that image, or is it something else?
Thanks for the help.
Yes, that is one way. I start there and try to fill in posible events that are not included in the gospel. For instance, in the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery Jesus falls the first time. Then the 4th Sorrowful Mystery has Jesus meeting His mother. I picture that scene with Mary running to Jesus, looking so sad and so beautiful that the soldier feels sorry for her and summons Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus carry His cross. At the same time, I picture Mary Magdalene taking off her veil to wipe the face of Jesus. She might have been the Veronica in the gospel. She likely was there with Mary. We know she stood at the foot of the cross while Jesus hung there. I don’t take my imaginings as part of the gospel, of course. I hope to ask our Lord how it evolved when I see Him. But your meditations can take any form that come naturally for you. God bless.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer. I’ve been looking at some online resources on how to pray the rosary, but I’m not sure what it means to meditate on the mysteries. Does it just mean visualizing a particular scene and holding that image, or is it something else?
Thanks for the help.
Yes, it means visualizing the scene, thinking about its details, and putting the event into the whole history of the salvation.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer. I’ve been looking at some online resources on how to pray the rosary, but I’m not sure what it means to meditate on the mysteries. Does it just mean visualizing a particular scene and holding that image, or is it something else?
Thanks for the help.
I find that prayer for me starts at a very basic level.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer.
I recommend a really good book called The Rosary: Chain Of Hope by Father Benedict Groeschel.I am not Catholic, but I would like to get into a regular practice of prayer. I’ve been looking at some online resources on how to pray the rosary, but I’m not sure what it means to meditate on the mysteries. Does it just mean visualizing a particular scene and holding that image, or is it something else?
Thanks for the help.
Mary isn’t the Focus of the Gospel, Christ is. Nonetheless Mary plays a significant role in Christs life as “Mother of the Lord” which Luke states at the Visitation[Joyful Mystery]I just started back praying the rosary, and I’m still confused. I’ve seen so many and confusing directions on how to pray the rosary. Prayer should be simple…right? Not difficult, at least I thought that. When I pray and i do pray several, several times a day I find myself not focused 100 percent of the time and I start over till I feel I have focused. I do have a brain injury that has impacted my focusing, basically my executive function is poor along with my memory. I know the rosary is so important to pray daily and I’m trying to get into the routine and I always find myself at the end apologizing for not being focused. I just find myself drifting off, though scriptural prayer does seem to be a bit easier for me and has more meaning. But I have to say that there is too many directions on how to pray the rosary, also too many different explanations on what the rosary is about. I have to keep it simple or it overwhelms me and then it’s too hard. So at this time I believe praying the rosary is looking at the life of Christ through the gospel’s eyes. Then I read today praying the rosary is the life of Christ through Mary, but I don’t understand that…I know that must sound odd, but when you read the gospel Mary is really mentioned and I don’t know why. I think I just have a difficult time the real meaning of the rosary.
I can’t even read all the responses on this thread it’s too confusing.
Heres a link to another thread here. Its going at the same time as this one. It will show you just how many have a problem with concentration, and it includes some of the Saints! Definately not uncommon.I just started back praying the rosary, and I’m still confused. I’ve seen so many and confusing directions on how to pray the rosary. Prayer should be simple…right? Not difficult, at least I thought that. When I pray and i do pray several, several times a day I find myself not focused 100 percent of the time and I start over till I feel I have focused. I do have a brain injury that has impacted my focusing, basically my executive function is poor along with my memory. I know the rosary is so important to pray daily and I’m trying to get into the routine and I always find myself at the end apologizing for not being focused. I just find myself drifting off, though scriptural prayer does seem to be a bit easier for me and has more meaning. But I have to say that there is too many directions on how to pray the rosary, also too many different explanations on what the rosary is about. I have to keep it simple or it overwhelms me and then it’s too hard. So at this time I believe praying the rosary is looking at the life of Christ through the gospel’s eyes. Then I read today praying the rosary is the life of Christ through Mary, but I don’t understand that…I know that must sound odd, but when you read the gospel Mary is really mentioned and I don’t know why. I think I just have a difficult time the real meaning of the rosary.
I can’t even read all the responses on this thread it’s too confusing.
Thanks Gary. It’s very helpful to know that others including the Saints have a hard time focusing. Maybe I was a little to hard on myself. I, too, try to visualize the scene with sights, sounds and smells, and sometimes I picture myself there, which really helps alot. I am still trying to understand what it means to understand the Mysteries. What is the meaning behind it? The more I know the easier it will be to pray and understand the rosary. This question may seem odd but why are they Mysteries?Mary isn’t the Focus of the Gospel, Christ is. Nonetheless Mary plays a significant role in Christs life as “Mother of the Lord” which Luke states at the Visitation[Joyful Mystery]
Its not uncommon to lose focus. Many of us have had to “practice” at this. And that is what the Rosary is, a repetitive practice in recitation and devotion which “is” the path to a better understanding of the events as you continue.
Many do this different ways. Some “like myself” have wondering racing minds. So I often contemplate the Mysteries while I pray to consume my mind with “only” Mary, Christ, God.
Others find that to much and prefer to focus on only the prayer acknowledging what each decade on each day represents. Then they spend 15-minutes aside from The Rosary meditating of the Mysteries. But as “Ad Pondus Omniu” mentioned above, I actually do that also to further sink my mind into what I am doing.
So there are a few ways depending really on yourself. If to much (name removed by moderator)ut is confusing, then take less in.
If a lack of (name removed by moderator)ut is cause for a loss of concentration? Then take more (name removed by moderator)ut to focus in.
But an in depth understanding of the Rosary and the Mysteries will come in time through meditation on the Mysteries.
Anyway sorry about your accident and don’t be so quick to think thats the reason. Many find this an effort to grasp fully and completely. Its not just you.
God Bless, Gary
Well, for me its not so much the actual events that are the mystery. The mystery is how in Gods will, events such as the journey with the Cross, or the Crucifixtion, Annunciation have spellbound generations for century after century. And in essense to contemplate the mystery one becomes taken right back in time to that specific event. They then seem to grow and deepen as one understands more clearly exactly what happened at each event. So then the individuals Faith also grows. A clearer picture of Gods reality unfolds.Thanks Gary. It’s very helpful to know that others including the Saints have a hard time focusing. Maybe I was a little to hard on myself. I, too, try to visualize the scene with sights, sounds and smells, and sometimes I picture myself there, which really helps alot. I am still trying to understand what it means to understand the Mysteries. What is the meaning behind it? The more I know the easier it will be to pray and understand the rosary. This question may seem odd but why are they Mysteries?
The word “Mystery” has a different meaning for Catholics. I doubt if anyone could truly define the word. The meaning of the word mystery for me is discovering new meaning everytime I pray the Rosary. I do not understand the depth of love and can never explain how this love is shown to me while meditating on each “Mystery”Thanks Gary. It’s very helpful to know that others including the Saints have a hard time focusing. Maybe I was a little to hard on myself. I, too, try to visualize the scene with sights, sounds and smells, and sometimes I picture myself there, which really helps alot. I am still trying to understand what it means to understand the Mysteries. What is the meaning behind it? The more I know the easier it will be to pray and understand the rosary. This question may seem odd but why are they Mysteries?
Think of the Holy Rosary like thisI just started back praying the rosary, and I’m still confused. I’ve seen so many and confusing directions on how to pray the rosary. Prayer should be simple…right? Not difficult, at least I thought that. When I pray and i do pray several, several times a day I find myself not focused 100 percent of the time and I start over till I feel I have focused. I do have a brain injury that has impacted my focusing, basically my executive function is poor along with my memory. I know the rosary is so important to pray daily and I’m trying to get into the routine and I always find myself at the end apologizing for not being focused. I just find myself drifting off, though scriptural prayer does seem to be a bit easier for me and has more meaning. But I have to say that there is too many directions on how to pray the rosary, also too many different explanations on what the rosary is about. I have to keep it simple or it overwhelms me and then it’s too hard. So at this time I believe praying the rosary is looking at the life of Christ through the gospel’s eyes. Then I read today praying the rosary is the life of Christ through Mary, but I don’t understand that…I know that must sound odd, but when you read the gospel Mary is really mentioned and I don’t know why. I think I just have a difficult time the real meaning of the rosary.
I can’t even read all the responses on this thread it’s too confusing.
I like your method of meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, as well as adrift’s.For starters, try to imagine that you are there at the event. Picture the emotions, the sights, the sounds, the smells, everything, put yourself back when these events took place. Then, simply try to identify yourself with the event, try to embrace the significant meaning and hold onto what it means.