I don't believe in the Rosary

[tobinatorstark]

I do understand the Rosary and it’s Gospel foundation. I do appreciate Mary and honor her for her part in Salvation. I am just not comfortable with calling her Mother of God or for giving her so much devotion. I have read “Catholic and Christian” and have had generous Catholics give me plenty of other materials that justify and explain the Rosary, why Mary can safely be called Mother of God, and so forth. I am just uncomfortable with it. I am not saying that I think it is sacreligious or anything, but I wondered if it is necessary to becoming Catholic.

no it isn’t t necessary to become Catholic. The way I look at it I believe in the words Christ spoke in regard in how we are to pray (Pater Noster). I believe in the words that the Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary and the words given to Elizabeth through the Holy Spirit to Mary (Ava Maria) and I also believe in the Gospel meditations reflecting the Life of Jesus and of Mary. With these it allows me to pray the Rosary and understand what the Rosary means. There are many meditations out there. I don’t know if there is one specifically that is necessary to becoming Catholic though.

 

[theistgal]

Many Eastern Catholics don’t pray the Rosary.

However, they definitely call Mary the “Mother of God” (“Theotokos”).

I don’t really see how you can be a Catholic without acknowledging that. Jesus is God, Mary is His Mother, therefore Mary is the Mother of God.

The title “Mother of God” is not about who Mary is so much as it is about who Jesus Christ is.

 

[aksmoot]

Many Eastern Catholics don’t pray the Rosary.

However, they definitely call Mary the “Mother of God” (“Theotokos”).

I don’t really see how you can be a Catholic without acknowledging that. Jesus is God, Mary is His Mother, therefore Mary is the Mother of God.

The title “Mother of God” is not about who Mary is so much as it is about who Jesus Christ is.

Look, I realize that Jesus is God and that Mary gave birth to him on this Earth. “Mother of God” as a title just seems to imply that Mary gave birth to God before this Earth existed. After all, all mothers live before their offspring. I also know that this isn’t the implication of the Catholic Church, but it just make me (personally) uncomfortable. And why does that title matter? I am not denying that she gave birth to Jesus who is God.

 

[po18guy]

Look, I realize that Jesus is God and that Mary gave birth to him on this Earth. “Mother of God” as a title just seems to imply that Mary gave birth to God before this Earth existed. After all, all mothers live before their offspring. I also know that this isn’t the implication of the Catholic Church, but it just make me (personally) uncomfortable. And why does that title matter? I am not denying that she gave birth to Jesus who is God.

Just give it time. It took me 20 years to get over! But, over it I am. Our lives are a process of conversion. We are not finished in this life, but march steadily toward the Lord.

Christ’s peace.

 

[LilyM]

Look, I realize that Jesus is God and that Mary gave birth to him on this Earth. “Mother of God” as a title just seems to imply that Mary gave birth to God before this Earth existed. After all, all mothers live before their offspring. I also know that this isn’t the implication of the Catholic Church, but it just make me (personally) uncomfortable. And why does that title matter? I am not denying that she gave birth to Jesus who is God.

That shows a wrong understanding of God and eternity as well as the dogma.

God is outside of time. There’s no such thing as ‘before’ or ‘after’ with Him. All temporal history is an eternal present to one who is eternal. He is unchanging - ‘Jesus Christ yesterday, today and forever’. Remember even in Genesis, shortly after creation, He knew ‘the Woman’ (Mary) and her seed Jesus (hers because He was the seed of no earthly father) would come and defeat Satan.

If He is eternal, then Mary in a very real sense IS eternally His mother, since He prepared from all eternity to become human, and knew always that humanity would come from Mary. Not to mention her pre-existence in the mind of God (whose mere word creates reality, remember). ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you’ (for which you may as well substitute ‘from before the universe was created’) and all that.

There isn’t really any logical way of reconciling your two statements ‘I understand that Mary is the mother of Jesus who is God’ and 'I am uncomfortable with calling Mary ‘Mother of God’.

It’s the sort of logical disconnect that I would have if I said ‘look, I understand this Jesus fellow is divine, existed before creation, that all things were created through Him, that He is of one being with God the Father and all, but I’m uncomfortable with the idea of calling Jesus God’.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that the heart in many cases will lag behind the intellect, in all sorts of areas of life, and is not always controllable by it. Just as long as you recognise your reaction for what it is - an irrational emotional response - is all.

 

[Ignatius]

Ignatius;4730396:

No problem. The Rosary is a private devotion that is not required.
However, I must say, you are missing a wonderful devotion that I have found to be a great help in overcoming sin and increasing knowledge of the Gospel because it is meditation on the Gospel and the life of Christ…

God bless

I do understand the Rosary and it’s Gospel foundation… I wondered if it is necessary to becoming Catholic.

As I said before that’s no problem. The Rosary is a private devotion that is not required.

 

[Benedict108]

Look, I realize that Jesus is God and that Mary gave birth to him on this Earth. “Mother of God” as a title just seems to imply that Mary gave birth to God before this Earth existed. After all, all mothers live before their offspring. I also know that this isn’t the implication of the Catholic Church, but it just make me (personally) uncomfortable. And why does that title matter? I am not denying that she gave birth to Jesus who is God.

It would seem that it is the prayers of the Rosary that you take issue with.

Do you object to the Hail Mary and Hail Holy Queen prayers?

Would you also take issue with the Catholic belief that she is our intecessor before the Blessed and Most Holy Trinity?

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’m 57 and have been Catholic all my life. I certainly believe that Mary is the Mother of God. She was the mother of Jesus, Jesus is God, so she is the Mother of God. No problem.

However (and I blush to say this), the rosary is rather far down the list of my favorite devotions. I find it, for lack of a better term, dry. Now litanies are another thing entirely - I love them - the more the better. And I am very fond of the Jesus Prayer.