I hate praying the rosary

[punisherthunder]

There is an audio file of the Rosary on the EWTN website. It’s from that older international Rosary in 1986. That Rosary is about 15 minutes at the most. Often times it is difficult to keep up with the people reciting it they move too fast.

Like the Divine Mercy, with the Rosary I medidate on the Mysteries some, but also for every decade I think about each of the 5 Wounds of Christ. It helps to mediate on that.

 

[Teabag]

I admit that i do not like it when in a crowd who like to recite the Rosary fast! I like to say it at an even pace.

 

[Peter_J]

Yes, I know, red flags begin to go up when we mention adding to the Hail Mary,

Well technically, I think it raises red flags when I hear that adding to the Hail Mary raises red flags.

 

[twf]

I think 9 out of 10 posters on this thread completely missed the OP’s point. He is not a Latin Catholic. He is Syro-Malabar and feels called to live out the authentic East Syriac spirituality of his tradition as he has been exhorted to do by the Second Vatican Council, Pope St. John Paul, etc. While his parents insist he pray the Rosary, he feels called to use devotions from his own Syriac patrimony.
OP: Have you discussed this with your priest?

 

[ALoveDivine]

I’m a Latin-rite Catholic and I’m not personally all that comfortable with the Rosary. I also come from a protestant background, so Marian devotion in general is still greatly out of my comfort zone, though I accept the Marian dogmas.

I love the Divine Mercy, and the Jesus Prayer. Those are my favorite devotions, and I don’t believe any Catholic of whatever rite is obligated to use any particular devotion. The Catholic Church is very rich in a variety of traditions. Its no problem for an Eastern-rite Catholic to pray the Rosary, nor is it a problem for a Latin-rite Catholic like myself to pray the Jesus Prayer. Whatever works for you.

 

[Thomas48]

I can understand how you feel my friend, the rosary and other Latin prayers are very popular amongst Syro Malabar families. Personally my family was never big on the rosary, in fact I dont ever remember citing it during our family evening prayer. Our prayer was simply:

-Lakhu Mara/ Sarvadipanam Karthave
-Everyone prays the Lords Prayer and Hail Mary
-Devotional/Liturgical Hymn
-Apostles Creed
-Bible Reading
-Devotional/Liturgical Hymn
-Kiss of Peace

For me, my family prayer never seemed very Latin because we added a Syro Malabar flare with liturgical hymns and passing the peace in our tradition. I would suggest the best way to connect yourself to our heritage is by singing our Syriac hymns or even the translated Thuya hymns (As Malphono mentioned aswell). I know personally that chanting hymns always helped me to feel very close to our Church and liturgy.

 

[Rosebud77]

jaimeleglise;13538480**:

I am ashamed to admit that I dislike it too.

There are so many benefits and promises attached to it plus it is so pleasing to God that I should say it. I don’t like the repetition and I don’t like meditating on the mysteries even though they are Scriptural. When I do the meditations my mind goes blank.

A holy priest once told me I would receive even more merit saying it because I don’t like to say it. That is probably true but I still can’t get myself to say it. I do like the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, however. For me this is not a Rite thing, the rosary is in my (Western Tradition).

I never knew that St. Therese did not like the rosary. I had heard that another nun used to shake her rosary which would set her on edge.

If anyone has any suggestions, I am glad to hear them.

Why ashamed? As far as I know the rosary is not mandatory. I stopped trying as it was for me counterproductive. I love rosaries, love making them and teaching other how t o pray it but it is not for me. Many others including Sister Wendy Beckett are the same. Be who you are and pray how is for you. I had also to stop using the Divine Office as I would stop at every verse to ponder! I had some expert advice on that, from two sources, that I had simply moved beyond vocal prayer. Great for me.

 

[zab]

I have never enjoyed praying the rosary or other Roman devotionals. However, it is popular in my Church which is heavily latinized and my relatives frequently pray it.

The syriac tradition focused more on meditating on holy scripture, hymns, and divine praises. But most have forgotten this and adopt Western traditions instead. I would much rather do this instead.

But i feel like i am trapped in roman ideals. I am also guilt tripped if i do not pray it, like i am sinning against god or offending st mary. i have not told my parents I don’t like praying the rosary (we pray it at night if i come back home), but they know i do not particularly like praying at night [the reason is i hate praying the rosary]. thus they think i hate praying, when in reality, i just hate the rosary.

i do not doubt that the rosary is a good prayer, or its history. I just do not want to pray it.

does anyone else not like praying it ?

It is perfectly alright to prefer reading and meditating on holy scripture, hymns, and divine praises over the rosary. But I, also, would like to caution you about using the word “hate” when describing how you feel about it. You don’t like it and that’s ok, but don’t let hate find a way into your heart regarding your attitude toward holy things. And as others have pointed out, the rosary is very scriptural. It began before the printing press was invented and the common people did not have access to the scriptures nor did most people even know how to read. The rosary was begun as a way to remember the most important events in the life of Our Lord from his incarnation at the Annunciation to his mother, Mary , his life here on earth , his suffering and death and Ascension into heaven and the Assumption of his mother into heaven and her crowning as Queen of heaven and earth. It is a simple method of remembering all of these events. It is perfectly fine if you do not like praying the rosary or prefer it over other means of prayer. But I would recommend that you honor your father and mother by joining in their prayer when invited simply out of your respect for them.

 

[Blind_Didymus]

Thank you for pointing that out.
I did miss that and should know better having walked the Eastern path myself.

You are correct that there should be prayers of his own tradition which he would be able to pray. Might there be anything on the website of the Syro-Malabar Church which may be able to assist? Or would asking on their FB site help?

 

[jaimeleglise]

Why ashamed? As far as I know the rosary is not mandatory. I stopped trying as it was for me counterproductive. I love rosaries, love making them and teaching other how t o pray it but it is not for me. Many others including Sister Wendy Beckett are the same. Be who you are and pray how is for you. I had also to stop using the Divine Office as I would stop at every verse to ponder! I had some expert advice on that, from two sources, that I had simply moved beyond vocal prayer. Great for me.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I do feel guilty, though.

 

[kkollwitz]

In the last year I’ve become quite the fan of the Rosary, in part because I have made some of my own Mystery sets, and other variations based on who or what I’m praying for, etc. Bit of that is here: newevangelizers.com/blog/2016/01/14/rosary-riff/

 

[HelenRose]

I am ashamed to admit that I dislike it too. There are so many benefits and promises attached to it plus it is so pleasing to God that I should say it. I don’t like the repetition and I don’t like meditating on the mysteries even though they are Scriptural. When I do the meditations my mind goes blank.

A holy priest once told me I would receive even more merit saying it because I don’t like to say it. That is probably true but I still can’t get myself to say it. I do like the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, however. For me this is not a Rite thing, the rosary is in my (Western Tradition).

I never knew that St. Therese did not like the rosary. I had heard that another nun used to shake her rosary which would set her on edge.

If anyone has any suggestions, I am glad to hear them.

St. Therese of Lisieux on the Rosary from her Autobiography “Story of a Soul”. pg 242

“However, I would not want you to believe, dear Mother, that I recite without devotion the prayers said in common in the choir or the hermitages. On the contrary, I love very much these prayers in common, for Jesus has promised to be in the midst of those who gather together in His name. I feel then that the fervor of my Sisters makes up for my lack of fervor: but when alone (I am ashamed to admit it) the recitation of the Rosary is more difficult for me than the wearing of an instrument of penance. I feel I have said this so poorly! I force myself in vain to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary; I don’t succeed in fixing my mind on them. For a long time I was desolate about this lack of devotion that astonished me, for I love the Blessed Virgin so much that it should be easy for to recite in her honor prayers which are so pleasing to her. Now I am less desolate, I think that the Queen of heaven, since she is my MOTHER, must see my good will and she is satisfied with it.”

Therese knew that she loved our Blessed Mother and she knew that Mary understood.

I love St. Therese. She is so honest yet she is kind and thoughtful.