Is a physical rosary necessary?

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Phillip_47

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Do you need a physical rosary to say the rosary or can you just count on your fingers? Another question, do need to know the mysteries and what exactly do you do with the mysteries? In the past I just said the decades of the rosary even if I didn’t know the mysteries of the day or have a rosary, does it still count?
 
  1. You do not need a physical Rosary. But it is useful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is reminding you to pray. Also if you are praying the Rosary before or after Mass, using a physical Rosary will let people know what you are doing and you may be less likely to be disturbed.
  2. You really need the mysteries, but you can have a book or a leaflet with them printed on. After a while, you will memorize them and won’t need this. You do not need to use the particular set of mysteries for the day, that is just a guideline aimed mainly a those who say the Rosary every day - which is a good goal to build up to, but not something to try for right out of the gate. The Confraternity of the Rosary rule is three times a week (Glorious once, Sorrowful once, and Joyful once) and that is probably a good starting point.
  3. The idea is to meditate on the mysteries. Having some reflections to hand to read at the start of each decade can be a good idea. Or you can simply have your Bible to hand and bookmark some relevant passages to read (a “scriptural” Rosary). If you find meditations hard, start with the Sorrowful mysteries. As it is one narrative, I usually find it easier to meditate on.
 
No, no physical rosary does not invalidate your prayer. I use my fingers all the time. I prefer to hold a little booklet w the mysteries bc I like to look at the images. Even though I know them, it’s is how I stay focused on the mediations. If I close my eyes to pray the rosary, and hear noises, I get distracted, imagine what the noises are, think of other things, etc. People say that w enough practice and prayer you can meditate without mental distraction, but for the life of me, I just cannot do it.
 
Phillip_47 said:
Do you need a physical rosary to say the rosary or can you just count on your fingers? Another question, do need to know the mysteries and what exactly do you do with the mysteries? In the past I just said the decades of the rosary even if I didn’t know the mysteries of the day or have a rosary, does it still count?
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My favorite way to pray the rosary was carrying my grand daughter when she was an infant, using her 10 toes to keep track of the Hail Marys…even the most beautiful rosary beads cant beat that!
 
Neofight said:
My favorite way to pray the rosary was carrying my grand daughter when she was an infant, using her 10 toes to keep track of the Hail Marys…even the most beautiful rosary beads cant beat that!
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oh my goodness, that is so sweet and precious!!! what a beautiful way to pray the rosary!!
 
A physical rosary isn’t necessary, but it’s nice to have one. Having the rosary rather than using your fingers frees your mind to focus on meditating on the mysteries.

When praying the rosary, you’re supposed to try and “put yourself” into the scene. For example, tonight I still need to meditate on the sorrowful mysteries. The first one, the anguish in the garden, you may imagine yourself as one of the apostles when Jesus says, “Could you not stay awake with me for one hour while I prayed?” and imagine how everyone would feel.

As for me, I just started praying the rosary for the first time on Monday, so it would be very helpful to have a booklet or maybe get to a website on your phone if you can’t memorize all the prayers/mysteries (I’m still working on “Hail, Holy Queen” myself).
 
Thom18 said:
A physical rosary isn’t necessary, but it’s nice to have one. Having the rosary rather than using your fingers frees your mind to focus on meditating on the mysteries.

When praying the rosary, you’re supposed to try and “put yourself” into the scene. For example, tonight I still need to meditate on the sorrowful mysteries. The first one, the anguish in the garden, you may imagine yourself as one of the apostles when Jesus says, “Could you not stay awake with me for one hour while I prayed?” and imagine how everyone would feel.

As for me, I just started praying the rosary for the first time on Monday, so it would be very helpful to have a booklet or maybe get to a website on your phone if you can’t memorize all the prayers/mysteries (I’m still working on “Hail, Holy Queen” myself).
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Fabulous news! The rosary is a wonderful prayer! I hope it comes to occupy a special part of each day for you. It’s my personal favourite devotion.

This is my go-to online booklet offered by the Dominicans. Simply click through the link to the relevant set of mysteries at the top of the page. To see the meditation points.

rosary-center.org/howto.htm#loaded

FWIW, I’d recommend you devote a set time each day to the rosary, even if you start at one decade and add progressively over a few weeks. Devote a rosary to being devoted to the rosary. You’ll receive immeasurable benefits from praying it!

God bless you!p
 
It may be helpful for you to follow along with Mother Angelica on you tube if you don’t have rosary beads.
 
Neofight said:
My favorite way to pray the rosary was carrying my grand daughter when she was an infant, using her 10 toes to keep track of the Hail Marys…even the most beautiful rosary beads cant beat that!
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That is one of the nicest things I have heard in a very long time.:blessyou: Reading this made my morning a whole lot brighter.👍👍
 
Neofight said:
My favorite way to pray the rosary was carrying my grand daughter when she was an infant, using her 10 toes to keep track of the Hail Marys…even the most beautiful rosary beads cant beat that!
Click to expand...
That’s adorable!:)😉
 
Phillip_47 said:
Do you need a physical rosary to say the rosary or can you just count on your fingers? Another question, do need to know the mysteries and what exactly do you do with the mysteries? In the past I just said the decades of the rosary even if I didn’t know the mysteries of the day or have a rosary, does it still count?
Click to expand...
Yes you certainly can count the prayers on your fingers (or in your head if you can.) The rosary beads are helpful but not required.

You can mediate on the mysteries using scripture verses that pertain to each mystery or you can (if you are able) contemplate the mysteries in your head by thinking about what comes to mind when you think of that part of Jesus or Mary’s life.

It’s good to memorize the mysteries of you can. But any prayer is acceptable to God, so if you forget the mysteries and simply pray the Our Fathers and Hail Marys that is certainly pleasing to God as well.

God bless you! 🙂
 
A physical Rosary is preferable as it can be holy in itself, especially if the beads consist of St. Benedict’s Medals and if you keep it in holy water when you do not use it. You can look at the Crucifix of the Rosary while you contemplate the mysteries. It is also an evangelizing tool as you can show it to unbelievers and thus give a good witness of your faith. Rosaries can be used as a devotional decoration of a home. St. Padre Pio used to sleep with one under his pillow.
 
One thought for anyone struggling to find time - get to Mass early and get your Rosary out, or stay behind for a while after, or say the Rosary while waiting for confession. Adoration is another good opportunity. Much easier to find the time than trying to make time at home.
 
I had a CD with the rosary I prayed while driving also.
Now my car doesn t have CD player.
 
For me it is important to have an actual Rosary. I carry a small one in the car, but it got tangled in something, and the crucifix broke off and was lost. Despite believing my prayers would still be valid, I stopped using that Rosary when stuck in traffic because of suspicions that it had become invalid. Well, this just goes to show how are thoughts interfere with our faith.
 
For me, I like to pray with a physical rosary. It just makes me feel more grounded and present in the prayer than if I try and count it with my hands or with a rosary app. Even just having the physical presence of a rosary on my desk, in my pocket, or in my bed is a constant reminder of prayer.
 
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