Is it okay to not say the Rosary daily?

[theistgal]

That’s a funny thought … “Hail me, full of grace, the Lord is with me, blessed am I among women …”

lol!

May I suggest the OP consider praying the Litany to the Blessed Virgin instead of the Rosary for a while? It has a similar rhythmic quality and beautiful phrases (“Tower of Ivory pray for us, House of Gold, pray for us”, etc.) and doesn’t seem to be prayed as often anymore.

Also, why not looking into some of the devotions in the Eastern rites - for example, praying one of the Akathathists.

Or just pray one decade of the Rosary every day instead of trying for all five, and pray the one you choose very slowly and meditatively.

Whatever you do, don’t worry about it. The whole point of the Rosary is to PRAY, so as long as you’re praying something, you’ll be just fine.

 

[TrueLight]

Which ten of the twenty do you say?

Sorry. I meant to type 5 decades per day. Either the Sorrowful, Joyful or Glorious mysteries.

 

[JRKH]

I am curious, did someone tell you or lead you to believe that you must pray the rosary? It sometimes happens that converts are told that (I don’t assume you are a convert, just sayin’) or they are led to believe that, but it is not true.

Puzzleannie’s post #7 is quite correct.

Bear in mind that the first Christians did not have a rosary, and the one said today is the end product of long development. Saint Mary herself surely never said it in life (nor any of the Apostles). There are many good ways to lead a devout life and that can include a prayer rule like the rosary, for those who prefer to pray and meditate on the rosary that is fine for them. You do what is best for you, when the Spirit moves you .

I was a bit curious of this (the bolded) also. It is one of the things that concerns me as people come into the Church as converts or even as reverts.

I am glad to see all the wonderful answer clarifying that it is indeed a “private” devotion - not a requirement.

Peace
James

 

[GaryTaylor]

Is it OK? of course. There’s a devotion of 3-Hail Marys daily also. One to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many other recitation aspects you can involve yourself in.

I wouldn’t look at the faith at whats required though. Kinda indicates the minimal you have you do. Is there really anything more important than saving your Soul, Interceeding for the sinners of the world, the souls in purgatory, and your sin? Just Sayin.

The Rosary is highly recommended though…

google.com/url?q=http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/rosary/&sa=U&ei=SEbuTsioMuTl0QGq9IzYCQ&ved=0CA8QFjAA&usg=AFQjCNGfzIP-u-QeDjAaq9lz9CO6HJoO-w

Peace/Love

 

[Seamus_L]

You are not required to say the rosary, but it would be to your benefit to say it anyway.

 

[Marie5890]

I have to be totally honest.I sometimes say the Rosary begrudgingly.I dont really have any problems with the meaning and significance of the the Rosary but there’s times when it feels very time consuming espeically since when I do it “optimally” I think of the individual prayers as being intented for someone or something and/or I just *feel *that as another way to get some regular spiritual activity I’d rather do something else like say prayers my own way,read a chapter of the Bible out loud or say this one specific that’s one this piece of paper with a picture of the shroud of Turin and that says something like “The Golden Arrow Holy Face Devotion Prayer”.I would still be willing to say the Rosary just not as often.One of the reasons that I still keep saying it dialy even though I reluctant to is because of “the promises of Mary to those who pray the Rosary” (as it says on the back of the pamphlet I use for praying).Any advice?.Thank you very much so for your time.

Hello Sidetrack,
Like others have said, you dont every have to say the Rosary. Ever.

I know what you are referring to when it comes to the “promises”. To be honest, Im not sure that they are of credible and historical background.

Many times, this can be true of various pious devotions. Their authenticity is more legend than fact.

 

[Paxvobis]

Of course you don’t have to say the Rosary every day, or ever. The Rosary is a very contemplative and meditative prayer and that kind of prayer doesn’t suit everyone.

That said, praying the rosary daily is very beneficial to the spiritual life and one who does it will get many graces from it.

 

[TrueLight]

There are those who say the Rosary is the most powerful prayer there is and will practically consider you a heretic if you don’t say it regularly.

There are those who believe one can stay home and say the Rosary if there are no “appropriate” masses nearby.

 

[Marie5890]

There are those who say the Rosary is the most powerful prayer there is and will practically consider you a heretic if you don’t say it regularly.

There are those who believe one can stay home and say the Rosary if there are no “appropriate” masses nearby.

That is unfortunate that you meet people like that Truelight.

Anyone who says that the Rosary is the most powerful prayer there is poorly catechized and doesnt realize that the Mass is the most powerful and the most important.

And when Our Lord was asked to show His disciples how to pray, He Himself gave us the Our Father. Not the Rosary.

 

[TrueLight]

That is unfortunate that you meet people like that Truelight.

Anyone who says that the Rosary is the most powerful prayer there is poorly catechized and doesnt realize that the Mass is the most powerful and the most important.

And when Our Lord was asked to show His disciples how to pray, He Himself gave us the Our Father. Not the Rosary.

In all fairness, they usually say outside of the mass (if it is an “appropriate” mass).

 

[A_Catholic]

Instead of blithely saying that it is not necessary to pray the Rosary, why not explain why the Rosary is so important. After all, it was given to St. Dominic directly by Our Lady, and anything that comes from the Blessed Mother, comes from Jesus. I don’t think it is something we should take lightly.

Here are what some saints have said about the rosary:

*‘If you say the Rosary faithfully until death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins “you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.” Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practice black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and save your soul, if - and mark well what I say - if you say the Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins.’
–St. Louis Marie de Montfort

“If you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son’s path.”
–St. Josemaria Escriva

“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.”
–Saint Padre Pio

“Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.”
–Saint Pope Pius IX

“There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.”
–Sister Lucia, of the seers of Fatima*

This is what St. Louis Marie de Montfort said to priests:

*I beg of you to beware of thinking of the Rosary as something of little importance - as do ignorant people, and even several great but proud scholars. Far from being insignificant, the Rosary is a priceless treasure which is inspired by God.

Almighty God has given it to you because he wants you to use it as a means to convert the most hardened sinners and the most obstinate heretics. He has attached to it grace in this life and glory in the next. The saints have said it faithfully and the Popes have endorsed it.

When the Holy Spirit has revealed this secret to a priest and director of souls, how blessed is that priest! For the vast majority of people fail to know this secret or else only know it superficially. If such a priest really understands this secret, he will say the Rosary each day and will encourage others to say it. God and his blessed Mother will pour abundant grace into his soul, so that he may become God’s instrument for his glory; and his word, though simple, will do more good in one month than that of other preachers in several years.*

One last quote from St. Louis Marie de Montfort:

*To encourage you still more in this devotion practised by so many holy people, I should like to add that the Rosary recited with the meditation of the mysteries brings about the following marvellous results:

1. it gradually brings us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ;
2. it purifies our souls from sin;
3. it gives us victory over all our enemies;
4. it makes the practice of virtue easy;
5. it sets us on fire with the love of our Lord;
6. it enriches us with graces and merits;*

Why would anyone think of not praying the Rosary every day?

 

[TrueLight]

ACatholic, Where have YOU been?

 

[A_Catholic]

ACatholic, Where have YOU been?

Praying the Rosary!

 

[TrueLight]

Praying the Rosary!

Ha ha!

 

[JRKH]

A Catholic,
You have provided a lot of good info in your post above and indeed we should not take the rosary lightly just as we should not take ANY prayer or private devotion lightly. This is why so many have affirmed that the rosary, while a wonderful prayer, is not required and so it is perfectly OK not to say the rosary daily - especially if, as the OP mentions, it is often being said "grudgingly.

Prayer is a very important and very personal thing and it is important that people build for themselves, through the grace of God, a prayer life that that serves their needs and that they feel free to change, rearrange and otherwise modify their prayer life as needed as they journey toward God.

Peace
James

 

[A_Catholic]

A Catholic,

You have provided a lot of good info in your post above and indeed we should not take the rosary lightly just as we should not take ANY prayer or private devotion lightly. This is why so many have affirmed that the rosary, while a wonderful prayer, is not required and so it is perfectly OK not to say the rosary daily - especially if, as the OP mentions, it is often being said "grudgingly.

 

[JRKH]

I’m a little confused at your answer.

I’m sorry if my answer was confusing…I’ll try to me more clear. first let me assure you that my comments are in no way to be taken as a slight against the rosary or against our Blessed Mother.

The Rosary is not required in the same sense that we must go to Mass each Sunday, go to confession and receive communion at least once a year, fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, etc. That’s all certainly true.

Indeed, we are in perfect agreement here. There are things that are “required” and then there are other things that are “recommended”. The rosary is recommended but not required. Therefore it is, as asked in the OP, “okay to not say the Rosary daily”.

But as I posted, the Rosary is not a manmade prayer. It was given by the Blessed Mother to St. Dominic. This is literally a heavenly prayer. All great saints have had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and also to the Rosary. There seems to be a definite connection.

I’m going to make a small distinction here, not as a critique, but just for clarity. The rosary is more of a “devotion” than a “prayer”. It is a devotion built upon several prayers, along with meditations on various events in the lives of Our Lady and Jesus.
This devotion was, as you say, given to St Dominic in a private revelation and, as you know, we are not bound by the private revelations of another. The devotion can be highly recommended - as the rosary certainly is - and the devotion can come with a number of promises etc. which likewise make the devotion worthwhile…but - in all of this it must be remembered that the rosary remains a private devotion that is widely recommended (but not strictly required) by the Church.

I wouldn’t say to anyone that they must pray the Rosary or go to hell, but I would say that if you pray the Rosary devoutly and daily, your chances of going to heaven are tremendously improved, and St. Louis Marie de Montfort would say almost 100% guaranteed. St. Louis Marie de Montfort said that it is one of the very best ways in overcoming sin.

I agree with this 100% and this is the thing that we must keep in mind when we recommend something to another. We can promote the many benefits promised in a devotion but we must be careful not to give the impression that it is somehow required or that it must be prayed “every day” or whatever…
That is really the key to this thread. It is simply clarifying for the OP (and any others) that the rosary, great though it is, is not required and there is no “sin” if they don’t pray it daily.

How can that not serve each and every individual? Why is it wrong to urge people to make this a regular part of their prayer life? In every approved apparition of the Blessed Mother, without exception, she told us to pray the Rosary. Should we not listen to the Mother of God?

The rosary can indeed be a wonderful help to people and it is most certainly NOT wrong to urge people to make it a “regular” part of their prayer life - no argument. Of course, what frequency “regular” is might vary from person to person…

(cont)

 

[JRKH]

(Cont)

I would say that even to pray the Rosary “grudgingly” is better than not saying it at all. There are a lot of things in my life that I do “grudgingly”. Each morning I “grudgingly” get out of bed. I “grudgingly” clean my house each week. Sometimes I even go to Mass “grudgingly.” But as Christians, we don’t let our feelings rule our lives. It’s sort of like physical exercise. You may do it grudgingly, but you will still gain the benefits. And I would also contend that when it comes to the Rosary, the more you do it, the more blessings you will receive until one day you will find that it has become a great joy in your life. I speak from personal experience.

I agree that there are things we do “grudgingly” but, with the exception of getting out of bed, the things you list along with many others that could be listed, are things that can be “changed up” and still accomplish the same goal.
For instance, You do not have to clean your house in the same manner every day. You can change the order in which you clean the rooms. You can change the days on which you do laundry, the days you vacuum etc. You can even decide that certain rooms don’t need cleaned every day and adjust your schedule accordingly.
The same thing with mass. Yes you must go once a week, but you can change the times, go on Saturday evening, go to a different parish, even select between the OF and EF if it is available…
In short, the ends (clean house - go to mass) may be accomplished in different ways and manners that can alleviate the “grudge” factor. In fact, making certain changes in routine can help to keep your activities fresh, thoughtful and more thorough and beneficial.

Our prayer life can benefit from the same thing. Grudging prayer is indeed better than no prayer, though I wonder by how much. Consider…If one prays the rosary “grudgingly” and only because of the promises you mention above, it becomes something that is “self serving” and not a true devotion of Love to God. If, on the other hand, one prays the rosary with joy, attention, and devotion, it gains all of the promises plus so much more for it is a true prayer TO God.
Joyful prayer is far and away better better than grudging prayer. I’m sure that you agree with this.

As I said before, one’s prayer life is highly individualistic and every Christian must be free to pray in the manner that the Spirit moves them at a given point in their spiritual journey. Prayer, like house work, always has the same end but can be approached in any number of different ways.

The rosary has, for a very long time, has been a wonderful meditative devotion, even more so now with the addition of the Luminous mysteries. We are highly blessed to have it available to us along with the many other devotions that have been given to us like the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the liturgy of the hours, the various novenas, litanies, dedication to the Sacred heart, Chalet of the five wounds and so on. Many of these things also have promises or indulgences attached to them and can be of great benefit.

In summary, let us promote Prayer first and foremost. Then we can share with each other the forms of prayer, specific devotions and insights that have helped us. As we share, each will be moved by the Spirit and by God’s grace to incorporate those pieces (devotions and frequencies) that best fit where we are in our journey.

I hope this helps clarify some…

Peace
James

 

[Laudate_Dominum]

You are not bound to recite the rosary under pain of sin. But for my self, if I neglect to say my rosary, I find that not too shortly after I will fall into sin. Yes there’s times when I just don’t feel like saying it, if I’m tired or just being outright lazy. There’s times when I’ve been be able to keep a coherent thought when saying the rosary. But plead with Our Lady to help you persevere. Our Lady isn’t interested in “fair weather” devotees. She wants you when the sun is shinning and when the skies are filled with snow and storms.

Say for example your mother lives alone because your father died three years ago… You have a job, a wife and three kids. You’ve had a hectic day at work. But you had plans to go and see your mother after work. Surely you would go to see your mother, to greet her and make her feel better, filling her heart with love and joy.

If one would do as much for their earthly mother, would it really be that much more to give half an hour of your day to make your Heavenly Mother but smile?

I sure don’t mind!

 

[A_Catholic]

JRKH - Your post leaves me a bit speechless. I understand that you are trying to be kind and compassionate towards all people. But our Blessed Mother herself has told us to pray the Rosary. Other than her Son, I don’t think you can get a higher authority.

I have heard others say on this forum that the Pope has more authority than the Blessed Mother. This is what Pope John Paul II wrote:

• First, the urgent need to counter a certain crisis of the Rosary, which in the present historical and theological context can risk being wrongly devalued, and therefore no longer taught to the younger generation. There are some who think that the centrality of the Liturgy, rightly stressed by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, necessarily entails giving lesser importance to the Rosary. Yet, as Pope Paul VI made clear, **not only does ****this prayer not conflict with the Liturgy, it sustains it, since it serves as an excellent introduction and a faithful echo of the Liturgy, enabling people to participate fully and interiorly in it and to reap its fruits in their daily lives. ***

and

The Church has always attributed particular efficacy to this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary, to its choral recitation and to its constant practice, the most difficult problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our Lady of the Rosary was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation.

*Dear brothers and sisters! A prayer so easy and yet so rich truly deserves to be rediscovered by the Christian community. Let us do so, especially this year, as a means of confirming the direction outlined in my Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, from which the pastoral plans of so many particular Churches have drawn inspiration as they look to the immediate future.

I turn particularly to you, my dear Brother Bishops, priests and deacons, and to you, pastoral agents in your different ministries: through your own personal experience of the beauty of the Rosary, may you come to promote it with conviction.

I also place my trust in you, theologians: by your sage and rigorous reflection, rooted in the word of God and sensitive to the lived experience of the Christian people, may you help them to discover the Biblical foundations, the spiritual riches and the pastoral value of this traditional prayer.

I count on you, consecrated men and women, called in a particular way to contemplate the face of Christ at the school of Mary.

I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life, to you, Christian families, to you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives.*

Again, as Blessed John Paul II does here in his encyclical, I can only say that instead of telling people it’s okay if they don’t want to bother with the Rosary, instead tell them why it is so important and has been for centuries in the church. Tell people why all the great saints were so devoted to it. We all need all the help we can get in this Godless world. The Rosary is among the strongest spiritual weapons we have been given. I don’t personally know one strong, devoted Catholic who does not say the Rosary, and I personally don’t know any lukewarm, barely-there Catholics who do say the Rosary. Is there a connection? I’m sure many will take exception to that statement, but I can only speak from my personal experience. Can one be a good Catholic and not pray the Rosary? I suppose with the great mercy of Jesus Christ it is possible, but what a long, hard way to go. This is why the popes and the great saints of the Church have all so vigorously supported the Rosary. This is why Pope John Paul II’s moto was: “Totus tuus.” His great devotion to Mary most certainly included his great devotion to the Rosary.

I do want to comment to one statement you wrote:

Grudging prayer is indeed better than no prayer, though I wonder by how much. Consider…If one prays the rosary “grudgingly” and only because of the promises you mention above, it becomes something that is “self serving” and not a true devotion of Love to God. If, on the other hand, one prays the rosary with joy, attention, and devotion, it gains all of the promises plus so much more for it is a true prayer TO God. Joyful prayer is far and away better better than grudging prayer. I’m sure that you agree with this.

You never have days when you don’t feel like praying at all? You have never attended Mass when your mind is 1000 miles away? What we feel means nothing. Feelings come and go. It’s what you do that counts. Even our Lord wanted to back out when he came to Calvary. “Let this cup pass from me, but not my will but thine be done.” If I went with what I feel, I would never accomplish anything. But maybe that’s just me.

Peace to you.