Is praying the Rosary really a must?

[Oneofthewomen]

First, please understand that some people on this forum are so attached to praying the Rosary and so devoted to the Blessed Mother that they cannot imagine anyone not loving this form of prayer and they will tell you that praying the Rosary is a must.

Second, you can be a fully functioning, extremely devout Catholic and NOT pray the Rosary. Some people are not in the right “spiritual place” to be able to pray the Rosary. Some simply prefer other forms of prayer to the Rosary. That’s one of the cool things about Catholicism - you can have your own personal devotion within the framework of being Catholic.

Do you feel drawn to pray the Rosary, or are you doing it only because you think you it’s something you “should” do? If it’s something you feel drawn to, then there are plenty of tips and resources here to help you overcome the issues you have. If you’re doing it only because you think it’s “required”, maybe you should continue to find a personal devotion that better suits you and maybe try the Rosary again later.

A big old to this!!

And I will share the best advice on prayer I ever received-
Pray as you can, not as you can’t! What matters is that you pray!!

 

[HillbillyHermit]

Hi, I’ve been having a really hard time praying the Rosary, since I can’t concentrate as well, and end up repeating prayers all the time. It gets me a bit frustrated and I feel happier just praying and speaking to God, and listening to praise Gospel. Am I still on the right track or should I still strive to pray the rosary?

Short answer:
Yes, you’re still on the right track.

Here’s a great quote from the Catechism:
“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”

Do what raises your mind and heart to God!

If the saints prayed and recommended the Rosary for 800 years, I think it’s a must.

I’m not saying that the Rosary isn’t a great way to pray, but it’s not a must, it’s a private devotion. It’s one of many the Church gives us to choose from.
:tiphat:

 

[John_F_Kippley]

The original question was occasioned because of the writer’s problems with distractions, and some of the replies have dealt with that issue. I have compiled a booklet titled “the Seven Day Bible Rosary” to help people like myself whose minds wander. What makes it different is that there is a different set of mysteries for each day of the week, so this brings to our attention fifteen more events or teachings. Each mystery has a meditation of about 100 words, which are intended to be read only occasionally. Each Hail Mary is preceded by a verse, 99% from the Gospels. The Mysteries of the Public Life include the parable of the Prodigal Son and Jesus’ teaching about the Permanence of Marriage. The Mysteries of the Last Supper remind us of several very important things including the basis for our faith–the promises of Jesus. The Mysteries of the Church are intended to be faith-building. The booklet’s Introduction summarizes Blessed John Paul II’s suggestions for praying the rosary. This version of the rosary is not for everyone, but some folks find it very helpful.

If interested, click on rosary at www.johnkippley.com.

 

[R_C]

I’m not saying that the Rosary isn’t a great way to pray, but it’s not a must, it’s a private devotion. It’s one of many the Church gives us to choose from.
:tiphat:

I agree :yup:

But never forget that of all devotions, this one was given to us by Our Lady. That makes it very special.

 

[HillbillyHermit]

I agree :yup:

But never forget that of all devotions, this one was given to us by Our Lady. That makes it very special.

I know, but I think people should be free to choose the devotion(s) that draw them closer to Jesus. There’s a great variety of prayer forms given us by the Church, just like the people in it!

Here’s a good quote from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, found on the Vatican website:

1. “In recommending the value and beauty of the Rosary to the faithful, care should be taken to avoid discrediting other forms of prayer, or of overlooking the existence of a diversity of other Marian chaplets which have also been approved by the Church”(244). It is also important to avoid inculcating a sense of guilt in those who do not habitually recite the Rosary: “The Rosary is an excellent prayer, in regard to which, however, the faithful should feel free to recite it, in virtue of its inherent beauty”(245).

Actually, there’s a bunch of good Rosary info on there if anyone wants to check it out:
LINK

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Thank you so much for that link!

It should be a “sticky” here on CAF!

I know, but I think people should be free to choose the devotion(s) that draw them closer to Jesus. There’s a great variety of prayer forms given us by the Church, just like the people in it!

Here’s a good quote from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, found on the Vatican website:

Actually, there’s a bunch of good Rosary info on there if anyone wants to check it out:
LINK

 

[jwinch2]

I agree :yup:

But never forget that of all devotions, this one was given to us by Our Lady. That makes it very special.

This also stipulates that one believes in private revelation in general, and a particular private revelation in specific, which the Church does not require.

 

[SubjectVerb]

That was a great listen, thank you for sharing.

You are very welcome.

 

[HillbillyHermit]

Thank you so much for that link!

It should be a “sticky” here on CAF!

You’re welcome! (And yeah, it should. )

Here’s another good one, I think:
The Rosary: A Spirit-Filled Prayer

It’s one of the newsletters at the Rosary Confraternity page. I can’t recommend it enough, especially the last two sections: “The Rosary and Contemplative Prayer”, and even more so “Pray the Rosary - Pray it Well”. There are a lot of in depth articles out there about contemplation/meditation, but this one is put in a way that the average person can get it. It even can help if applied to other prayer(s) and reading the Bible IME.

 

[ajecphotos]

You’re welcome! (And yeah, it should. )

Here’s another good one, I think:
The Rosary: A Spirit-Filled Prayer

It’s one of the newsletters at the Rosary Confraternity page. I can’t recommend it enough, especially the last two sections: “The Rosary and Contemplative Prayer”, and even more so “Pray the Rosary - Pray it Well”. There are a lot of in depth articles out there about contemplation/meditation, but this one is put in a way that the average person can get it. It even can help if applied to other prayer(s) and reading the Bible IME.

Great read that. Thanks for sharing

 

[ccmcmg]

Hi, I’ve been having a really hard time praying the Rosary, since I can’t concentrate as well, and end up repeating prayers all the time. It gets me a bit frustrated and I feel happier just praying and speaking to God, and listening to praise Gospel. Am I still on the right track or should I still strive to pray the rosary?

I have been drawn to pray the Rosary at least daily since our return to going to Mass shortly before Lent. However, in a previous portion of our life, I was very close to Him, yet I didn’t pray the Rosary at all. Ever.

I have felt called to pray the Rosary, and I feel blessed by it. I do feel I receive ‘signal graces’, as well as I feel inner peace. It isn’t always easy, and I’m still learning.

Having probably prayed the Rosary less than a dozen times in my entire life (43 years), I’ve been using an app on my Android (My Rosary or Laudate) to pray it. It truly has helped me to pray the Rosary more, and to concentrate more. Both are free, and Laudate is available on iPhone as well.

God bless you.
Christina

 

[fred_conty]

It isn’t a must but I highly recommend praying it everyday since it has so many wonderful promises if you pray the rosary everyday…

Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.

I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.

The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary shall not perish.
Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have, during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.
The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.

All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.
Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Padre Pio prayed the rosary 35 times per day entire 15 decades ( sorrowful, joyful and glorious)

The rosary has changed my life so I would highly recommend it once again…

I pray the rosary and am a fan. But I do question how Padre Pio prayed the complete 15 decades 35 times a day. It takes me almost an hour to say 3 decades. Multiply that by 35 and that gives a grand total of almost 35 hours in one day. I think that would be impossible to do even for him don’t ya think? Some where someone made a math mistake.

Just an observation.

 

[aspirant]

It takes me almost an hour to say 3 decades.

A decade is only 10 Hail Marys. Many people are able to pray 5 decades, a whole set of mysteries, in 15-20 minutes. At that rate, three to four sets of mysteries could be prayed in one hour.

The Luminous ones are recent, so there were only three sets of mysteries in Padre Pio’s day. If he could do all three sets of mysteries in 45 minutes or less, as some people do, and either stayed awake or was able to pray in his sleep, I think he could do that more than 30 times in 24 hours. Maybe my math is off?

 

[Russ_of_Tokyo]

Many saints including Padre Pio called the Rosary a weapon. We are at war whether we realize it or not. When the Church has faced grave danger, Popes have asked the Universal Church to pray the Rosary with one voice and victory followed.

In light of that, the Rosary ceases to be a “feel good” exercise and becomes a wartime duty, a knock down, drag out fight with Satan throwing distractions our way and us thumping him on the head with the Rosary. When I think about such things, there is plenty of motivation to keep praying the Rosary.

 

[fred_conty]

A decade is only 10 Hail Marys. Many people are able to pray 5 decades, a whole set of mysteries, in 15-20 minutes. At that rate, three to four sets of mysteries could be prayed in one hour.

The Luminous ones are recent, so there were only three sets of mysteries in Padre Pio’s day. If he could do all three sets of mysteries in 45 minutes or less, as some people do, and either stayed awake or was able to pray in his sleep, I think he could do that more than 30 times in 24 hours. Maybe my math is off?

35 times said X 45 minutes = 1,575 minutes = 26 .25 hours - 24 hours in day = 2.25 hours over one day.

 

[Classicist]

The Rosary did not exist for more than 1200 years; some of the greatest Fathers of Catholic unity, doctrinal Orthodoxy, and saintliness lived in that period. It is clearly not necessary for Christians. What is absolutely necessary is the Holy Mass, the Psalms, and a devout love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The rest may follow.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Maybe Pio’s “day” was not like we think of, as a 24-hour day. Or the 35 number was allegorical and not literal?

 

[HillbillyHermit]

What is absolutely necessary is the Holy Mass, the Psalms, and a devout love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Emphasis added by me.)

There were many people who either could not read, or afford to buy, a book with the Psalms alone or the whole Bible. So I think the same thing could be said about them as you said about the Rosary. I agree that it’s not a must, in the words of the OP, but considering how many Popes and Saints have recommended it to individuals, and entire countries to pray in times of dire need…I’d say we owe it to ourselves to at least give the Rosary and/or Lectio Divina some serious consideration and effort.

This thread reminded me about something in the Catechism.

Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. **Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him. **(1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2708)

Basically, what is a must is to constantly refocus on Jesus, his life, and his love for us, so that we can in turn change our hearts, and pass that love and mercy on to others.

:tiphat:

 

[AlanFromWichita]

This thread reminded me about something in the Catechism.

Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him. (1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2708)

Also I believe the use of the word “should” regarding “to union with him” in that CCC paragraph is a direct reference to contemplative prayer, described in the following paragraphs 2709-2719. Section summary:

Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery.(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed, 2724)

Alan

 

[HillbillyHermit]

Yup, that’s why I put that sentence in bold also.

:tiphat: