On the rosary and mysteries

[Tarwater]

I’ve been trying to pray the rosary lately, but I have such a problem with this whole mysteries thing. It’s hard for me to meditate on them, visualize them, whatever. I feel like it would be so much better for me to just focus on the words, like with the Jesus Prayer. Is there some advice you could give me on the mysteries? Furthermore, is it “required” that they are used?

 

[Rawb]

I have this problem a lot as well. What I’ve taken to doing is pausing after each Hail Mary to consider an aspect of the mystery. For example:

(say, for the Descent of the Holy Spirit)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen” (Silently think for a moment about how the Holy Spirit was guiding me today.)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Silently think about how, since the Holy Spirit is with us, the Church is guided)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide a specific friend or family member.)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Think about what it must have been like to be in that room, with the wind and the sudden fire).

Etc. Sort of like a scriptural rosary (where a short Bible verse is read after each Hail Mary pertaining to the mystery). Maybe you should try a scriptural rosary? Anyway, doing this lets me totally consider and mean the words I’m saying, and meditate upon the mysteries.

 

[LilyM]

I have this problem a lot as well. What I’ve taken to doing is pausing after each Hail Mary to consider an aspect of the mystery. For example:

(say, for the Descent of the Holy Spirit)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen” (Silently think for a moment about how the Holy Spirit was guiding me today.)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Silently think about how, since the Holy Spirit is with us, the Church is guided)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide a specific friend or family member.)

“…now and at the our of our death. Amen.” (Think about what it must have been like to be in that room, with the wind and the sudden fire).

Etc. Sort of like a scriptural rosary (where a short Bible verse is read after each Hail Mary pertaining to the mystery). Maybe you should try a scriptural rosary? Anyway, doing this lets me totally consider and mean the words I’m saying, and meditate upon the mysteries.

I think with scriptural rosaries the best think is to read the Bible verse before each Hail Mary and meditate on that verse while praying the Hail Mary. Otherwise what you’re doing seems to be fine.

Just do a google search for scriptural rosary on the web - plenty of resources there for you.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I do something very similar!
When I particularly desire to meditate more visually on the mysteries, say, the Sorrowful Mysteries, I’ll say…
Agony in the Garden
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, sweating droplets of blood.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, betrayed with a kiss”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, arrested and bound”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, healing the servant’s ear”
Scourging at the Pillar
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, scourged with whips.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, shedding His Precious Blood.”
Crowning with Thorns
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, mocked as a King.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, dressed in purple.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, crowned with thorns.”
Jesus Carries His Heavy Cross
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, embracing His Cross.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, falling under the weight of the Cross.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, assisted by Simon of Cyrene.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, consoling the women.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, meeting His Mother.”
Crucifixion
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, nailed to the Cross.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, thirsting.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, giving us Our Mother.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, giving up His Spirit.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, pierced with a lance.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, taken down from the Cross.”

Hope you find this helpful. It sure works for me.
God Bless!

 

[aj830]

I have been using Father Peyton’s Rosary Prayer Book to help me praying the Rosary. It has alot of very good meditations for for each mystery usually linking all the meditations back to a larger meditation like humility, faith, patience, etc. Pick it up and it might help you with better ways to concentrate on a different aspect of the mysteries each time.

 

[mommyof4]

I have been using Father Peyton’s Rosary Prayer Book to help me praying the Rosary. It has alot of very good meditations for for each mystery usually linking all the meditations back to a larger meditation like humility, faith, patience, etc. Pick it up and it might help you with better ways to concentrate on a different aspect of the mysteries each time.

His meditations are available online, too. I use them almost every day. I love them.

 

[4HisChurch]

I like to meditate on and pray for a virtue connected with each mystery. For example, the fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of Our Lady and I pray for the grace for a happy death.

 

[jmm08]

Is there some advice you could give me on the mysteries? Furthermore, is it “required” that they are used?

I am a convert and it took me some time to start praying the Rosary.

I started by just praying an “Our Father”, ten “Hail Marys” and another “Our Father”. And that was pretty much it. Each night just before falling asleep. And then it grew beyond that but it took time.

I think that if you are just starting, that it is not necessary to think about the mysteries. You probably know exactly where you are at in your daily habit of prayer. As long as you are praying each day, be patient and do what you find comfortable.

Whether you know it yet or not, you already have help available to you. Give your prayers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. She will work on them and make them extra special. Then she will show them to Jesus. Your guardian angel (and other angels) are also involved when you pray. You don’t have to think about what the angels do when you pray, but you can certainly thank them for their help. And ask them to continue to protect you.

Pray every day. And continue to grow. At some future time, you may be more ready to learn more about praying the Rosary. And when that time comes, you will find help. The Rosary is not the only prayer. Yes, it is an important and very good prayer. But above all when you pray be sincere. Be honest in your prayers and only pray words that you really mean.

 

[Andruschak]

I’ve been trying to pray the rosary lately, but I have such a problem with this whole mysteries thing. It’s hard for me to meditate on them, visualize them, whatever. I feel like it would be so much better for me to just focus on the words, like with the Jesus Prayer. Is there some advice you could give me on the mysteries? Furthermore, is it “required” that they are used?

I myself have found the book MY TREASURY OF CHAPLETS (8th, Enlarged Edition) by Patricia S. Quintiliani to be very helpful. She includes a sentence or two for all 200 Hail Mary’s. I read the sentences mentally whilst reciting the HM. There are also pictures for the 20 Mysteries, and some other good stuff.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

(…)

I think that if you are just starting, that it is not necessary to think about the mysteries. You probably know exactly where you are at in your daily habit of prayer. As long as you are praying each day, be patient and do what you find comfortable.

(…)

I was taught the opposite: spend time meditating on the mysteries and once you have a good grasp on them then incorporate the prayers. The mysteries are the essence of the rosary; the prayers, (hail mary, etc) are timekeepers. They help with pacing, if you will.

Using a scriptural rosary can help with the meditation. Also, I’ve seen some beautiful prints for each mystery of the rosary (I know someone who had them laminated). If you have a dificult time imagining a “scene” pictures corresponding to each mystery can help prime the imagination.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I found this website that has something I had in mind only it’s electronic.

 

[Trelow]

Read, (or try your best to) The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Montfort. It’s simply awe-striking. Shouldn’t be but about $5 for a copy or you can probably find a .pdf online, I think that it is in public domain now.

It’ll rock your socks. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a firm understanding of Mariology though.