Penance

[Slayer]

I was given a penance of saying some sets of prayers. I was also told to say a decade of the rosary.

Do I say all the sets of prayers and then end it crossing myself and then starting a new prayer of the decade of the rosary or do I immediately go into saying the decade right after my three sets of prayers?

Also, I have not prayed the rosary since I was little. I printed out how to recite the rosary from new advent. I’m going to do the first decade for my penance. Am I suppose to mediate on one mystery the whole time as I am praying the first decade of the rosary?

 

[LilyM]

I was given a penance of saying some sets of prayers. I was also told to say a decade of the rosary.

Do I say all the sets of prayers and then end it crossing myself and then starting a new prayer of the decade of the rosary or do I immediately go into saying the decade right after my three sets of prayers?

Also, I have not prayed the rosary since I was little. I printed out how to recite the rosary from new advent. I’m going to do the first decade for my penance. Am I suppose to mediate on one mystery the whole time as I am praying the first decade of the rosary?

You can cross yourself at any point before, during or after your prayers or you can choose not to cross yourself at all if you don’t wish.

If you haven’t said the Rosary for a while, you may need to concentrate on the actual prayers while you’re saying them. If this is the case, spend a few moments meditating on the mystery before you begin, and then add a short phrase after the “Jesus” of each Hail Mary - choose something appropriate to the mystery.

eg ‘Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus … whose coming was announced by the angel … Holy Mary mother of God …’ for the Annunciation.

Which keeps you at least somewhat focused while saying the Hail Marys, while still allowing you to concentrate on saying them.

 

[ProVobis]

This download seems to be good. You can set it for different languages too.

virtualrosary.org/dload.php

 

[I_Believe]

This download seems to be good. You can set it for different languages too.

virtualrosary.org/dload.php

I have it. It’s a good aid to help in learning or re-learning the Rosary. The Gospel verses that accompany each Ave are very helpful in learning to meditate upon eash Mystery.

Slayer, try the download ProVobis mentioned, and after using it a few times, it will become second nature.

Now that I’ve learned the Rosary, I focus on each Ave, and pause to reflect on the mystery for a moment. I close my eyes and visualize the mystery. For example, for the Scourging at the pillar, I might visualize Our Lord being mocked as He is being tied to the pillar. After the next Ave, I may pause and imagine the pain He must have felt when struck.

Hope this helps.

 

[Slayer]

Thanks, guys!

After I say the first decade for my penance, is that it? Do I have to say anything else to end it since I will be only saying the first decade?

 

[LilyM]

Thanks, guys!

After I say the first decade for my penance, is that it? Do I have to say anything else to end it since I will be only saying the first decade?

Yep, you can say just a single decade of the Rosary if you want - you don’t need to say any special prayers at the end, just the Glory Be (and add the Fatima prayer ‘O my Jesus …’ if you want as well)