Praying the rosary in public?

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Veritas1994

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I am currently in college and I have found myself having long breaks until my next classes. For this reason I have time to pray the rosary. I usually pray it while sitting at a bench. A lot of people pass by and thus they are able to see me praying the rosary.

I have prayed the rosary in public in other places as well, such as if I am waiting for someone who is in a store and taking long. I would sit outside the store and pray the rosary in a bench for example.

No one has said anything but a lot of people can obviously see what I am doing.

I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this? I am asking because I know Jesus did say that we should not let our prayers be seen and shown but do them in secret and such. At the same time I know people pray the rosary in public such as in front of abortion clinics for example and other pro-life events.

I asked a friend of mine who is a devout Catholic and he said that there is nothing wrong. As a matter of fact he said it is a good thing. He said that it is not bad as long as you do not do it for the mere sake of wanting to be seen. Every time I am about to pray the rosary in public I say a quick prayer asking God that I do not do this for the sake of being seen, but that God may be seen.
 
Wrong? Considering they used to say prayers in public schools and no longer do, I’d say you’re setting a good example for others who may not otherwise think to pray at school.
 
Veritas1994 said:
I am currently in college and I have found myself having long breaks until my next classes. For this reason I have time to pray the rosary. I usually pray it while sitting at a bench. A lot of people pass by and thus they are able to see me praying the rosary.

I have prayed the rosary in public in other places as well, such as if I am waiting for someone who is in a store and taking long. I would sit outside the store and pray the rosary in a bench for example.

No one has said anything but a lot of people can obviously see what I am doing.

I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this? I am asking because I know Jesus did say that we should not let our prayers be seen and shown but do them in secret and such. At the same time I know people pray the rosary in public such as in front of abortion clinics for example and other pro-life events.

I asked a friend of mine who is a devout Catholic and he said that there is nothing wrong. As a matter of fact he said it is a good thing. He said that it is not bad as long as you do not do it for the mere sake of wanting to be seen. Every time I am about to pray the rosary in public I say a quick prayer asking God that I do not do this for the sake of being seen, but that God may be seen.
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Nothing wrong with it at all. I say my rosary on a public express bus going to work.
 
Veritas1994 said:
I asked a friend of mine who is a devout Catholic and he said that there is nothing wrong. As a matter of fact he said it is a good thing.** He said that it is not bad as long as you do not do it for the mere sake of wanting to be seen.** Every time I am about to pray the rosary in public I say a quick prayer asking God that I do not do this for the sake of being seen, but that God may be seen.
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Notice what I bolded! Your friend gave u good advice! 👍

Here’s the Haydock commentary from that particular verse (Matthew 6:6) I think u are referring to:

“Because he who should pray in his chamber, and at the same time desire it to be known by men, that he might thence receive vain glory, might truly be said to pray in the street, and sound a trumpet before him: whilst he, who though he pray in public, seeks not thence any vain glory, acts the same as if he prayed in his chamber. (Menochius) — Jesus Christ went up to the temple, to attend public worship on the festival days.”

But yeah, I sometimes pray the rosary in public, too, if I know I have a long wait. 🙂
 
That is great that you pray the rosary in public!
When I am waiting somewhere, I tend to hide it in a book, my purse or something while I am praying it. I am praying for the courage to take it out and show the world I love prayer…I love God…I love Mary…I guess I’m afraid of the world’s culture, people not liking it and letting me know…
 
Veritas, It is absolutely wonderful that you are saying the rosary in public. One of the Roman Catholic nuns at the Catholic grade school I attended said, “Do it for the love of God.”
 
I think it is awesome and you should continue. We need more witness to God in this culture. Maybe people seeing this will give them more courage to do it themselves thus allowing it to happen more 🙂
 
I agree with your friend!

Keep praying: the Rosary is such a great prayer! 🙂
 
I think it was St. Teresa of Avila who had the Carmelites in her monastery always pray the rosary when they were out walking. And, one of the things that started me back to the faith, was seeing someone faithfully praying the rosary outside. You have no idea who may see you or how it may affect them, but through you, God may help save a soul or more. I’ve had people see me pray the rosary, and ask me to pray for them or someone else. So continue doing it! God bless you!
 
Not a problem at all! I commute by train. It’s a 45 minute ride, which is just enough for me to pray the rosary. I also have an app on my iPhone which has a rosary podcast and I listen with my headphones and pray along.

🙂
 
suko said:
Notice what I bolded! Your friend gave u good advice! 👍

Here’s the Haydock commentary from that particular verse (Matthew 6:6) I think u are referring to:

“Because he who should pray in his chamber, and at the same time desire it to be known by men, that he might thence receive vain glory, might truly be said to pray in the street, and sound a trumpet before him: whilst he, who though he pray in public, seeks not thence any vain glory, acts the same as if he prayed in his chamber. (Menochius) — Jesus Christ went up to the temple, to attend public worship on the festival days.”

But yeah, I sometimes pray the rosary in public, too, if I know I have a long wait. 🙂
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OP are you prepared for questions about the rosary; something brief and simple, in case you are asked?
 
=Veritas1994;11705629]I am currently in college and I have found myself having long breaks until my next classes. For this reason I have time to pray the rosary. I usually pray it while sitting at a bench. A lot of people pass by and thus they are able to see me praying the rosary.
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I have prayed the rosary in public in other places as well, such as if I am waiting for someone who is in a store and taking long. I would sit outside the store and pray the rosary in a bench for example.
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No one has said anything but a lot of people can obviously see what I am doing.
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I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this? I am asking because I know Jesus did say that we should not let our prayers be seen and shown but do them in secret and such. At the same time I know people pray the rosary in public such as in front of abortion clinics for example and other pro-life events
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.

I asked a friend of mine who is a devout Catholic and he said that there is nothing wrong. As a matter of fact he said it is a good thing. He said that it is not bad as long as you do not do it for the mere sake of wanting to be seen. Every time I am about to pray the rosary in public I say a quick prayer asking God that I do not do this for the sake of being seen, but that God may be seen.

NO!
**
In fact the very opposite. You are witnessing to Our Catholic faith**.👍

Well done Good and Faithful servant!
 
Christ was simply criticizing those who prayed in public out of pride, to show off, and who didn’t really mean what they said. From your description, it sounds like what you’re doing is very noble, and sets a good example for others. 👍
 
I’m very proud of you for praying the rosary in public and encourage you to continue. I take my rosary with me everywhere and the two times I have been with my sister when she’s had surgery I whipped that rosary out and got to business. Quite frankly, I hope others do see me praying because I, too, consider it as witnessing to the Catholic faith.
 
I tend to try and be discrete about it out of humility, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with praying in public if it’s done right. When I was in college, I’d pray in this old outdoor grove theatre we had on campus, which was usually pretty quiet… If people happened to walk by, no big deal. It’s quite different from stopping in front of a large crowd to pray. 😉

I also find finger rosaries are great for praying while talking a walk or something, and they’re a little more discrete than a full set of rosary beads.
 
Years ago on May 1, I needed to go to the bank before attending a meeting dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima (the group used to be called The Blue Army). Three things to keep in mind as this story unfolds: 1) May is a month normally devoted to Mary. 2) May 1, or May Day, is celebrated as a secular holiday among Communists. 3) Mary asked at Fatima that we pray the Rosary each day or else Russia would spread her errors (atheistic Communism) throughout the world.

So there I am waiting in a long line at the bank, mentally saying the Rosary, with the Rosary beads hidden so I could pray privately. Suddenly, I got this HUGE inspiration from the Holy Spirit to take my Fatima Rosary beads in both hands, stretch out both arms straight in front of me, and show the Rosary to all publicly while I prayed silently … even if it meant making a big fool of myself.

So that’s what I did … Now here I am in the bank, standing in line, holding up the Rosary for all to see. At that moment, the line moved. As I rounded the corner, I came face to face with a man who I now saw was wearing a t-shirt with a big, bold Communist symbol on it. Wow … What a confrontation!

He had his symbol of spiritual warfare openly displayed, and I had mine.

Makes you think …

…
 
Veritas1994 said:
I am currently in college and I have found myself having long breaks until my next classes. For this reason I have time to pray the rosary. I usually pray it while sitting at a bench. A lot of people pass by and thus they are able to see me praying the rosary.

I have prayed the rosary in public in other places as well, such as if I am waiting for someone who is in a store and taking long. I would sit outside the store and pray the rosary in a bench for example.

No one has said anything but a lot of people can obviously see what I am doing.

I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this? I am asking because I know Jesus did say that we should not let our prayers be seen and shown but do them in secret and such. At the same time I know people pray the rosary in public such as in front of abortion clinics for example and other pro-life events.

I asked a friend of mine who is a devout Catholic and he said that there is nothing wrong. As a matter of fact he said it is a good thing. He said that it is not bad as long as you do not do it for the mere sake of wanting to be seen. Every time I am about to pray the rosary in public I say a quick prayer asking God that I do not do this for the sake of being seen, but that God may be seen.
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I’ve sometimes said the rosary on the bus, at the airport, on the plane, in the park. I used to be concerned about what people might think or, like you, if this would be okay. The alternative would be not saying it…in the park, on the plane, in the airport, on the bus, in the doctor’s office, etc.

Oh yeah, and once when I was saying it on a plane, a Catholic couple asked if they could joing me! 🙂 So, we prayed together the 3 of us!
 
I say the rosary all the time in public – when I’m walking to the store – walking to the street ca – r walking to Church – BUT I do keep the rosay in my pocket – I couldn’t go any place without my rosary – I particularly love it because the one I use all the time my granddaughter sent me from Paris, France – I don’t go out of the house without it – it’s the last thing I checkwhen I’m leaving the house to make sure it’s in my purse.
 
the_phoenix said:
Years ago on May 1, I needed to go to the bank before attending a meeting dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima (the group used to be called The Blue Army). Three things to keep in mind as this story unfolds: 1) May is a month normally devoted to Mary. 2) May 1, or May Day, is celebrated as a secular holiday among Communists. 3) Mary asked at Fatima that we pray the Rosary each day or else Russia would spread her errors (atheistic Communism) throughout the world.

So there I am waiting in a long line at the bank, mentally saying the Rosary, with the Rosary beads hidden so I could pray privately. Suddenly, I got this HUGE inspiration from the Holy Spirit to take my Fatima Rosary beads in both hands, stretch out both arms straight in front of me, and show the Rosary to all publicly while I prayed silently … even if it meant making a big fool of myself.

So that’s what I did … Now here I am in the bank, standing in line, holding up the Rosary for all to see. At that moment, the line moved. As I rounded the corner, I came face to face with a man who I now saw was wearing a t-shirt with a big, bold Communist symbol on it. Wow … What a confrontation!

He had his symbol of spiritual warfare openly displayed, and I had mine.

Makes you think …

…
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What a great story. I have no doubts this was not a coincidence. I think you were given an affirmation of your faith.

I’ve also enjoyed reading the other “rosary” stories on this thread.

To the OP - keep doing what you are doing. You may be being called to be a light for others amid the sometimes depraved influences on too many college campuses.
 
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