Praying the Rosary

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BernadetteM

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Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
Instead of trying to concentrate on the mysteries while saying the prayers and concentrating on the words, perhaps it might work for you to send a couple of minutes with the mystery before you begin the decade. Perhaps you might benefit by seeking out a book that gives a little meditation before each decade, read it, think on it, and move to the prayers. Do you think this approach might suit your particular thought processes and personality?

Years of family rosary meant that I have five siblings who remain faithful to the Church.

Warm regards, Trishie
 
I have never been one to be able to meditate deeply. I used to say 2 rosaries a day, weekly morning and Sunday mass, adoration a few times a week…I still couldn’t seem to really get into it. What I realized is I benefit from it by learning about the stories and what they mean. So even though I’m not levitating off the floor because I’m in such deep thought, I just think about the story and how important that is.

When people pray they are doing something for the betterment of themselves and others because they are coming to God and becoming closer to Him. The closer you are to Him the more you are letting Him enter your life and help you.

Through my prayer I learned how I needed to give everything to Him. My happiness, my burdens, my fears, my needs… During the hardest time in my life I finally did this and God was able to “heal” the situation.
 
With the mysteries, I’d suggest maybe reading the relevant Bible passages for each mystery before you start praying. Maybe reading commentaries on them will help as well.

I just feel very relaxed and at peace when I’m done praying the Rosary. I think I also fall asleep faster after saying it. 😃 This is what happened on the day I first started praying it again, so yes, it has definitely been a help:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=301455

God bless.
 
I have heard it said this way:
“Pray as you can, not as you can’t”.
 
Good morning,
I say the rosary on my way to work most morning’s and I must say that I also lose concentraction, however I keep up the practice because it tends to bring me back to reality if I drift too far into the world of materialisim, also I use it to work out issue and it helps me focus on what I can do better. So don’t not say if for lack of concentration it really is a wonderful tool we have to keep us on the right track.

God Bless
Kathleen
 
Sometimes I wish I would have realized a long long time ago how incredibly powerful the rosary is. I’ve been saying it daily for the last 15 yrs. now. Other than the Divine Liturgy, I don’t think there is a better more powerful Catholic prayer. Even priests, that pray the daily office, have little idea how important a prayer the rosary is. Around here, they seem to just tolerate any grass roots attempts to bring the rosary into the church. In all the parishes I’ve attended in the last 30 yrs. I’ve never seen a priest either praying the rosary with parishioners or saying it privately. 😦 But that doesn’t hold true for the Pope! As busy as the Pope is, he always says his daily rosary. Pope JPII, of blessed memory, even gave the church 5 new luminous mysteries, accompanied by a wonderful encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae

But with respect to your problem with meditation; like some others have already said, do your best. Even fighting distractions to try and meditate is praying. Don’t lose heart. It will come, just don’t be anxious. It should be a peaceful prayer. 😉
 
Different people meditate differently, and at different times of their lives. There are all different ways to meditate. Some people find it useful to think up little imagination dramas, for instance. Others are all about the intellectual stuff.

And of course there’s no rule that you have to say the Rosary. It’s a very deep and useful private devotion for many people, but there are other deep and useful devotions out there.
 
BernadetteM said:
Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
I pray the rosary daily.My mind wanders and this really used to bother me until I read that St Therese of Lisieux(the Little Flower) had the same problem.Now I realise that I’m in good company.I also asked a priest about this problem and he stated that this was a human foible which God was quite well aware of.He also stated that 90 per cent of prayer is “just showing up” I find that praying a scriptural Rosary helps keep me centred on the Mystery.My daily rosary has helped keep me chaste.
 
Pray it any way you can, God meets people where they are.
Even if you feel frustrated or impatient just keep going. The rosary is a life changer and surely a gift to us from God.
 
BernadetteM said:
Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
Pray it vocally out loud or sing/chant it. That will help you a lot. Vocal prayer is recommended by St. Teresa of Avila when one has difficulty praying.

I pray it out loud in my drive to work or sit on the floor and pray it out loud.

Maybe the best time is when your in the kitchen making dinner. You can think of Mary preparing meals for Jesus. This simple approach is probably my favorite.
 
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I will start tonight and use some of your ideas.

I have felt it in my heart that the Lord is asking me to do this. He has kept reminding me this week, showing me that praying the rosary will bring the peace I need.

Thank you all again for your kind help.

Yours in Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
BernadetteM said:
Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
If you aren’t real familiar with the story behind each mystery, I would suggest reading the bible verses that correspond with each mystery to give you a better picture of what is going on in each mystery. That may give you deeper meaning and understanding of how you can apply the lessons to your life
 
BernadetteM said:
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I will start tonight and use some of your ideas.

I have felt it in my heart that the Lord is asking me to do this. He has kept reminding me this week, showing me that praying the rosary will bring the peace I need.

Thank you all again for your kind help.

Yours in Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
Here’s one way to try meditating more deeply.

Take the simplest mystery that the Rosary offers – the Nativity of Our Lord. With this mystery, picture in your mind the scene of the nativity. You will see the stable, the animals, St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin. You can feel the chill in the air and the happiness of the Holy Family with Jesus the infant.
What else can you picture in that scene?

Basically, just keep looking at that scene in your mind, filling out more details. Eventually, you will think about how Jesus came to earth from heaven. The darkness of the world in sin at that time, and the Light of Jesus bringing his grace and brightness.
Then the shepherds – poor and humble visit.
Then think about Jesus – the King of heaven and earth, lying in poverty and abandoned …

We could go on but by now you’re at the end of your ten Hail Marys. 🙂

Some of the mysteries are more difficult, but eventually you will get it. It helps to do additional reading about each of the events. Christmas we know already so that’s the easiest.

But what about the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple? There’s not much of a story there – but over time, you will “see” the picture. Holy Simeon is there and he prays his Canticle.

Also, try one point for each Hail Mary.

The Presentation in the Temple, for example.

1st Hail Mary – the Holy Family went to Jerusalem for the Presentation (they’re walking, sacrificing, obeying the Law of God).
2nd Hail Mary – Jesus arrives in the Temple for the first time. The Messiah finally comes into the temple - bringing salvation to the Jews. The temple which taught the prophecies of the Messiah finally has the Messiah there. Jesus’ presence in the Temple - like His presence in the tabernacle of our Churches.
3. Holy Simeon sees the child. He waited his whole life. He was so holy that he could recognize the Messiah immediately. He is like the prophets of old who prayed and waited for Jesus’ arrival.
4. “Now you let your servant go in peace” – Simeon is ready to die now that he has seen the Messiah. The fulfillment of a holy life.
5. “Your word has been fulfilled.Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: – God has prepared us for salvation
6. A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. – the inclusion of the Gentiles in this plan and that Jesus is the glory of Israel.”
7. St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin were “marvelling” at what Simeon said.
8. But then Simeon says to Mary – Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. – the Sorrows of Our Lady. How much this prophecy hurt and how courageous she was to embrace this pain for the sake of Jesus’ Kingdom.
9. The Prophetess Anna who had worshipped in the temple “night and day” – we have Jesus in our tabernacles and we can visit Him.
10. The Holy Family went home – contemplating all that happened in the temple. Jesus knew that he would return there when he was older.

— the Rosary will indeed, bring all of the peace you need. If you pray it faithfully, it will be one of the greatest joys of your entire life. Just be patient and don’t fret – you’re doing well to want to meditate more deeply and it will happen in time.
 
BernadetteM said:
Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
I’ve always had the same problem. I use a scriptural Rosary that I listen to on my mp3 player, it has a short verse between each Hail Mary to “move the story along” and keep your mind on the Mystery.
It can be downloaded from: kolbe.franciscan.edu/rosary/

There are also many good Scriptural Rosaries in book or pamphlet form.
 
Trishie said:
Instead of trying to concentrate on the mysteries while saying the prayers and concentrating on the words, perhaps it might work for you to send a couple of minutes with the mystery before you begin the decade. Perhaps you might benefit by seeking out a book that gives a little meditation before each decade, read it, think on it, and move to the prayers. Do you think this approach might suit your particular thought processes and personality?

Years of family rosary meant that I have five siblings who remain faithful to the Church.

Warm regards, Trishie
Click to expand...
Hi Bernadette,
I too have a hard time concentrating while praying during the Hail Marys.
I find that it makes it easier for me to do what Trishie suggested. I found a book called Minute Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary and it has 10 series of meditations for each of the mysteries…I’ve moved on to series 2 right now.

However, when I first started out, I did what Callin suggested - reading the bible passage for that mystery. Since I did that for a good week or so, I know can recall the basics from that passage to mind before reading the minute mysteries from the book…then move on to the prayers.
 
Trishie said:
Instead of trying to concentrate on the mysteries while saying the prayers and concentrating on the words, perhaps it might work for you to send a couple of minutes with the mystery before you begin the decade. Perhaps you might benefit by seeking out a book that gives a little meditation before each decade, read it, think on it, and move to the prayers. Do you think this approach might suit your particular thought processes and personality?

Years of family rosary meant that I have five siblings who remain faithful to the Church.

Warm regards, Trishie
Click to expand...
I also have trouble meditating on a mystery while saying something else (the Hail Marys). So I spend a couple minutes thinking about the mystery, OR I also have two different little books that give a short sentence for each Hail Mary bead that is easier to think about. It sort of walks you through each Mystery. I love Rosary. I say it for love of God and my Heavenley Mother, but have received boundless graces from saying it (more than I deserve I mean).
 
oh, also, sometimes when I’m praying (rosary or just prayer), my mind goes wandering – when I realize I’ve wandered off I say, “Forgive me father,” or something like that, and just get back on track. And I never worry about it. Our Heavenly Father, and the BVM love us so much.
 
Junebug999 said:
oh, also, sometimes when I’m praying (rosary or just prayer), my mind goes wandering – when I realize I’ve wandered off I say, “Forgive me father,” or something like that, and just get back on track. And I never worry about it. Our Heavenly Father, and the BVM love us so much.
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I’m glad to see that others have this same problem. I usually pray the Rosary in the morning while I’m in the shower and even though my mind wanders off at times I, too ask the Lord for forgiveness as well as help with concentrating.

I know this prayer works regardless of how deeply we can meditate since it has been a real blessing over the past 3 years when I started praying the Rosary. It is indeed a very powerful prayer.:crossrc:
 
BernadetteM said:
Dear Friends,

I have a few questions about saying the rosary. I have tried before for several weeks, but find that I have a problem concentrating on the mysteries. I can’t seem to get deep into them.

Also a friend told me that she says the rosary every day and that it has helped her very much in her struggles.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that saying the rosary has been a help to them and also how can I really meditate deeply while saying it.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
Click to expand...
I think everyone has trouble concentrating. Ahh, the frailties of being human! It’s hard to repeat a memorized prayer over and over without your mind wandering onto your shopping list, or such other mundane daily tasks. That is why there is so much on which to meditate during the Rosary. Our Lady knows about the wandering mind so she, in her infinite wisdom, gave us much to think about. You can concentrate on the mystery itself, or the words of Gabriel to Mary, or Elizabeth to Mary, while saying each “Hail Mary”. The best advice, though, is to pick a time when you can sit quietly (that’s a challenge to anyone in today’s world). Sitting quietly is the best environment for meditation. If you go to daily Mass, you may want to get there 15 minutes ahead of time to allow for some good mediation time. Even if you just go on Sunday, try to get there a little early for this. Maybe you can also delay watching TV for a half hour and say a Rosary instead.

Just remember, the Rosary is our greatest weapon against evil, as is pointed out by many saints. Don’t let a lack of concentration stop you. I lose concentration, too. Just keep on going anyway.

Good luck! 👍
 
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