Praying the Rosary

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sea_krait

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Do you actually need a (physical) Rosary in order to pray the Rosary? By this I mean is it against the rules of praying the Rosary to not simultaneously be thumbing the string of beads, or are the beads, as I imagine, just used to help the person keep track? I’m supposed to keep my (physical) Rosary hidden (just trust me on this), so I would have lots more spare time to pray the Rosary if I didn’t actually have to take the (physical) Rosary out of my pocket.

I want to be able to pray it daily, so what I’m really asking here is if it is proper for me to make my praying more efficient in the aforementioned manner to fit it better into my daily duties.

Also, is it officially okay to customize the Rosary however you wish? I’ve read on the forums how some people have done this. What I’m thinking is if someone doesn’t t have much time that day they might pray one decade only, or something.

Thanks! 🙂
 
You do not need to use a physical Rosary, although this is the fullest expression of the prayer. The prayer itself is a Sacramental (as is the physical Rosary). If there is any reason you cannot use a physical Rosary, or if one is not available, or if it isn’t convenient, etc. you can and should still pray the Rosary and it is still valid and proper.

Some options if you have to keep it hidden are to keep it in the pocket, or use a Rosary ring (like a mini-rosary that helps you keep track of the prayers), or just use your fingers (you have ten ;)). The main practical purpose of the physical Rosary is to help you keep track of where you are in the prayer, since it’s easy to get lost in the meditation and forget where you are.

You may also pray parts of the Rosary…there’s no rule that says you have to pray the whole thing at once. Many people will pray a decade at a time, or spread it out through the day, etc. depending on their situation and what is most convenient for them.

I hope this helps. Don’t get too hung up on the details 😉 just PRAY!

God bless you.
 
sea_krait said:
Do you actually need a (physical) Rosary in order to pray the Rosary?

No

By this I mean is it against the rules of praying the Rosary to not simultaneously be thumbing the string of beads, or are the beads, as I imagine, just used to help the person keep track? I’m supposed to keep my (physical) Rosary hidden (just trust me on this), so I would have lots more spare time to pray the Rosary if I didn’t actually have to take the (physical) Rosary out of my pocket.

Not lose track, meditate. Rosary hidden - yes I can see why at work you would not be permitted to have an obvious religious icon visible to co-workers

I want to be able to pray it daily, so what I’m really asking here is if it is proper for me to make my praying more efficient in the aforementioned manner to fit it better into my daily duties.

**What works for you **

Also, is it officially okay to customize the Rosary however you wish? I’ve read on the forums how some people have done this. What I’m thinking is if someone doesn’t t have much time that day they might pray one decade only, or something.Thanks! 🙂

Absolutely
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Thanks!

This is the best news I’ve gotten all day.

It’s a whole lot more convenient now. Hopefully I’ll be praying more now; thank you all. 🙂
 
oh, one more thing:

if I were to pray a decade and then stop for a while, do you think I should “cap off” the prayer for the time being by making the sign of the cross before and after each separately prayed decade, or should I just nonchalantly transition into daily tasks and only make the sign of the cross at the very beginning and very end of the Rosary?
 
sea_krait said:
Thanks!

This is the best news I’ve gotten all day.

It’s a whole lot more convenient now. Hopefully I’ll be praying more now; thank you all. 🙂
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I remember when I came back to the church and wondering the same thing. Did I have to have the beads? I felt like I HAD to that it wasn’t right that I didn’t have one. I also felt I HAD to have a bible that I could take out and read easier than the one we have, which is one of the HUGE family ones. I felt terrible without those things. It’s silly now when I look at it. Knowing now that I can be pretty scrupulous.

But as people have said, you do not need the beads. And though since, I’ve inherited two sets from my grandmother that are lovely, and I treasure, I more often than not count on my hands or my head … mostly in the car.

:hug1:
 
sea_krait said:
oh, one more thing:

if I were to pray a decade and then stop for a while, do you think I should “cap off” the prayer for the time being by making the sign of the cross before and after each separately prayed decade, or should I just nonchalantly transition into daily tasks and only make the sign of the cross at the very beginning and very end of the Rosary?
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I think it is whatever you feel compelled to…I see no reason not to do the sign of the cross.

Have you considered a ring rosary? I find this convenient and helps me keep track of where I am at.

I have this and like it:
archangelbooks.com/images/975-02.jpg
 
sea_krait said:
oh, one more thing:

if I were to pray a decade and then stop for a while, do you think I should “cap off” the prayer for the time being by making the sign of the cross before and after each separately prayed decade, or should I just nonchalantly transition into daily tasks and only make the sign of the cross at the very beginning and very end of the Rosary?
Click to expand...
It’s a good idea to make the SOTC whenever possible. There are so many reasons for this. However, in those times when it’s not allowed or appropriate, I like to very subtly draw just a little tiny cross on my forehead; if I use my thumb and hide the action with the rest of my fingers, no-one even knows what I’ve done. Or if that isn’t subtle enough, just touching my forehead as a physical sign of my intent makes a big difference for me.

Mind you, this is personal practice and intent and makes me feel better. It’s really awful that we have to hide our faith from the world at times.
 
As someone said above you can use your fingers. The beads just help you to keep track. You can also use a rosary ring or bracelet.
 
Don’t forget your FREE Rosary CD and download from The Mary Foundation:
catholicity.com/cds/rosary.html PLUS it includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet PLUS a wee talk on the Virgin Mary PLUS an excerpt from Father Corapi’s conversion experience. Makes that commute a lot shorter, I can tell you; and makes life great in every circumstance. “Pray the daily Rosary for peace.” --Our Lady of the Rosary in her Fatima appearances during World War I, called “The War to End All Wars.”
 
The only way of saying the rosary that displeases Jesus and His Blessed Mother is not saying it at all…

Margaret
 
sea_krait said:
Do you actually need a (physical) Rosary in order to pray the Rosary? By this I mean is it against the rules of praying the Rosary to not simultaneously be thumbing the string of beads, or are the beads, as I imagine, just used to help the person keep track? I’m supposed to keep my (physical) Rosary hidden (just trust me on this), so I would have lots more spare time to pray the Rosary if I didn’t actually have to take the (physical) Rosary out of my pocket.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...
I hope we don’t need a (physical) rosary to pray it, 'cause I don’t even have one! I don’t think we need it though. :yyeess:
 
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