Praying the Rosary

[YiSan]

I attended the praying of the Rosary at a local Catholic Church on Thursday. Having learned the rosary from videos on youtube, where it was recited with such love and reverence, I was surprised at the way it was done at the Church. Both the person leading the Rosary and the other Parishoners spoke the words so quickly it was like they were trying to see how quickly they could complete the full Rosary. They especially said the Hail Mary so quickly, it sounded like one long multi-syllable word. Do most catholics say the Rosary in this manner? Should I ask them to slow down next time? I appreciate any guidance/insight you may provide.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I attended the praying of the Rosary at a local Catholic Church on Thursday. Having learned the rosary from videos on youtube, where it was recited with such love and reverence, I was surprised at the way it was done at the Church. Both the person leading the Rosary and the other Parishoners spoke the words so quickly it was like they were trying to see how quickly they could complete the full Rosary. They especially said the Hail Mary so quickly, it sounded like one long multi-syllable word. Do most catholics say the Rosary in this manner? Should I ask them to slow down next time? I appreciate any guidance/insight you may provide.

Yes, it can sound pretty fast, and people do it at different speeds. The leader may set the pace, but that may be their normal speaking pace. When I lead it at church it is before Mass and must begin and end at a certain time so that Mass is not delayed, so I cannot go too slowly or give long meditations. I would not ask them to slow down, they are used to the pace, and even if they did, it would be my guess that old habits die hard and sooner or later they would pick up the pace again. Also, even on EWTN with it’s various Rosary programs, the pace is different in each. Just because it sounds fast to you, though, does not mean the people aren’t being reverent.

You, of course, can say it in any manner you wish. God bless.

 

[ClearWater]

I attended the praying of the Rosary at a local Catholic Church on Thursday. Having learned the rosary from videos on youtube, where it was recited with such love and reverence, I was surprised at the way it was done at the Church. Both the person leading the Rosary and the other Parishoners spoke the words so quickly it was like they were trying to see how quickly they could complete the full Rosary. They especially said the Hail Mary so quickly, it sounded like one long multi-syllable word. Do most catholics say the Rosary in this manner? Should I ask them to slow down next time? I appreciate any guidance/insight you may provide.

I used to say the rosary where I am, but we have rosary racers who seem to compete to see who can finish the fastest. Yes, if you can ask them to slow down, if that’s possible, that would be nice.

We’ve had it to the point the one leading told us we didn’t need to feel we were in a hurry, that we had enough time to say it without haste.

In part for his, I have begun saying the rosary, instead, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, by myself, in silence. This seems to have worked out much better. I wonder if people who say it so fast ever realize the turn off it is to the rest of us, that we sometimes get frustrated to the point of leaving, since we can’t pray as we are supposed to.

 

[YiSan]

CB Catholic:

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Although there was no Mass afterwards, they (The Knight Of Columbus) had a meeting scheduled for an hour later and they were leading it. This Tuesday the ladies from The Legion Of Mary will be leading this time and it will be 30 minutes prior to Mass. I will see how it goes…

I did get to do the Rosary with the Nuns at The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery last week and it was fast but not at breakneck speed like on Thursday.

 

[YiSan]

I used to say the rosary where I am, but we have rosary racers who seem to compete to see who can finish the fastest. Yes, if you can ask them to slow down, if that’s possible, that would be nice.

We’ve had it to the point the one leading told us we didn’t need to feel we were in a hurry, that we had enough time to say it without haste.

In part for his, I have begun saying the rosary, instead, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, by myself, in silence. This seems to have worked out much better. I wonder if people who say it so fast ever realize the turn off it is to the rest of us, that we sometimes get frustrated to the point of leaving, since we can’t pray as we are supposed to.

Clearwater:

I do agree with you. Both my wife and I were very frustrated. I also think it may have frustrated the 4 or 5 females that were sitting near me because they were completely silent. The only voices you could hear besides me and my wife were the elderly gentlemen from the Knights Of Columbus who were leading the Rosary.

 

[z_0101]

It really depends on the leader and the group.
At my Church when I lector I’m there quite early before Mass to go over the readings with the Deacon and Priest celebrant and the Rosary is usually being prayed. They have a fairly slow pace, quite often about 20 to 30 minutes and upon occasions they will “cut it close” to the start of Mass. I do remember once we were gathered in the back for procession and they finished the Rosary - and we started down the aisle!

You might talk with the people that lead the group
Offer to be one of the people that lead… set the pace… who knows… might take some time; however, you might be just the person they need!

 

[Rosebud77]

I attended the praying of the Rosary at a local Catholic Church on Thursday. Having learned the rosary from videos on youtube, where it was recited with such love and reverence, I was surprised at the way it was done at the Church. Both the person leading the Rosary and the other Parishoners spoke the words so quickly it was like they were trying to see how quickly they could complete the full Rosary. They especially said the Hail Mary so quickly, it sounded like one long multi-syllable word. Do most catholics say the Rosary in this manner? Should I ask them to slow down next time? I appreciate any guidance/insight you may provide.

Same here in Ireland and it sounds like a wailing dirge… mostly old ladies and after mass

 

[plainatheart71]

We have the same problem at times at our parish. There are those who speed through it but there are a couple who take their time and are loud enough to hear also.

 

[z_0101]

We have the same problem at times at our parish. There are those who speed through it but there are a couple who take their time and are loud enough to hear also.

it’s nice when they are loud enough to be heard… some of our groups sound like a funeral dirge - bless their hearts, at least they are praying and I just have to "offer it up " .

Same here in Ireland and it sounds like a wailing dirge… mostly old ladies and after mass

maybe they’re trying to “get it done” before the Lord calls them home

 

[YiSan]

Thank you to all who gave me their thoughts on this. I do appreciate it very much. I also talked to a few people at the church picnic today and many had the same problem. I don’t think it will hurt for me to nicely ask them to slow down to about mach 7 or so. Hopefully the “Rosary Racers” won’t mind at all…

 

[Anne1964]

The speed varies and as others have said, is somewhat dependent on the leader. At my parish, thankfully, we take about 20 minutes to pray the Rosary. At another parish I visit the Hail Mary is said so quickly I have trouble keeping up.

 

[Rosebud77]

it’s nice when they are loud enough to be heard… some of our groups sound like a funeral dirge - bless their hearts, at least they are praying and I just have to "offer it up " .

maybe they’re trying to “get it done” before the Lord calls them home

I know and staying in the warm and with other people too… Loneliness is a curse.

But the miserable faces…

 

[YEARNING4TRUTH]

Thank you to all who gave me their thoughts on this. I do appreciate it very much. I also talked to a few people at the church picnic today and many had the same problem. I don’t think it will hurt for me to nicely ask them to slow down to about mach 7 or so. Hopefully the “Rosary Racers” won’t mind at all…

Haha! “Rosary Racers,” that’s a good one. I’ll be using that from now on if you don’t mind and yeah it can get quite frustrating when people rush through the Rosary. It’s meant to be meditative, so I don’t get why people have to pray it so fast.

 

[Barb3]

I pray the Rosary every day – I have many rosaries but the one I use now was sent to me from Paris by one of my granddaughters. I say the first two decades with my first cup of coffee – then the other decades I say when I’m walking to Church – or walking to the street car – or just walking the neighborhood – the last decade I say at night before I turn the light out. The rosary is very much a special part of my life, and I couldn’t get through the day without it.

 

[corsair]

I usually lead the Rosary about a half hour before our sung High Mass. Yes, we used to have our “Rosary racers” too but the gentleman who leads before the low Mass and I decided we’d set a more reverent steady rhythm. It took a few weeks but now most folks got the idea and now it is a real pleasure to say the Rosary.

 

[poche]

The one who prays the fastest doesn’t get the best place in Heaven.

 

[YiSan]

I am the original poster. When we prayed the Rosary yesterday, I simply spoke the words at my speed and in a slightly louder voice so as to be heard. The man leading the Rosary waited for me to finish before going on. I noticed as time when on, the recitation slowed down quite a bit for all but one person (directly behind me). A couple about my age spoke to me and told me that they preferred a slower pace too. I was actually approached about joining the Knights afterwards but of course I cannot until Confirmation at Easter. All in all, I don’t think anyone was offended by my slower recitation (at least I hope not).

 

[corsair]

Sounds like you are doing things right. YiSan. Everyone will catch on soon. It’s much more reverent.
God Bless.

 

[Jennifoo]

I am the original poster. When we prayed the Rosary yesterday, I simply spoke the words at my speed and in a slightly louder voice so as to be heard. The man leading the Rosary waited for me to finish before going on. I noticed as time when on, the recitation slowed down quite a bit for all but one person (directly behind me). A couple about my age spoke to me and told me that they preferred a slower pace too. I was actually approached about joining the Knights afterwards but of course I cannot until Confirmation at Easter. All in all, I don’t think anyone was offended by my slower recitation (at least I hope not).

That’s great that you didn’t give up in frustration but sought instead to make a positive difference. I do that, as well, both with rosary racers and Mass racers. I’m not trying to be holier-than-thou: I just want to pray well.

I agree with a previous poster who stated that those who are accustomed to praying fast aren’t necessarily being irreverent. At a local Eucharistic Chapel, a woman whose Holy Hours was right after mine was very fast in her prayers, but also very reverent. I used to love lingering awhile to listen to her. For some reason, I found it very soothing. She was a cradle Catholic, so I wonder if that’s what she was raised with.

Sometimes when I pray the Rosary at home, I time myself. I find that I average 17- 20 minutes. ( I had always wondered because it’s often mentioned that the usual Rosary takes 15 minutes.)

At my parish, we’re blessed to have a woman who can lead the Rosary in 15 minutes without sounding too fast. That can be rare.

God bless you.

 

[benjohnson]

My observation about the Rosary: If it sounds like there’s a wombjesus involved, you’re probably going too fast.