Question: Read the Bible or Pray the Rosary?

[MaryT777]

Thanks for the recommendation for “My Complete Rosary Prayer Book.” I just ordered it for $8.95 from Ebay. It is 96 pages and includes the Scriptural rosary as you noted. I cannot wait to receive it.

 

[Arbovirus]

One thing he raised was (what he sees) as the Church’s lack of emphasis on reading scripture.

I read/hear that very often. Why is that, when Scripture is read at every Mass? Is this throwback from when most people couldn’t read/understand Latin?

 

[lilypadrees]

Thanks for the recommendation for “My Complete Rosary Prayer Book.” I just ordered it for $8.95 from Ebay. It is 96 pages and includes the Scriptural rosary as you noted. I cannot wait to receive it.

You could’ve gotten it for $4.95 from Catholic sources. It pays to Google even before using Ebay.

 

[porthos11]

I am mentoring a friend of mine who is thinking about joining the Catholic Church and we were discussing some issues over lunch. He is from a protestant background but he married a catholic woman and is pretty close to making the leap but he has issues with some catholic practices. One thing he raised was (what he sees) as the Church’s lack of emphasis on reading scripture. I explained that the Church encourages people to read the Bible but that many Catholic practices began in a time before everyone had their own copy of the Bible. So this got me thinking…

Let’s say I have 20 minutes for devotional time, what would be of more benefit to me; reading the Bible or praying the rosary?

Thanks.

The answer to the question really is, “it’s completely up to you.” YOU have to discern which would be of more benefit to you.

In my case, it will always be Scripture first. Depending on the time of day, it may be devotional reading, or the appropriate prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

I know there are those who would say the Rosary is equivalent to reading the Bible because it meditates on mysteries from Christ’s life, but to that, I say, no, it’s not the same. Reading the Scriptures cracks open a different kind of wealth than the Rosary. Divine reading is a completely different exercise from the Rosary, and I do not agree with any “The Rosary is better than/the same as reading Scripture”-type opinions. Far from it. Both should be taken on their own merits.

 

[DebCWil]

St. John Paul II stressed the importance of seeing the rosary of a path to contemplation. Scripture warns against those who merely recite prayers “with lips while” the heart is far from God. St. Theresa of Avila in her Way to Perfection writes about how vocal prayer can lead to contemplation. She too stresses the importance of lifting the heart to God. Contemplation is a gift. She does a magnificent job of showing how praying the Our Father reverently can lead to that gift.
The how we pray is more important than what we pray. It is why St. John Paul II stressed the words of the rosary as the backdrop to our meditation. We meditate on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The rosary has been called a liturgical prayer for that reason.
I too pray the LOTH. The Office of Readings moving into Lauds (Morning Prayer) is very much a part of my morning routine. I do not think of praying the rosary without incorporating the scriptures, at least at the beginning of each decade. There is no either/or for me.

 

[BridgetN]

Let’s say I have 20 minutes for devotional time, what would be of more benefit to me; reading the Bible or praying the rosary?

They both are great, but I think if you practice a little extra devotion to the Blessed Mother by saying her Rosary, she will definitely help you.