Questions about The Rosary

[PMV]

1. Is it necessary to have an actual Rosary bead necklace to pray the Rosary? If said without a necklace, is it equally effective?
2. If someone does have a Rosary bead necklace and plans to pray the Rosary with it often or every day, is it required that the necklace be specially blessed by a priest in order to make it effective?
3. When meditating on the mysteries while saying the prayers at the same time, should one’s focus strictly be on both? For the prayers that require meditation on the mysteries, would it be acceptable to focus on the mysteries without thinking about the prayers but still saying the prayers at the same time (or vise versa)?
4. When praying the Rosary, is it required now that the Light Mysteries be acknowledged on Thursday instead of the Joyful Mysteries? May one choose which mystery to meditate on on Thursday?
5. In the back of a pamphlet titled “Pray The Rosary Daily”, where it explains which days of the week are for certain mysteries, one of the sentences says; “Depending on the Season, each of the Mysteries is recommended for Sunday”. What is meant by this? Does this mean that “each”, as in meaning every single mystery, is supposed to be meditated on on Sunday when saying the Rosary? It seems that would not be mathematically possible.

 

[jrabs]

PMV:

1. Is it necessary to have an actual Rosary bead necklace to pray the Rosary? If said without a necklace, is it equally effective?.

First, I want to clear up what appears as a misconception. The rosary is not a necklace. It may appear as one only because it is connected but is it is not referred to as a necklace.

You do not need the rosary beads to pray an effective rosary. The beads are a sacramental, meaning they do help you focus on your prayer, but they are not needed.

I often say the rosary while I am exercising but do not carry the beads with me as I run.

The power and strength are in the prayer.

PMV:

1. If someone does have a Rosary bead necklace and plans to pray the Rosary with it often or every day, is it required that the necklace be specially blessed by a priest in order to make it effective?.

The rosary can be blessed - is probably a great idea as a sacramental to be blessed.

PMV:

1. When praying the Rosary, is it required now that the Light Mysteries be acknowledged on Thursday instead of the Joyful Mysteries? May one choose which mystery to meditate on on Thursday? .

It is not required - but just suggested that those are the mysteries that would be prayed on Thurs. I am sure that Heaven would lovingly accept your rosary regardless of the mystery you select.

PMV:

1. In the back of a pamphlet titled “Pray The Rosary Daily”, where it explains which days of the week are for certain mysteries, one of the sentences says; “Depending on the Season, each of the Mysteries is recommended for Sunday”. What is meant by this? Does this mean that “each”, as in meaning every single mystery, is supposed to be meditated on Sunday when saying the Rosary? It seems that would not be mathematically possible.

I was taught by my priest that in different liturgical seasons, Lent , Advent, etc, we apply different mysteries. My priest told us that in Lent, we do not say the Glorious Mysteries but focus on the Sorrowful.

 

[Church_Militant]

1) Is it necessary to have an actual Rosary bead necklace to pray the Rosary? If said without a necklace, is it equally effective?

Nope,it’s not necessary, and it’s not a “necklace” it goes in your pocket and not around your neck. It’s not jewelry. Prayer is always effective. The reason that there are 10 Hail Marys is because we have 10 fingers.

1. If someone does have a Rosary bead necklace and plans to pray the Rosary with it often or every day, is it required that the necklace be specially blessed by a priest in order to make it effective?

It’s always cool to have it blessed by your priest. I do. The prayers are just as efficacious either way.

1. When meditating on the mysteries while saying the prayers at the same time, should one’s focus strictly be on both? For the prayers that require meditation on the mysteries, would it be acceptable to focus on the mysteries without thinking about the prayers but still saying the prayers at the same time (or vise versa)?

Understand that it is a meditation and that during that time the Holy Spirit will lead you into the things that He wishes you to focus on. Let Him. I often recall people that I wish to remember in that rosary (or Divine Mercy Chaplet). That’s perfectly fine. God is listening.

1. When praying the Rosary, is it required now that the Light Mysteries be acknowledged on Thursday instead of the Joyful Mysteries? May one choose which mystery to meditate on on Thursday?

I use the mysteries for the day and include the Luminous Mysteries. Why would one want to leave them out? They round out the events of Our Lord’s life beautifully and complete the Rosary in a way that was perhaps lacking before. I love 'em.

1. In the back of a pamphlet titled “Pray The Rosary Daily”, where it explains which days of the week are for certain mysteries, one of the sentences says; “Depending on the Season, each of the Mysteries is recommended for Sunday”. What is meant by this? Does this mean that “each”, as in meaning every single mystery, is supposed to be meditated on on Sunday when saying the Rosary? It seems that would not be mathematically possible.

It means that during the Lenten Season you pray the Sorrowful, during Advent (beginning this Sunday!) you will pray the Joyful, and during the Easter season, you will pray the Glorious. The Sunday mysteries change with the seasons of the church. Though I haven’t read anything about it…perhaps the Luminous should be prayed during Ordinary time?
Pax tecum,

P.S. PM me if you need a rosary to get you started and I’ll mail you one.

 

[jrabs]

Hey Church M…I think we were on the very same wave length. Thanks - nice responses.

 

[Church_Militant]

jrabs:

Hey Church M…I think we were on the very same wave length. Thanks - nice responses.

Great minds? BTW saw your pic with the little boy. (on frapper) Great shot!

 

[jrabs]

Church Militant:

Great minds? BTW saw your pic with the little boy. (on frapper) Great shot!

Thanks a bunch. He is a living doll!

 

[thistle]

I got the days mixed up so I started praying all 20 decades every day so I didn’t have to remember the days. Somebody asked if this was boring. I said how can it be boring talking to Jesus and his mum every day??

 

[asquared]

It is not mandatory to say certain mysteries each day, just a suggestion. generally in Lent we say the Sorrowful mysteries on Sunday, in Advent the Joyful Mysteries and in Eastertime the Glorious mysteries. I would suggest the Luminous mysteries on sundays of Ordinary time, but traditionally the glorious mysteries are said on those Sundays, as every Sunday is a memorial of Easter.

I say the entire rosary every morning when I walk around the golf course and trailer park, it is the perfect lenght for my walk, about 60 minutes. If I don’t finish one day, I just start where I left off the next day.

The most helpful way to meditate, especially for a beginner, is to read the scripture about each mystery before beginning. After a while the words of the repeated prayers provide “background music” for the mind and heart to meditate on the mystery. The method suggested by many writers, including our late beloved pope, is to pray, after the invocation of the name of Jesus (the centerpiece and hinge of each Hail Mary) an aspiration recalling the mystery:
. . . thy womb, Jesus, whom thou, O virgin, did conceive of the Holy Spirit. Holy Mary . . . . etc. (the Annunciation)
. . . Jesus, who was scourged for our offenses, . . . (the Scourging at the pillar).
The pope reminded us in his great encyclical on the rosary that it is not enough to repeat the prayers, the scripture must be the background for our meditation.

Using the rosary for its intended purpose (prayer and meditation, not jewelry) itself sanctifies the sacramental, but you may ask a priest or deacon to bless it, perhaps after church.

 

[PMV]

If the Rosary is said in the evening or nightly, does it count as being said daily?

 

[thistle]

PMV:

If the Rosary is said in the evening or nightly, does it count as being said daily?

It doesn’t make any difference when you pray the Rosary. Morning, afternoon or evening is still daily if you do it every day.

 

[PMV]

thistle:

It doesn’t make any difference when you pray the Rosary. Morning, afternoon or evening is still daily if you do it every day.

When you say ‘evening’, do you mean in it within the time period of 9 to 12 p.m.?

 

[thistle]

PMV:

When you say ‘evening’, do you mean in it within the time period of 9 to 12 p.m.?

First, the Rosary is a private devotion so it is not required although highly recommended and in my view we should pray the Rosary every day.
Daily simply means anytime between midnight and midnight. If you pray morning on one day and at night the following day what difference does that make. That is daily. Daily does not mean at the exact same time every day.

 

[lel]

asquared:

I say the entire rosary every morning when I walk around the golf course and trailer park, it is the perfect lenght for my walk, about 60 minutes. If I don’t finish one day, I just start where I left off the next day.

60 minutes? Is this doing five decades or twenty decades? I’ve been doing the rosary with five decades and it takes me roughly 20 minutes. Am I doing it incorrectly, perhaps?

 

[kvina]

I have a question about the Rosary.

When you pray the rosary - after each mystery and you say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit - are you supposed to make the sign of the cross while saying the Glory Be?

I have never done that before but I recently noticed others making the sign of the cross while they are saying the Glory Be.

Now they have me wondering if I should.

 

[mommyof4]

I have a question about the Rosary.

When you pray the rosary - after each mystery and you say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit - are you supposed to make the sign of the cross while saying the Glory Be?

I have never done that before but I recently noticed others making the sign of the cross while they are saying the Glory Be.

Now they have me wondering if I should.

I’ve never seen anyone do this, nor have I read of anyone doing this in all of my books on the rosary. I certainly don’t think it is wrong to do this, by any means. It just is not necessary.

 

[TexRose]

I have a question about the Rosary.

When you pray the rosary - after each mystery and you say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit - are you supposed to make the sign of the cross while saying the Glory Be?

I have never done that before but I recently noticed others making the sign of the cross while they are saying the Glory Be.

Now they have me wondering if I should.

I do make the sign of the cross while praying the Glory Be but that is how I was taught.
It might not be a requirement though.
You know…I used to wonder (many ages ago) why people would pray the rosary. Why would they, kwim? Then I started praying oh about a month or two ago and now I know why. It is very powerful!

 

[mommyof4]

I do make the sign of the cross while praying the Glory Be but that is how I was taught.
It might not be a requirement though.
You know…I used to wonder (many ages ago) why people would pray the rosary. Why would they, kwim? ** Then I started praying oh about a month or two ago and now I know why. It is very powerful! [/QUO**TE]

I thought the same thing for years, myself. Then, last lent I began praying it regularly. I thought I would just do it during Lent, and then quit. Well guess what? I have kept it up for over a year now! I just don’t see myself giving it up.

I was given two beautiful rosaries many years ago as a child. I thought they were pretty and I kept them, but they just stayed in my dresser drawer for about 30 years or so, not being used. They have traveled from one house to another, and have survived many disorganized moves. Guess what? Those rosaries were waiting for me to start praying them though all of these years! I think that Our Mother was keeping them safe for me (and from me, at times), so they would be there waiting for me when I was ready to get serious about my prayer life.**

 

[Zooey]

You know…I used to wonder (many ages ago) why people would pray the rosary. Why would they, kwim? Then I started praying oh about a month or two ago and now I know why.** It is very powerful!**

Oh, boy, isn’t that the truth!! I really do believe that the rosary is the most amazing prayer there is…