What a lovely prayer the Rosary. Pray it often. As for wearing it, i keep mine in my pocket and under my pillow at night.
Can i ask a question?
I dont know all the mysteries so usually offer up the rosary for family / dead but just pray the prayers without noting the mysteries as i dont know them all. I know a couple. Is this ok to do?
Not necessarily wrong, but it can be, potentially, problematic.
In Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on the Rosary,
Rosarium Virgins Mariae, PJP, II, sites Pope Paul VI:
"…without contepmplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the ristk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: "in praying do not heap up empoty phrase as teh Gendiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words’ (Mt 6:7).
The beauty, value, and efficacy of the Rosary, is in contemplating the mysteries, for they are what make the Rosary, Cristocentric (i.e.–centered on, and geared towards, Christ).
Of note: the stucture of the Rosary–comprised of 150 HM’s–is based on the 150 Psalms. Prior to the Rosary, the more common practice was to recite the Psalms, over and over again (Psalter). The Rosary (while not displacing this practice) overtook it in popularity–due to its Cristocentricity, which is lacking in the recitation of the Psalms (since they were in the OT, and therefore before Christ).
I strongly suggest reading Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on the Rosary–
Rosarium Virgins Mariae–to anyone interested in the Rosary, as it explains the Cristocentricty of the Rosary well. Read that, and you’ll understand how the Rosary brings us closer to Christ–and better appreciate the old addage: ‘to Christ, through Mary.’
Here is the link to it:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae_en.html
here is a teaser excerpt from :
19. Of the many mysteries of Christ’s life, only a few are indicated by the Rosary in the form that has become generally established with the seal of the Church’s approval. The selection was determined by the origin of the prayer, which was based on the number 150, the number of the Psalms in the Psalter].
I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ’s public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion. In the course of those mysteries we contemplate important aspects of the person of Christ as the definitive revelation of God. Declared the beloved Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, Christ is the one who announces the coming of the Kingdom, bears witness to it in his works and proclaims its demands.** It is during the years of his public ministry that the mystery of Christ is most evidently a mystery of light: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jn 9:5).**
Consequently, **for the Rosary to become more fully a “compendium of the Gospel”, it is fitting to add, following reflection on the Incarnation and the hidden life of Christ (the joyful mysteries) and before focusing on the sufferings of his Passion (the sorrowful mysteries) and the triumph of his Resurrection (the glorious mysteries), a meditation on certain particularly significant moments in his public ministry (the mysteries of light). **This addition of these new mysteries, without prejudice to any essential aspect of the prayer’s traditional format, is meant to give it fresh life and to enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary’s place within Christian spirituality as a true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ, ocean of joy and of light, of suffering and of glory.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
for my ignorance of proper terminology in the query.
