Rosaries and Idolatry

[JRKH]

Thank you for your reply,
I am understanding more of your Faith, and as yet ,I still have some research to finish ,
and then look into ideas,origins and so on.,again people will believe what suits them in many cases.
Rest assured I do not see your Faith as a cult.
Once my research is complete ( maybe not for a while yet) I will have my own mind, not as others may feel, basically an independent view. I do not claim any extra knowledge ,I am just an ordinary believer in the Bible and see for my self just how it compares with other Faiths .I am thankful I was not brought up in countries that worship anything but our living God.
maybe then I would be just as defensive in those traditions etc.
Also I feel it helps one another build up their own Faith and grow .
Again it is never my intention to cause upset to anyone .
Blessings and Thank you for replying

Fair enough. This is a good place to ask questions.

Peace
James

 

[Bklynguy]

Yes , hi everyone, i have a question. I am a rosary maniac, i own several and i keep buying chaplets, because im never satsified with one, now i have a few good devotions which is the good side, the bad side is the fact that i now have several rosaries and i feel like im commiting idolatry, becaus ei care more about how the beads look, and how they look in my hands, and on the pew etc. more than i do about the prayers (something i fear!)
My favorite devotion is the Sacred Heart, whihc was a chaplet i bought, that one i feel was legitmate, but now im scared that im commiting idolatry by caring too much about the beads. in this case what would classify as idolatry?, and do i need confession because of this ASAP,? is what im doing a mortal sin? SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!! ALL ANSWERS ARE APPRECIATED AND VALUED!

As long as you aren’t worshiping the beads, or that they have any special powers themselves, you are not committing idolatry. Regarding the fact that you care how the beads look, or that you like to hold them in your hands, just remember that we are humans created in a physical world and have a need for the physical. If holding the rosary in your hands gives you spiritual comfort, go for it!

The Lord created us as physical beings, so he knows more than anyone on this earth can understand how we have a need for the physical to be incorporated into our spiritual life. I suggest reading Father Vincent Serpa’s recent post in the apologist section regarding Eucharistic adoration. Now, this is different because the Eucharist IS Jesus; however, the same principle can apply.

 

[Legend]

thanks everyone! i was praying the dail Holy Rosary last night, and the Sacred Heart of JESUS chaplet, with no beads at all, just my little rosary book with scripture meditations, LOVED IT, IN FACT, I FOCUSED ON THE WORDS BETTER! HAD NO PROBLEMS, nothing, just Prayed like normal and loved every “HAIL MARY” of it! So what do you think then? the book has rosary pictures (stations) in it, which helps focus too! so whats the verdict?

Sounds as if you found the proper balance between prayer and objects to help you pray! If you feel you didn’t have this before ( and it did sound as if your focus on the beads was starting to trouble you), you have definitely found a better way now. As was said many times on this thread, the rosary consists of the prayers, not the beads. Keep that in mind, and your prayers will be as effective and edifying as ever.

Glad you have found a satisfying and productive solution!