Rosary not allowed before Mass

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Elzee

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I’ve been told our priest will not allow us to say the rosary before Mass (as a congregation) because it is a private devotion.
Has anyone heard this before? I think I can understand what he means…saying the rosary is not mandatory and not everyone may choose this form of prayer …but I also think we’re failing to introduce the people in our parish to a beautiful form of prayer by never saying it together or even discussing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on his comment?
 
As in a large group can’t? Or just the prayer itself?

Never heard of it before, but maybe he sees it focusing on a set of prayer and detering some from their own private prayer and preparation for Mass?
 
Not everyone might want to hear the rosary before mass, particularly as the last 15 minutes before mass is when the people are arriving and finding their seats, lighting votive candles, the church bells are rung (around here) about 7 minutes before mass.

I think if you want to gather after the mass for the rosary, particularly if its after the last mass of the day, I think that the parish priest might think better of the idea.
 
Why not go back to the priest with a new idea that merges the best of both worlds? Start a rosary group, set a specific meeting time and place (30 minutes before mass in the chapel or the conference room perhaps), and publish info about it in the church bulletin, use word of mouth, etc to let people know.

Perhaps unite it with First Friday Adoration.

Don’t take it as an outright rejection, but just figure out another way that respects the concerns of your priest.

ETA: Is the issue really the rosary? Or does this issue just epitomize a division within the church of Pre-Vat II and Post-Vat II parishioners? If the point is to be a political statement in favor of returning to the Latin service and the priest does not look kindly on such desires, then I wouldn’t expect the desire to go anywhere. I’m not accusing you, but just warning that if the issue isn’t really the rosary then the advice won’t really pertain to the situation.
 
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Elzee:
I’ve been told our priest will not allow us to say the rosary before Mass (as a congregation) because it is a private devotion.
Has anyone heard this before? I think I can understand what he means…saying the rosary is not mandatory and not everyone may choose this form of prayer …but I also think we’re failing to introduce the people in our parish to a beautiful form of prayer by never saying it together or even discussing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on his comment?
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I think the pastor is wrong. The people should pray before mass, what is wrong with saying the rosary?
 
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jimmy:
I think the pastor is wrong. The people should pray before mass, what is wrong with saying the rosary?
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I remember another thread on here discussing people who chit-chat before Mass. The overwhelming sentiment was that the time before Mass is to be quiet, allowing for personal reflection before partaking of the Sacrament. Noise makers were expected to leave the sanctuary and go to the narthex. Having the sanctuary, 15-20 minutes before Mass, dedicated to the congregational recitation of the rosary, does not allow for this personal quiet. The pastor of the church is in a much better position to gauge its effect on his particular parish, the likelihood of alienation, and the needs of the congregation (including timing). While the rosary is a beautiful devotion, a Catholic is under no obligation to say this particular prayer. The appearance of congregational recitation immediately before Mass would imply otherwise.

As I said before, there are ways to have the best of both worlds if the intention is to further this particular devotion in the community. However, I do not think you are in any position to proclaim the priest “wrong.”
 
I guess I can see how some people may not prefer to pray the Rosary and instead would like to pray in silence while waiting for the Mass to begin. At my parish any prayers that are said as a group conclude 15 minutes before Mass.
 
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jimmy:
I think the pastor is wrong. The people should pray before mass, what is wrong with saying the rosary?
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I don’t think the priest is discouraging individuals from praying the rosary but is discouraging groups from praying the rosary before mass.
 
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Holly3278:
I don’t think the priest is discouraging individuals from praying the rosary but is discouraging groups from praying the rosary before mass.
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Yes… and it appears we can add to your statement "in the sanctuary, including the entire parish.

Possible solutions include making the prayer open to any who wish to join, but not expected it of all parishioners. (Is there a small grotto outside the church that is visible to all entering?) Having it in another location. Having it during a different time. Encouraging other groups within the church to take up the devotion (sidewalk counselors at abortion clinics, CCD, RCIA, social justice ministry, altar society, youth group, etc). Making rosaries and handing them out or leaving them in an accessible place such as outside the chapel, at the newcomers’ desk, or in the church or school office. Including information on the devotion in the bulletin (including info on how to say the rosary, perhaps even online rosaries). Do you have a ministry fair in which you could set up a booth on the rosary? Awareness can also be raised silently. A group of people can all start bringing rosaries and while holding them in church, say the rosary to themselves. Others looking around will see people everywhere saying the rosary. (As long as the priest will not take this as an act of defiance.) There are numerous solutions to the problem the OP presents besides saying the rosary as a parish right before Mass in the sanctuary.

I recommend going back to the priest and instead of asking permission for one specific thing, outlining the issue (wanting to say the rosary and increase awareness of this devotion) and brainstorm with the priest on appropriate solutions. The priest will probably be much more receptive to this approach and the OP gets the desired outcome.
 
I love to pray in silence before Mass. In the parish which I will be transferring out of this coming Saturday, the noise level of social chatter is so loud that silent prayer is impossible, to the point where I stopped coming early for quiet prayer because I found it a near occasion of sin. Instead of all the distracting chatter, I would GREATLY prefer hearing the Rosary … they’re going to talk anyways, so it might as well be prayer! (And what an improvement that would be.)

When I attend the indult Latin Mass downtown (where I wore my mantilla for Headcovering Day October 2nd), there is the silence I love, then the Rosary which I also love, then silence, and then Mass begins. This is perfect … Only reason why I won’t be officially joining this parish is because it’s a long drive in summer and a treacherous one during a winter storm.

In the Novus Ordo parish where I’m looking forward to registering this Saturday, it’s quieter than the parish I’m leaving, for which I’m very grateful. They don’t say the Rosary before Mass. In my opinion, it would be a nice bonus if they did. :o

Note to Elzee: Is there a local division of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima in your area? If so, I would highly recommend you looking them up and consider joining. They’re really big on promoting the Rosary.

~~ the phoenix
 
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Elzee:
I’ve been told our priest will not allow us to say the rosary before Mass (as a congregation) because it is a private devotion.
Has anyone heard this before? I think I can understand what he means…saying the rosary is not mandatory and not everyone may choose this form of prayer …but I also think we’re failing to introduce the people in our parish to a beautiful form of prayer by never saying it together or even discussing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on his comment?
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That’s terrible. I’ve never heard such a thing.

Our parish places in the bulletin, the times when the Rosary will be prayed aloud before Mass (6:30 AM, every day before the 7am daily Mass). If people don’t want to participate, they don’t have to.
 
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Elzee:
I’ve been told our priest will not allow us to say the rosary before Mass (as a congregation) because it is a private devotion.
Has anyone heard this before? I think I can understand what he means…saying the rosary is not mandatory and not everyone may choose this form of prayer …but I also think we’re failing to introduce the people in our parish to a beautiful form of prayer by never saying it together or even discussing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on his comment?
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We have mass at 8:00am and at 9:30. On our schedule at 9:00 is the rosary. If anyone doesn’t want to pray they can wait until it is over and still have time for quiet reflection, private prayer before mass starts.
maggiec
 
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Elzee:
I’ve been told our priest will not allow us to say the rosary before Mass (as a congregation) because it is a private devotion.
Has anyone heard this before? I think I can understand what he means…saying the rosary is not mandatory and not everyone may choose this form of prayer …but I also think we’re failing to introduce the people in our parish to a beautiful form of prayer by never saying it together or even discussing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on his comment?
Click to expand...
It is a private devotion, however authorized for public use by the Church. It should however be clearly separated from the Mass. So no one would think that it was somehow part of the Mass my general rule is that there should be a 20 minute space between a devotion and the beginning or end of the Mass.
 
Praying the Rosary before Mass gets people to focus on God before Mass. When I have gone to churches that do, no one visits before Mass- or if they do, they quickly realize that there is something going on, and they take it outside or save it for another time. The walls on the confessional are thinner than I’d like, and visiting priests sometimes speak too loudly- it’s comforting to have a little background noise. Also, at my parish they always pray specifically for sinners in the Church, and if I’m not there praying with them, it’s nice to know they’re praying for me.
 
It’s said before 2 out of 3 of our Masses. I think it’s a positive because
A) it exposes everyone in the parish to the beauty of the Rosary, even those who don’t do it at home

B) There is a certain awesomeness in the way the Rosary becomes fuller and louder as more people enter the church and join in.

C) There is a plenerary indulgence from reciting the Rosary in Church.

Therefore, I’m in favor of reciting the Rosary before church as a group or as an individual. It’s a far cry from random chit chat.
 
At my present church, the Rosary is said a half hour before Mass begins, and is usually finished about 15 minutes later. That would leave, I would think, ample time for quiet prayer for others. After all, it’s pretty rare that people come in so early for church.

At another church I attended, there was a note posted on the church doors. It said that the front of the church was reserved for those saying Rosary before Mass and asked that everyone maintain silence during this time. That way, those who came early who wanted silent prayer time sat in the rear rows so they wouldn’t be distracted.

At a church I visited, the Rosary was said as a group (all wishing to pray moved in together) after Mass ended. If you were to make any of the posted suggestions (offer a wide variety) to your priest, he would surely accept one of them.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
It is a private devotion, however authorized for public use by the Church. It should however be clearly separated from the Mass. So no one would think that it was somehow part of the Mass my general rule is that there should be a 20 minute space between a devotion and the beginning or end of the Mass.
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Hi Brother Rich - can you tell me where I can find something in writing saying it’s approved for public use by the Church? I haven’t been able to find anything like this.

Thanks everyone for your comments. There is a small group of us who meets regularly to say the rosary outside of Mass. We’ve been doing it for a couple years. There are only about 4-5 of us, but we started out with 2…it’s slowly growing.

I probably will not bring this issue up with our priest because I’m certain he won’t change his mind, and well, to be honest, I’m carefully picking my discussion points (picking your battles, so to speak).

I personally like the suggestion of allowing about 15-20 minutes of silence before Mass starts for quiet prayer, and that also accommodates those don’t want to participate.
 
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Elzee:
Hi Brother Rich - can you tell me where I can find something in writing saying it’s approved for public use by the Church? I haven’t been able to find anything like this.

Thanks everyone for your comments. There is a small group of us who meets regularly to say the rosary outside of Mass. We’ve been doing it for a couple years. There are only about 4-5 of us, but we started out with 2…it’s slowly growing.

I probably will not bring this issue up with our priest because I’m certain he won’t change his mind, and well, to be honest, I’m carefully picking my discussion points (picking your battles, so to speak).

I personally like the suggestion of allowing about 15-20 minutes of silence before Mass starts for quiet prayer, and that also accommodates those don’t want to participate.
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I would sugest reading through the eighteen or nineteen papal documents on the rosary, they are not very big and you will find many references to indulgences granted when recited in public, before the Blesed Sacrament, in a Catholic Church, etc.
 
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Holly3278:
I don’t think the priest is discouraging individuals from praying the rosary but is discouraging groups from praying the rosary before mass.
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This is how it is at our Cathedral at the Noon Mass. The Deacon leads the rosary after the exposition. About 10-15 min before Mass we’re done. I make it a point to go to that certain Mass just because I love saying the Rosary with everyone. To each his own.
 
In our parish, we pray the Rosary every day AFTER daily Mass. Maybe he’d allow that. Those who don’t wish to stay can hustle out after the priest and servers leave the altar. I can understand why he doesn’t want it before- that’s when people collect their thoughts and place them on Jesus.
 
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