Saying rosary during mass

[japhy]

What do you (whoever is reading this post) do while the priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer? Just curious.

 

[Snerticus]

What do you (whoever is reading this post) do while the priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer? Just curious.

Personally, I try to focus on him and the Lord and keep myself focused. I know I’m there to pay attention to what’s going on and respond in kind.

It can be difficult at times, admittedly. During homilies for instance, I frequently catch myself drifting away during certain times and boy do I get angry at myself for that. I try and focus only to drift off again. Man that makes me mad, but I try my hardest to keep focused. And I’m constantly apologizing to God for it. I hope he accepts my aplogies…

 

[Sarabande]

But I do have a question - how is saying the rosary at mass “focusing entirely on Christ’s saving action on the altar”?

I think that is a difference between those people who continue to do this and those of us who don’t. I actually believe many of them can focus entirely on that while saying the rosary. There is no question in my mind that my grandmother could. They were raised and taught to do that, helping them focus on the sacrifice even more, so it was and is not difficult for them. For me, however, since I never took up the practice of praying like that during mass, it probably would be difficult for me to focus like that. So, for me and you we can’t understand how it could work since we don’t think we could do it ourselves.

That said, whenever I hear a beautiful piece of sacred music or see a beautiful work of sacred art or architecture, even though I’m concentrating on the music and art, I take it all in as prayer and thus helps me focus even more on Christ and His sacrifice. I know that others cannot handle that. My aunt, for example, can’t concentrate at all with any kind of sacred beauty around her. She finds it distracting, but she also has a mind that goes a mile a minute and does not know how to settle it for prayer. So, any kind of outward stimulation gets her off track. It has to be totally bare in all senses for her to even get a minute or so of focus.

So, I look at these people who use the rosary to focus more at mass in the same way.

 

[Snerticus]

I think that is a difference between those people who continue to do this and those of us who don’t. I actually believe many of them can focus entirely on that while saying the rosary. There is no question in my mind that my grandmother could. They were raised and taught to do that, helping them focus on the sacrifice even more, so it was and is not difficult for them. For me, however, since I never took up the practice of praying like that during mass, it probably would be difficult for me to focus like that. So, for me and you we can’t understand how it could work since we don’t think we could do it ourselves.

That said, whenever I hear a beautiful piece of sacred music or see a beautiful work of sacred art or architecture, even though I’m concentrating on the music and art, I take it all in as prayer and thus helps me focus even more on Christ and His sacrifice. I know that others cannot handle that. My aunt, for example, can’t concentrate at all with any kind of sacred beauty around her. She finds it distracting, but she also has a mind that goes a mile a minute and does not know how to settle it for prayer. So, any kind of outward stimulation gets her off track. It has to be totally bare in all senses for her to even get a minute or so of focus.

So, I look at these people who use the rosary to focus more at mass in the same way.

Hey I understand, for someone who quite possible has ADD, it is very hard for me to focus and sometimes the music around communion time distracts me to the point I get angry that I can’t pray. But I think I’ve gotten used to it for the most part and sometimes if the right music is playing I can even get into it more fully. For me, if something is part of the mass like the music and the artistic glass windows, etc, I know that even if I get distracted I have to learn to accept it and I try my best. But if something is not defined as part of the mass and it’s distracting, then I have a harder time trying to deal with it. But I still try… I might not like the people saying their rosaries or chit chatting behind me or allowing their kids to play with video games during mass, but I know that if God allows it then I must too, no matter what I think. So even if I pray that someone “understands they are doing wrong” and I am wrong in doing that, I hope that God understands and applies my prayer to myself. I know I’m human, just like everyone else at mass.

Snert

 

[japhy]

Personally, I try to focus on him and the Lord and keep myself focused. I know I’m there to pay attention to what’s going on and respond in kind.

Nevermind the homilies and other times. What are you doing during the Eucharistic Prayer? What do you consider “paying attention”? What do you consider “drifting” to be?

I’ll let this go on for a bit and then I’ll give my answer.

 

[Snerticus]

Nevermind the homilies and other times. What are you doing during the Eucharistic Prayer? What do you consider “paying attention”? What do you consider “drifting” to be?

I’ll let this go on for a bit and then I’ll give my answer.

I was referring to the Eucharistic Prayer. Do you mean to ask what am I doing in a minute to minute play through the Eucharistic Prayer?

Paying attention means to keep your eyes focused and your mind focused on what’s going on and if not, your ears and mind focused on what’s going on. Ideally for me, anyway, it means both eyes and ears as well as mind are focused on what’s being presented to me. Drifting means not doing that and taking your eyes off of what’s being done, taking your mind and ears away from what’s being said, and thinking about other things. Exactly what one would expect the phrase “paying attention” and “drifting” to mean. I can’t think of any other way to describe those things. Perhaps other’s definition of “paying attention” and “drifting” are different than mine. In that case, sorry I bothered everyone.

 

[japhy]

I was referring to the Eucharistic Prayer.

You started talking about drifting during the homily, so I was refocusing on the E.P. itself.

Do you mean to ask what am I doing in a minute to minute play through the Eucharistic Prayer?

Essentially, yes. Are you reading along in a missalette with the E.P. the priest is using (or reciting it mentally from memory)? What do you do?

Exactly what one would expect the phrase “paying attention” and “drifting” to mean. I can’t think of any other way to describe those things.

I just want to make sure I know how you’re using the terms.

Paying attention means to keep your eyes focused and your mind focused on what’s going on and if not, your ears and mind focused on what’s going on. Ideally for me, anyway, it means both eyes and ears as well as mind are focused on what’s being presented to me. Drifting means not doing that and taking your eyes off of what’s being done, taking your mind and ears away from what’s being said, and thinking about other things.

I apologize if I’m getting too semantic, but let me drill further please. When your eyes are focused on what’s going on, does that mean that if the priest were on the same side as the altar as you, you would be prevented from this “visual paying attention”? And when your mind is focused on what’s going on, do you mean you’re thinking “the priest is making the sign of the cross … the priest is lifting the bread … the priest is genuflecting … the priest is reading the words of consecration” etc.?

Let me put it plainly: is your “paying attention” during the Eucharistic Prayer basically a careful “spectatorship”? In other words, are you just watching and listening?

I’m not trying to be troublesome, I’m just trying to get to the heart of the matter.

 

[Brendan]

…

The Rosary is a MARIAN DEVOTION focused upon meditation of the LIFE OF CHRIST.

However, the Mass itself is a specific devotion to Christ, present in the flesh and in the blood. I do not understand why people do not see that this is completely inappropriate.

Focus on Christ and the Mass. Leave your beads in your pocket.

Remember that the rosary is means of meditation. The prayers themselves (Our Father, Hail Marys etc…) form the undercurrent for the medidation, they are not the goal in and of themselves. They are not the focus of the Rosary.

In most cases, one meditates on the particular mysteries, but there is nothing to prevent someone from mediating on the Mass itself.

I will certainly grant you that the Rosary should not be the goal of one’s attendance at Mass, but if it aids a person on meditating on the Mass, on the Sacrifice being offered, and uniting themselves fully to that Sacrifice, I say more power to them.

It’s not for me, but I can make no claims that it is wrong for someone else.

 

[Newbie2]

I say leave the lady alone. We have no idea why she prays the Rosary during Mass and I don’t think anyone has a right to say she should or should not be praying the Rosary. If we are noticing these things then maybe we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing. I find it funny when people say, " I just say a prayer for them so that they will understand the Mass and participate more fully" when these people are probably praying fervently for you that you will focus more on the Mass and less on them.

Apology in advance for the snootiness, but I’m getting really tired of people regulating how people (who are not causing any kind of scene) at Mass should behave.

I don’t think anyone here is saying that we should regulate others during mass, myself as the OP included. Praying the rosary during mass is something that I myself could not do, i.e. multitasking.

What did she do after she was done praying the Rosary?

What leads you to believe the Rosary was distracting her from the Mass? Perhaps it was helping her focus on Christ’s sacrifice better. Perhaps it helps her ignore other distractions.

Maybe so. Personally, I would find it distracting. That’s my only measure of “distract-ablilty”.

What do you (whoever is reading this post) do while the priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer? Just curious.

Listen.

 

[japhy]

Listen.

Ok. What are you doing as you listen? Surely you don’t listen to the priest pray the Eucharistic Prayer in the same way you listen to a radio broadcast or a friend talking your ear off on the phone.

What is happening along with the listening?

 

[Snerticus]

Essentially, yes. Are you reading along in a missalette with the E.P. the priest is using (or reciting it mentally from memory)? What do you do?

The only time I read from the missalette is during the readings, when I don’t know what is going to be said. I read to help me focus on the words better and understand. I’ve tried not reading but sometimes I can’t understand what they say. So during the EP, I usually recite it mentally and try to understand what’s being said. All this of course, while I’m watching the priest.

I apologize if I’m getting too semantic, but let me drill further please.

Sure, no prob.

When your eyes are focused on what’s going on, does that mean that if the priest were on the same side as the altar as you, you would be prevented from this “visual paying attention”? And when your mind is focused on what’s going on, do you mean you’re thinking “the priest is making the sign of the cross … the priest is lifting the bread … the priest is genuflecting … the priest is reading the words of consecration” etc.?

No, that would mean I was “drifting” and not paying attention to what we are supposed to pay attention to. If I did what you describe above, it would either mean I had some sort of attention problem and could only focus on simple things or that my mind was saying “wow, the priest is making the sign of the cross and lifting the bread… etc…” and not paying attention to what the priest is actually doing - only paying attention to his gestures. If the priest was out of visual range, say a person was blocking my view in front of me, I would have a harder time focusing but I would try my best to use my ears to help me focus and get through the mass. Again, as stated previously, ideally for me is both eyes and ears to help me focus better.

Let me put it plainly: is your “paying attention” during the Eucharistic Prayer basically a careful “spectatorship”? In other words, are you just watching and listening?

No, I’m not just a spectator, I’m trying to participate in the mass the way I am supposed to. I follow in my mind what the priest is saying and try to put those words into the best possible context as to what is happening in the mass and what he is saying, not what gestures the priest is making. I try my best to participate fully by keeping my mind on what is happening during the different parts of the mass. During the LotW, I try to understand the readings and the context to which the readings are laid out. During the LotE I try to understand what is happening in the mass (ie Christ is mysteriously becoming flesh in front of our eyes as the priest recites the words of consecration, the priest is offering the EP and I try to focus on the words he’s saying and the reason he’s saying them and the honor I myself need to express during all this in order to show reverence and give praise to God). I think of mass as a Royal Celebration with a feast and picture Christ as the guest of honor. I think of myself as one of the people in the crowd giving honor to the King and how would one expect to act in front of a King. I try to put myself in that situation all while paying attention to what is going on during mass. And that is why I get so angry at myself when my mind drifts. It’s like being in a Royal Palace in front of the King and ignoring Him because I have better things to do.

That’s how I view mass and how I expect myself to participate in it. By paying attention to what is going on and behaving accordingly.

Do you want further clarification?

 

[daeve]

My grandmother always said the rosary during Mass. It wasn’t because she didn’t know Latin. She was born in Italy and still spoke mostly Italian. The Latin was almost second nature to my grandparents, my mother and her siblings. My aunt held the rosary but didn’t say it. She held that rosary about half of her life. If she was sitting alone watching TV she’d have that rosary in her hands. When she was in the hospital and later a nursing home, the rosary was in her hands. I think some women from those generations used the rosary for comfort and security even when they weren’t praying. I can remember the mother of one of my friends who always had a rosary either in her hands or in her pocket. She’d stir something at the stove, sit down and the table and take out her rosary. Most of the Catholic women I knew (which would be almost all the women I knew) felt a very close kinship with Our Lady, and that may have helped make the connection more apparent on a human level.

I’m in my late 50s – creeping up on 59 – but I’m not an old lady holding a rosary at Mass. So let’s watch that old lady stuff.

 

[japhy]

No, I’m not just a spectator, I’m trying to participate in the mass the way I am supposed to. … I try to understand what is happening in the mass (ie Christ is mysteriously becoming flesh in front of our eyes as the priest recites the words of consecration, the priest is offering the EP and I try to focus on the words he’s saying and the reason he’s saying them and the honor I myself need to express during all this in order to show reverence and give praise to God). I think of mass as a Royal Celebration with a feast and picture Christ as the guest of honor. I think of myself as one of the people in the crowd giving honor to the King and how would one expect to act in front of a King. I try to put myself in that situation all while paying attention to what is going on during mass.

Ok, this is all very good!

So would you say that while the priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer, you too are praying?

 

[Snerticus]

Ok, this is all very good!

So would you say that while the priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer, you too are praying?

That’s what I percieve myself as doing - praying along with the priest. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do at mass? Pray along with the priest, and respond vocally when asked? Am I wrong in thinking that?

 

[OhMalley]

I think the rosary is a good way to meditate on the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, so I don’t see the same problems with praying the rosary during mass that you do. I think we should all be focusing on the Sacrifice of the Mass and uniting our prayers to the Sacrifice, which really is full, active participation in my opinion.

We also do not know if this person paused to pay attention to the readings or listen to the homily, which are both good things to do as well.

I would agree with you. I also believe the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a far more powerful means, really the ultimate means or prayer of doing just that.

Even with the Mass in the vernacular, many Catholics don’t really seem to have any idea what’s going on from what I have observed.

 

[japhy]

That’s what I percieve myself as doing - praying along with the priest. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do at mass? Pray along with the priest, and respond vocally when asked? Am I wrong in thinking that?

No, not wrong at all. So then, you are praying in your own particular way during the Eucharistic Prayer as the priest is praying in the way proper to him. Your personal private prayer is based/centered on the prayer and action of the priest. That’s great.

What prevents the Rosary from being an appropriate way of praying privately during the Eucharistic Prayer, then?

 

[hosea]

I think the rosary is a good way to meditate on the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, so I don’t see the same problems with praying the rosary during mass that you do. I think we should all be focusing on the Sacrifice of the Mass and uniting our prayers to the Sacrifice, which really is full, active participation in my opinion.

We also do not know if this person paused to pay attention to the readings or listen to the homily, which are both good things to do as well.

I read somewhere that the Rosary was first used in Medival times when people were beaten for participating in public prayer. They used the Rosary beads so that they could say their prayers to themselves and not lose their place when their taskmasters were dealing with them.
Last I knew, there are no taskmasters threatening to beat parishoners from fully participating in the Mass.
But tradations do last…and last…and last.

 

[bilop]

I read somewhere that the Rosary was first used in Medival times when people were beaten for participating in public prayer. They used the Rosary beads so that they could say their prayers to themselves and not lose their place when their taskmasters were dealing with them.
Last I knew, there are no taskmasters threatening to beat parishoners from fully participating in the Mass.
But tradations do last…and last…and last.

Nonsense. The Rosary was used to count the number of prayers, originally 150 Our Fathers to match the 150 Psalms.

People were never beaten for praying. Most likely Reformation-era Protestant propaganda.

God Bless

 

[Snerticus]

No, not wrong at all. So then, you are praying in your own particular way during the Eucharistic Prayer as the priest is praying in the way proper to him. Your personal private prayer is based/centered on the prayer and action of the priest. That’s great.

What prevents the Rosary from being an appropriate way of praying privately during the Eucharistic Prayer, then?

I guess I shouldn’t answer a question with a question, but, I have to.

Is saying the rosary in the rubrics of the mass? Is saying a private prayer which is not speicifically included in the mass allowed during the EP? I mean, why say the EP to all of the congretation when it doesn’t matter if it is said or not: or heard or not? Or if it doens’t matter who’s paying attention to it? I would assume that if it’s said out loud we need to pay attention to the words being spoken. I suppose if there is nothing barring people saying and only focusing on their own prayers during the EP there there would be no problem with the rosary being said then.

But people are not just saying the rosary only during the EP. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pull out their beads during the EP and then put them away afterwards. Not to say they haven’t, but I haven’t actually seen anyone do it and I can’t imagine anyone doing that either.

If they were to pray after communion during the time before the priest’s blessing I would have no problem with that, as that is our own personal time to reflect and thank and pray in our own way, as well as numerous brief moments throughout the mass. But I can’t imagine people pulling out their beads during those brief moments either; simply because of the brevity of those moments.

But to comment on the first part of your post, I never considered it to be “my own particular way”, I always considered it to be the Church’s way. Like I said before, it’s what I thought we were supposed to do. Pray along with the priest and respond in kind. I don’t see how praying the rosary is praying along with the priest. It’s detachment from the prayer of the priest. Unless you have grown up doing it and can mulititask and therefore unite it with the mass (like the people who were mentioned earlier). I cannot. But as I mentioned earlier (I think), if you show me in some Church document that it is allowed to say the rosary during mass, I will accept it. If you can only show me some prominent theologian’s opinion on it, then my own opinion stands. Unless of course, that theologian convinces me otherwise.

Lastly, is the mass supposed to be our own personal private prayer time? You alluded to that in your post. I’m pretty sure we are supposed to be united as the body of Christ during participation of the mass. Again, unless I’m totally misunderstanding the purpose and meaning of the mass.

 

[weepixie71]

Me personally, when i have to attend a mass that doesnt quite sit with me well, saying the rosary during the mass brings me peace about being there.