"The Rosary, a contemplative prayer" - St. JPII

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. John Paul II was, and is, as all saints were and are – prayerful! So he naturally speaks of the Rosary in ways that can lead us into deeper and deeper relationship with God through Mary, in his Apostolic Letter, “On the Most Holy Rosary”:

The Rosary, a contemplative prayer

1. The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary’s own experience, is an exquisitely contemplative prayer. Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning, as Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: ‘In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words’ (Mt 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed”.

It is worth pausing to consider this profound insight of Paul VI, in order to bring out certain aspects of the Rosary which show that it is really a form of Christocentric contemplation.

May the Holy Spirit bring us into all Truth (cf Jn 16:13), that in praying the Rosary with Mary, we may become more like her who learned by keeping all Jesus said and did in her heart, pondering. By grace may we remain in Jesus as Mary did, doing His Truth in Love.

 

[paperwight]

I should print this out, and give it to our parish Rosary Group to consider, to stop them shouting it out before Mass.

 

[fide]

I hope they will hear you. It is a painful experience to hear the Rosary raced through, the prayers thrown out as from a machine gun on full throttle, holy words sped through with no time to even full pronounce them let alone ponder them - offer them - lift them up to God as treasures from the heart. I cannot even speak that fast! I certainly cannot pray that fast.

Prayer deserves time. “Slow is beautiful.”

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear paperwiight,

Thanks for your reply. It is very difficult to pray the Rosary audibly with a group. But if you know the people, or at least one person who knows most of the group, you may be able to help them slow down. St. Theresa of Avila told her sisters that the two essentials for vocal prayer are attention and devotion, and she added: if attention and devotion are lacking, then they may be moving their lips but they are not praying.

As far as the volume goes, some older parishioners may be deaf and not realize they are “shouting it out” or they are faster or slower than others. If you have a pastor or deacon who may be able to help them slow down that also would be good. It really is important for all of us to pray well. May our Lord and our Blessed Mother guide you in helping this group, to pray as St. John Paul II encourages the Church in his letter:

…the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord…

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear fide,

Thanks for your reply. It is painful for me too, when the Rosary is prayed as you described. Often I can only whisper the prayers to myself when I cannot keep up with the pace. I agree with you: Prayer deserves time: “Slow is beautiful”.