The Rosary - Do I have to say it because I'm Catholic?

[rinnie]

You don’t have to pray the rosary. But when you pray the rosary it changes your life.

It makes your life have a different path you could say.

Your stress level goes down like a million percent.
You feel closer to God and his Mother. Its like being back in a loving home surrounded by family.

You become more patient and compassionate of others.
You feel like your problems are no longer just yours they become ours. You and God’s. You feel that help is given or will be.

It does not happen over night, It takes alot of time sometimes years. Oh but when it comes. You feel no fear, and there is nothing you and God can do.

But hey thats what you get when you take time with God, he takes time with you do. Ask and you will receive!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

You have received some wonderful advice here, and also some wonderful testimony on the power of the rosary.

I have been where you are, and I still do not pray the rosary with any regularity.
I will stay after Mass occaisionally and recite it with the Rosary group, and I will usually offer one when someone I know dies or for some other special occaision, but it is not part of my regular prayer life.

And it doesn’t have to be. I have a wonderful, very fulfilling devotion to Mary, that is independent of the rosary. My prayer life, at this moment is very good, and I see no reason to change anything. I am, however, willing to be open to the possiblitiy that one day I may be called to pray the rosary daily.

The best advice I ever received-

Pray as you can, not as you can’t!
What matters is that you pray!

I don’t feel comfortable saying so many Hail Marys and my mind drifts off.

 

[SteveVH]

No you don’t have to say the rosary, and you don’t have to exercise or eat your vegetables either. The rosary is good for your spiritual health. If you are just repeating Hail Marys no wonder you are falling asleep. Don’t say the rosary, pray the rosary. Try meditating on the mysteries (which is the real purpose to begin with) and I think you will find that you will be enriched greatly. If you start to drift off just ackowledge that and come back. We’re all human and its easy to get distracted but that is not a reason to stop praying the rosary. Its good for you.

 

[domandcarols]

While it is not a requirement to say the Rosary, keep the following in mind:

1. The Rosary is the prayer of the Gospel. It has only been since the late 1800’s (1890’s?) since universal literacy was of any interest to society. Most folks before that time were illiterate. Therefore, it would have been impractical for them to try to “read” the Gospel. However, the high points of the Gospel are contained in the Rosary.
2. The Rosary, like we humans, are composed of two parts: a body and a soul. The body of the Rosary is the Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s, both which come from the Bible. The soul of the Rosary is the Mysteries. The soul, remember, gives form to the body and is its animating force.
3. The Rosary is the highest indulgenced private prayer in the Church. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, requested that we pray the Rosary.
4. If we faithfully promise the Rosary, we are given the following promises:
5. To all those who shall pray my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and great graces.
6. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some special grace.
7. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel heresy.
8. The rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies. It will draw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
9. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.
10. Whoever recites my Rosary devoutly reflecting on the mysteries, shall never be overwhelmed by misfortune. He will not experience the anger of God nor will he perish by an unprovided death. The sinner will be converted; the just will persevere in grace and merit eternal life.
11. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
12. Those who are faithful to recite my Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces and will share in the merits of the blessed.
13. I will deliver promptly from purgatory souls devoted to my Rosary.
14. True children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in heaven.
15. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.
16. To those who propagate my Rosary I promise aid in all their necessities.
17. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have as their intercessors, in life and in death, the entire celestial court.
18. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
19. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

So, no, you don’t “have” to pray the Rosary. But it is the preferred “small arms” of our Lady’s army! And, if you pray it regularly, one of two things will happen. You will get deeper in your Catholic faith and begin to purify your soul. It will change you. Or, you will cease to pray the Rosary.

I agree. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

 

[april32010]

possibly try the Divine Mercy

 

[losh14]

losh, it is true one does not need to say the Rosary. However the Rosary is about the Life of Christ our Lord.

Yes, the Gospel readings are about His Life, and if we pray a decade of Jesus Prayer or Anima Christi, the Rosary remains about Him. It is not necessary to pray the Hail Mary to pray about the Lord.

It was Virgin Mary, who brought the apostle John to the cross, the only apostle who was there present at the foot of the cross,

Jn 19:25-27. We don’t know whether it was Mary who brought John (and Mary wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene) or whether they all came together, etc. It’s a pious thought but no less pious in the converse (that John escorted Mary to protect her, after seeing what they did to her Son).

Virgin Mary takes us all to Her son.

The way Jesus Came into this world to save many, was through Virgin Mary, Am I not right in saying so? This being true/fact, then there is no better road than Virgin Mary, to go to Jesus. Amen

This is a non-sequitur, and a popular one here. Jesus came through Mary biologically, as son to a mother, but we cannot do the same. Jesus came through Mary once, yet He comes to us individually and continually through the Word, through the Mass, through the Eucharist, through Confession, through Baptism, through Unction, etc. Mary is not present in Baptism nor in the Eucharist, and so the Lord comes to us on His own, without qualification or precondition, as He sees fit.

That being the True/Fact I choose the higher road to Jesus Christ, and that Beautiful Road to Jesus Christ is Virgin Mary.

Why is this a “higher” road? What is low about prayers to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? What is undesirable about prayer to the Lord without intercession of any saint?

losh, be an example, do what Jesus Christ did, He came to Virgin Mary before coming to us. So go through Virgin Mary to Jesus Christ. Amen

What Christ does is to come to each of us individually.
The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. (CCC 2560)
What is your discomfort in praying to the Lord without Mary?

Don’t try to take away people devotion to Virgin Mary, it will backfire on you, : (

Nor should you tell another that they should embrace a devotion they do not feel comfortable with. I don’t pray a Hail Mary because I cannot do it with any sincerity, whereas I pray the Anima Christi with full conviction of heart and strength of attention. Lead them to the Lord - if through Mary, fair enough, but if not then to the Lord directly.

 

[losh14]

Let me add one more thought - “How are you brought to Christ?”
If you cannot approach Christ without Mary, is that a deficiency? If your relationship to Christ depends upon your relationship to Mary, is Mary really helpful or do you trust her more than you trust Christ?

I have no qualms with Mary praying for us - she does constantly. And I thank the Lord for His mother’s prayers. But to say that we ought to go to Christ through Mary rather than to Christ through Christ is seeking off-center.

 

[april32010]

I don’t feel comfortable saying so many Hail Marys and my mind drifts off.

me too,i really don’t have a much of a, (i was going to say successful but that is not the right word, fruitful is closer) fruitful prayer life except when i am praying in front of a abortion clinic,then i can knell in prayer for the three mysteries and i can for the most part stay focused on the mystery the whole time.also in adoration. i really do not know if this helps,just my experience .also you do not have to pray in front of abortion clinics to be a Catholic either ! but it helps

 

[MJDorry]

While it is not a requirement to say the Rosary, keep the following in mind:

1. The Rosary is the prayer of the Gospel. It has only been since the late 1800’s (1890’s?) since universal literacy was of any interest to society. Most folks before that time were illiterate. Therefore, it would have been impractical for them to try to “read” the Gospel. However, the high points of the Gospel are contained in the Rosary.

Hey Scooby, I just wanted to clarify (Not to cherry pick anything you said) that although I don’t know what the lteracy rates around the world were in the 1800s, in 1776 the literacy rate for United States citizens was 95%. That’s only 4% less than now.

 

[MJDorry]

Let me add one more thought - “How are you brought to Christ?”
If you cannot approach Christ without Mary, is that a deficiency? If your relationship to Christ depends upon your relationship to Mary, is Mary really helpful or do you trust her more than you trust Christ?

I have no qualms with Mary praying for us - she does constantly. And I thank the Lord for His mother’s prayers. But to say that we ought to go to Christ through Mary rather than to Christ through Christ is seeking off-center.

I tend to think this way. I’m not dogmatically “Christ and Christ only,” but rather I’m very wary of misleading myself and losing sight of Christ in any situation. I have a dreadful fear of getting my spiritual life wrong. I know of many Catholics who have an unhealthy devotion to Mary and although many claim it actually brings them closer to Christ/God, which for some it does, some you can tell are really just focused upon Mary.

I try to maintain Mary in my Heart as friend, praying side-by-side with and showing me how to pray, but always maintain that Mary is ever a prism reflecting the light of Christ. It can be easy to say to yourself, “Why do I need help from Mary when I can just petition Christ?” I would caution those who ask themselves that question to also ask how frequently they have a question which needs to be answered by a fellow Catholic or by a member of the clergy, or even a mere philosopher. The fact of the matter is, for as many graces as are given us, Jesus isn’t leaning in our ear every moment giving audible utterances as to what we should be doing and how we should be doing it. If that was happening, that person experiencing it might very seriously consider medical attention.

 

[Miriam1947]

My parish has a Rosary every morning and I used to attend. But, over time the Rosary now takes up all the time before Mass. There is no longer any silent time for private prayer. They have added so many prayers to the Rosary that the entire time is filled.

I quit going at that time and now plug my ears so that I can pray before daily Mass.

Just like at Adoration. If you get there near to three o’clock they start praying the Divine Mercy. I had no idea.

I no longer attend at those times because for me Adoration is silent. It’s just me and Jesus.

 

[losh14]

I don’t know what the lteracy rates around the world were in the 1800s, in 1776 the literacy rate for United States citizens was 95%. That’s only 4% less than now.

Just to note (on scooby’s post as well) that literacy is low regionally in many countries, and improvements have primarily been in the cities. If Guatemala nationally has a literacy rate of 75%, locally it can drop below 1 in 2. I can understand why devotions remain an important expression of faith in such locations, and how the lack of literacy assisted their growth in times past.

me too,i really don’t have a much of a … fruitful prayer life except when i am praying in front of a abortion clinic

I think you are called to be a warrior for the faith. Do you have a prayer to arm yourself for spiritual battle?

cI tend to think this way. I’m not dogmatically “Christ and Christ only,” but rather I’m very wary of misleading myself and losing sight of Christ in any situation. I have a dreadful fear of getting my spiritual life wrong.

I appreciate your thoughts. I’m perhaps not as concerned about my spiritual life but I trust in Grace and I see what the Lord has done with me so far.

I know of many Catholics who have an unhealthy devotion to Mary and although many claim it actually brings them closer to Christ/God, which for some it does, some you can tell are really just focused upon Mary.

I do wonder about this. My present difficulties with Marian veneration came about during a talk last year by one of the local seminary’s theologians at our young adult group. He talked on prayer, handed out a sheet with a Consecration to the Holy Spirit on one side a Consecration to the Blessed Virgin on the other. He spent about 30 seconds on the Holy Spirit, said “this can really mess with your life” and then spent half an hour on Consecration to the Blessed Virgin. I was floored - why would we be more focused on Mary than on the Spirit? I see it here too - if you go to the Prayer Intentions threads, the preponderance of prayers posted are Marian. It’s really astonishing and it makes me wonder what some Catholics ask of God if they ask of so much from Mary, or if they trust in Mary to do it all and lack an active prayer life with the Lord.

[/quote]

I think I take your comment here to mean that we can seek help from our friends on earth, so why not petition prayers from our friends in Heaven. The difference of course is in the type of help - it’s easier to hold conversation with a living person.

But I don’t think that Jesus refuses to listen to us at any point so long as we approach Him with sincerity, humility and trust.
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[Contarini]

The Rosary is probably the most important expression (along with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction) of traditional Catholic “devotional” piety as opposed to “liturgical” piety. In other words, laypeople developed practices that were distinct from the official, liturgical prayer of the Church (Mass and Liturgy of the Hours). In the 20th century there was a movement to revive liturgical piety among laypeople–in other words, to foster more active participation in the liturgy. Many proponents of this liturgical piety argued that the “devotions” (Rosary, novenas, even Eucharistic Adoration) were in a sense a “substitute” for the liturgy. The liturgy was devotionally inaccessible to laypeople, so they developed devotions to compensate. In its most radical form, then, this could be understood to imply that devotions were unnecessary and would wither away when proper liturgical piety was restored.

Clearly that hasn’t happened–devotions seem to be making a comeback from what I can tell. But it seems to me, frankly, that liturgical piety never was restored to the degree that the early pioneers hoped for. Quite a few people do pray the Liturgy of the Hours, but very few Catholic parishes celebrate it publicly as many Anglican parishes do.

Obviously this isn’t an either/or–you can practice devotions and say the Liturgy of the Hours, and laypeople aren’t required to say the Liturgy of the Hours (they are encouraged to do so, but they are encouraged to pray the Rosary as well).

I myself prefer the Liturgy of the Hours to the Rosary, and given my distractibility and poor time management I have enough trouble saying Morning and Evening Prayer. But clearly the Rosary has been a great help to a lot of people, and it’s not been without value for me as well, though I don’t say it regularly (I did for a while in my 20s when first investigating Catholicism).

For the record, I have no theological problem with it whatsoever. I was just explaining/defending it to my wife’s aunt!

Edwin

 

[tomarin]

Please forgive my obtuseness but what objections could anyone possibly have to praying the rosary?

 

[Contarini]

Please forgive my obtuseness but what objections could anyone possibly have to praying the rosary?

Are you talking about Protestant objections, or are you responding to my post about liturgical vs. devotional piety?

If the latter, then some post-Vatican-II Catholics see the rosary and other devotions as rivaling more liturgical expressions of piety for the time and attention of lay Catholics.

Edwin

 

[WingsOfEagles]

Not a requirement, but I would reflect inward as to whether or not you truly have a good reason not to.

 

[Contarini]

Not a requirement, but I would reflect inward as to whether or not you truly have a good reason not to.

Suppose a devout lay Catholic who goes to daily Mass and says the Liturgy of the Hours, besides reading Scripture for half an hour daily as recommended by the Church (there’s a plenary indulgence attached to this practice, I believe which is a pretty strong recommendation) and engaging in regular examination of conscience. That’s a couple hours of prayer daily.

This hypothetical person also has a job and a family. . . .

If one engaged in all the pious practices strongly recommended by the Church, one would do nothing all day but pray. Even monks engage in study and manual labor as well. . . .

In practice, saying the Rosary will mean not doing some other excellent pious practice.

Edwin

 

[WingsOfEagles]

Suppose a devout lay Catholic who goes to daily Mass and says the Liturgy of the Hours, besides reading Scripture for half an hour daily as recommended by the Church (there’s a plenary indulgence attached to this practice, I believe which is a pretty strong recommendation) and engaging in regular examination of conscience. That’s a couple hours of prayer daily.

This hypothetical person also has a job and a family. . . .

If one engaged in all the pious practices strongly recommended by the Church, one would do nothing all day but pray. Even monks engage in study and manual labor as well. . . .

In practice, saying the Rosary will mean not doing some other excellent pious practice.

Edwin

The OP’s reasons for not saying it was she doesn’t like saying so many Hail Mary’s and her mind wanders. Those aren’t concrete reasons for not saying a rosary.

 

[Hesychios]

The OP’s reasons for not saying it was she doesn’t like saying so many Hail Mary’s and her mind wanders. Those aren’t concrete reasons for not saying a rosary.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

To me it’s the equivalent of saying “It bores me, so I don’t do it.”