The Rosary: not for EVERY Catholic?

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The_Reginator

The_Reginator

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I’ve been praying an almost daily Rosary for over two years now.
I have had some blessings as in new understandings and an occasional special prayer time.

However,
One thing I am always hoping for is the ability to listen to that “still, small voice” as I pray. I was hoping that I could learn to meditate and contemplate while repeating the Rosary.

I tend to have problems concentrating in some ways. For example, I recall that as a young man I took a short walk through a natural area in town and tried to simply commune with God as I observed His creation. All my mind would do is wonder. So the Rosary can be a challenge for me.

I’ve tried methods such as praying in English, Latin, chanting at times, and more … just to see if I could concentrate better.

But trying to really communicate with our God while praying the Rosary almost seems like “cheating” at times – I’ve filled my formal prayer time with prayer, but have I prayed? Have I tried my best to commune with God?

I do take some comfort in this: If nothing else I am persistent.

I sometimes wonder if I should drop the Rosary and begin to practice lectio divina instead.

I’d appreciate any thoughts on the matter of prayer here.

Thanks, Reg.
 
It is difficult to hear God when you are speaking. While I have had things come to me during the rosary, it is unusual. I find it is better to read scripture or other spiritual writings and then sit quietly to see what inspirations come. Lectio Divina would be a good thing for you to try. St Teresa of Avila says vocal prayer distracts from more intimate communion with God. Everyone’s mind wanders, so don’t worry. Turn you attention back to Jesus when that happens.
 
This quote from St Catherine Laboure isn’t about the Rosary, but I think it may help you. It certainly has helped me:

Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, Lord I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do. If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him. If he gives me nothing, I still thank him since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that. And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply. "-St Catherine
 
Meditate and contemplate are two different things. The forms of prayer you’ve mentioned are all prayers where your mind and even speech processing center are active. Therefore they can drown out the “still small voice.”

God’s native language is silence. Consider trying contemplative prayer.

See “Expressions of Prayer,” for more information about vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer. CCC 2700-2724

Sample: CCC 2709
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” Contemplative prayer seeks him “whom my soul loves.” It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

CCC 2717
Contemplative prayer is silence, the “symbol of the world to come” or “silent love.” Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the “outer” man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.

Alan
 
Hi, Reginator. The Little Flower had difficulty with the Rosary, also. From Story of a Soul:

"I force myself in vain to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary; I don’t succeed in fixing my mind on them. For a long time I was desolate about this lack of devotion which astonished me, for I love the Blessed Virgin so much that it should be easy for me to recite in her honor prayers which are so pleasing to her. Now I am less desolate; I think that the Queen of heaven, since she is my MOTHER, must see my good will and she is satisfied with it. Sometimes when my mind is in such aridity that it is impossible to draw forth one single thought to unite me with God, I very slowly recite an “Our Father” and then the angelic salutation "Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.]; then these prayers give me great delight; they nourish my soul much more than if I had recited them precipitately a hundred times.

“The Blessed Virgin shows me she is not displeased with me, for she never fails to protect me as soon as I invoke her. If some disturbance overtakes me, some embarrassment, I turn very quickly to her and as the most tender of Mothers she always takes care of my interests. How many times, when speaking to the novices, has it happened that I invoked her and felt the benefits of her motherly protection!”

Perhaps her solution might help you, too. 🙂
 
When I was a Catholic, I had difficulty with the rosary too. I didn’t help that the priest gave me a decade to say as a penance every time I went to confession; then I equated the rosary with punishment.

I found that praying the Liturgy of the Hours worked better for me.

There are so many different kinds of prayer and not one is the “right” one for everyone.
 
not instead, but ALSO! do both. Lectio Divina is amazing, especially if you have the chance to make a holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament!
 
I once heard words of comfort on this topic. God sees our sincere efforts as does the proud mother putting her child’s drawings up on her fridge. She knows her child has worked hard on a drawing and so much wants his mom to like it. True, many could say the drawing is technically all wrong. But not the parent - she sees much more than just the drawing.

We are praying to a father who loves us even in our insufficiency. Keep seeking, but don’t let it get you down.
 
I find that I need at LEAST an hour before the Blessed Sacrament before I can ‘hear’…I spend the first 15-20 minutes pouring my heart out, and then the next 20 minutes trying to make sure my kids are quiet etc., and THEN after about 10-15 minutes, I FINALLY feel peace and can hear God with my heart.
Praying the Rosary didn’t ‘do it’ for me…
 
Having lived most of my life as a Protestant before my total conversion on Easter, 2007, I have great difficulty with the Rosary. I’ve never really mastered it, so I find that I spend so much time worrying about knowing what to do and when to do it and which bead I’m on, that I don’t really feel “prayerful.” For me, just spending time alone with God in my thoughts is much more comforting and spiritual.
 
I never really was attracted to the Rosary. To me, if I say a Rosary with others, I’m mainly waiting for it to be over. I asked my old pastor about it since it seems like Catholics are of the opinion I have to be doing the Rosary all the time. He said, “no, the Church has many devotions, and not everybody is attracted to the Rosary. There is nothing that says you have to do it.”

Alan
 
Remember that the rosary is a devotion, not an obligation. Therefore, there is no reason to be guilty, if you can’t pray the rosary.

However, I would still encourage everyone who can pray the rosary, to continue the practice. I would encourage even those who are having difficulty praying it, to try it occasionally (if not everyday). The reason is because the rosary is also a contemplation on the life of Christ. One prays the rosary, not to tell God the needs of the hour, or merely to make a heart-to-heart talk with God, as you would do in a regular prayer. One prays the rosary to appreciate Christ’s life, His passion, and what He Had done for us. It is as if one forgets the rest of the world, just to reminisce the life of a loved one, or one you miss above all. Praying the rosary is, therefore, not the same kind of ordinary prayer where you tell God your joys, your sufferings, your frustrations, or whatever it is that you care for at the present moment. It is actually forgetting all your cares, to focus on thinking only of Him in a loving recollection of His entire life. Surprisingly, even if you did not pray for your needs, God seems to take care of them anyway, as you have confidently entrusted everything to Him.

Just my thoughts.
 
I can understand if someone has a difficulty with praying the rosary or in understanding how to pray the rosary. If it is prayed properly, it is difficult, well, at least I can say it is difficult for me almost always to pray the rosary.

If it is prayed well it takes a good deal of concentration, and I must admit I am lazy when it comes to that. And then there is always something else waiting for me to do so there is the temptation to hurry it up so I can do more important or pressing things (so I think).

The distractions are innumerable, no more than I get over one distraction then another takes my mind away again, and again, and …

The mysteries, being repeated every day, day after day, tend to get a bit monotonous and dry, and it takes effort to refresh and keep my thoughts alive with thoughts of faith, hope, and love. This is a big struggle.

Shall I go on? Or should I sum it up and just say its’ a tough prayer to do daily.

Then why don’t I just switch and do something else? Good question. Why don’t I switch?

Because Mary is the mother of Jesus and she of all people would know what pleases her son and what is good for us to do. I couldn’t ask for a better spiritual director if I seached a thousand years. She would only be telling me to do what is good, and helpful, and the best.
If she says to pray the rosary, and she has, then I’m going to do it. And if my time was wasted doing it, then she can answer to her Son. But I’m not worried about that.

So I will say the rosary daily and ask her intercession, and do what she asked, and if it is difficult, then I can offer that up for other’s salvation as well.

By the way, the rosary isn’t the only prayer we should be saying each day. It is just one.

Just some goobly glot.​

“Give me ears to listen. Give me eyes to see. Give me words to speak and show your face to me.” (hymn)
 
+JMJ+

It may shock some here, but even St. Louis Marie de Montfort does not require all Catholics to pray the Rosary.

I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God than by finding out if he loves the Hail Mary and the Rosary.* I say, “if he loves”, for it can happen that a person for some reason may be unable to say the Rosary, but this does not prevent him from loving it and inspiring others to say it.*

Treatise on True Devotion

Try Lectio Divina if you like. Just do what gives you the most peace.
 
nuntym said:
+JMJ+

It may shock some here, but even St. Louis Marie de Montfort does not require all Catholics to pray the Rosary.

I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God than by finding out if he loves the Hail Mary and the Rosary.* I say, “if he loves”, for it can happen that a person for some reason may be unable to say the Rosary, but this does not prevent him from loving it and inspiring others to say it.*

Treatise on True Devotion

Try Lectio Divina if you like. Just do what gives you the most peace.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Have you tried the Divine Mercy Chaplet? You still are using the rosary, but it definitely doesn’t take as long as reciting the mysteries. It is a wonderful prayer, praying for God’s Mercy for all of us. I wonder how many people will be offered graces due to it’s reciting. So if you don’t want to pray the Rosary for yourself, think of it moving someone along in purgatory who might have no one to pray for them!

catholicity.com/prayer/divinemercy.html

Hope you check it out. I absolutely was drawn to this chaplet and I feel like it’s the perfect time to be praying it. In the time of His great mercy:thumbsup:
 
There are books that explain every line/word of prayers. If you look up these informative meanings of the Our Father, Hail Mary and other prayers it will give you a greater understanding of these most repetitive prayers. You will more deeply love and enjoy these prayers over and over. I also suggest you try to stop thinking so much, relax, forget about time and place and let your mind free itself of all worldly people, places, and things. The more you learn about your faith the more you will understand the values and comfort that prayer brings. The Holy Spirit dwells among US, this includes YOU, so let this joy of receiving it happen. Peace to you…
 
+JMJ+
suzyq_psu said:
Have you tried the Divine Mercy Chaplet? You still are using the rosary, but it definitely doesn’t take as long as reciting the mysteries. It is a wonderful prayer, praying for God’s Mercy for all of us. I wonder how many people will be offered graces due to it’s reciting. So if you don’t want to pray the Rosary for yourself, think of it moving someone along in purgatory who might have no one to pray for them!

catholicity.com/prayer/divinemercy.html

Hope you check it out. I absolutely was drawn to this chaplet and I feel like it’s the perfect time to be praying it. In the time of His great mercy:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Yes, the Divine Mercy chaplet is very good too.

If you want an easy Marian devotion, the practice of Three Hail Mary’s a day has been recommended by saints for centuries. Also, for us Consecrated to Jesus Christ through Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort’s teachings, the minimum daily prayers are the Magnificat and the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 
nuntym said:
+JMJ+

It may shock some here, but even St. Louis Marie de Montfort does not require all Catholics to pray the Rosary.

I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God than by finding out if he loves the Hail Mary and the Rosary.* I say, “if he loves”, for it can happen that a person for some reason may be unable to say the Rosary, but this does not prevent him from loving it and inspiring others to say it.*

Treatise on True Devotion

Try Lectio Divina if you like. Just do what gives you the most peace.
Click to expand...
Ah, but look more closely at what he says !

“I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God than by finding out if he loves the Hail Mary and the Rosary. I say, “if he loves”, for it can happen that a person for some reason may be unable to say the Rosary, but this does not prevent him from loving it and inspiring others to say it.”

The underlined part is very important and is why I wince when I see threads like this. None of us should ever discourage the Rosary in any way. It’s ok to tell someone that the rosary may not be for everyone, but we should let them figure that out for themselves. We should never encourage one to stop praying the Rosary no matter what. Again, look at what St Louis actually said.

As far as meditating on the Mysteries, one just has to find what works for him/her. If I catch myself letting my thoughts drift away from the Mystery I’m on, I stop and re-focus. However long it takes. Usually not long at all. For example if I’m on the 4th Mystery of the Sorrowful Mysteries, I may stop and ask God to never let me forget the Carrying of the Cross when I catch myself feeling sorry for myself or feeling burdened for whatever reason. Perhaps an elderly family member has asked me to do them a favor that would cause an inconvenience for me. The power of the Rosary allows me to see that favor as a Cross to bear that will certainly seem weightless compared to the cross Christ had to bear for us.

Reg, you wrote “I have had some blessings as in new understandings and an occasional special prayer time.”

Don’t give that up 😉 Try Lectio Divina in addition to the Rosary.
 
+JMJ+
Saints_Alive said:
Ah, but look more closely at what he says !

“I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God than by finding out if he loves the Hail Mary and the Rosary. I say, “if he loves”, for it can happen that a person for some reason may be unable to say the Rosary, but this does not prevent him from loving it and inspiring others to say it.”

The underlined part is very important and is why I wince when I see threads like this. None of us should ever discourage the Rosary in any way. It’s ok to tell someone that the rosary may not be for everyone, but we should let them figure that out for themselves. We should never encourage one to stop praying the Rosary no matter what. Again, look at what St Louis actually said.

As far as meditating on the Mysteries, one just has to find what works for him/her. If I catch myself letting my thoughts drift away from the Mystery I’m on, I stop and re-focus. However long it takes. Usually not long at all. For example if I’m on the 4th Mystery of the Sorrowful Mysteries, I may stop and ask God to never let me forget the Carrying of the Cross when I catch myself feeling sorry for myself or feeling burdened for whatever reason. Perhaps an elderly family member has asked me to do them a favor that would cause an inconvenience for me. The power of the Rosary allows me to see that favor as a Cross to bear that will certainly seem weightless compared to the cross Christ had to bear for us.

Reg, you wrote “I have had some blessings as in new understandings and an occasional special prayer time.”

Don’t give that up 😉 Try Lectio Divina in addition to the Rosary.
Click to expand...
Which is why I was typing the following for the OP before you answered:

However, please note that having difficulty praying the Rosary is different from not having peace praying the Rosary. I too am still struggling to pray it, but every time I pray it I am always filled with peace; that is why I know I must continue praying the Rosary, and find ways to do that in spite of my busy schedule and over all laziness. If that is your experience then do not stop praying it.

And about listening to the Lord during praying the Rosary: I have always no doubt that I listen to the Lord whenever I pray it. You see, when I pray the Rosary, I meditate on the mysteries and let the words go to the background and use them as “time keepers” on how long to meditate. And usually I find new insights on some problems that I am having or some events that has happened based on the truths I glean from meditating the mysteries. That, along with the peace I have when praying it, gives me confidence that the Rosary is in fact a true conversation between me and the Lord.

However, the main thing is to obey God and, through that, to have peace. I know you love the Rosary because of how long you have struggled to prayed it. But if there is no peace in praying it, then cut back, and even go to another devotion.
 
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