The Rosary - What is Not Understood?

[GaryTaylor]

It still seems as though there is a lack of understanding what terms mean, and how to apply them. We can take the 5 sola’s for example; they most certainly do not mean “anything goes.” You do understand that, yes? In fact, those 5 sola’s were discussed so much because of the unscriptural practices at the time of the reformation.

If someone approaches me with a false teaching, such as the idea the we MUST handle snakes, it is QED to show from scripture that it is a false interpretation. It’s up to the person (hopefully with the help of the Spirit) to correct their practice to be inline with what God teaches in His word. I trust that will happen, not by my power or someone forcing them to change or even commanding them to change, but by God IF the person is willing. If they want to keep handling snakes, bully for them, that doesn’t make me any less wrong, or them any more right.

Who gets to set that and decide that? you ask; God. How are we to know if what someone tells us is true? Search scripture, study, pray, and rely on the Spirit. If you need help go to those that you feel are lead. That’s what you have done in the RCC, you follow what someone else says, because you feel that person or group is lead by God. Same thing.

So anyone can do what they please and its up to them to correct their practice through the same HS and scripture which first placed them in the situation they are in. That’s how we arrived where we are today. And that’s how “they” snake handlers and so forth arrived at were they are.

Namely in kicking tradition, the Saints and Communion of Saints to the curb which of course follows with Gods elect on earth. Not only is tradition circumvented, but yours continues to evolve into what it never was even after all this.

 

[Bayou_Catholic]

If someone approaches me with a false teaching, such as the idea the we MUST handle snakes, it is QED to show from scripture that it is a false interpretation. It’s up to the person (hopefully with the help of the Spirit) to correct their practice to be inline with what God teaches in His word. I trust that will happen, not by my power or someone forcing them to change or even commanding them to change, but by God IF the person is willing. If they want to keep handling snakes, bully for them, that doesn’t make me any less wrong, or them any more right.

I’d rather keep to the rosary example rather than snake handling. Maybe we can agree on this… The rosary prayer is neither necessary for salvation, nor does it hinder the salvation journey.

Who gets to set that and decide that? you ask; God. How are we to know if what someone tells us is true? Search scripture, study, pray, and rely on the Spirit. If you need help go to those that you feel are lead. That’s what you have done in the RCC, you follow what someone else says, because you feel that person or group is lead by God. Same thing.

It seems as if you appeal to relativism… “you have your truth and I have mine”. Or, “God lead you to the CC with its truth, but God has lead me to this particular church with its truth. But both are ok, because there is some truth in either”. Perhaps I am off on my assessment.

Also, if two parties claim they are led by the Holy Spirit & have scriptural support for their “truth”, but both parties differ significantly in position… how do we know which truth is of God’s revelation?

Please expound a little further that I may better understand your perspective. Thanks!!

 

[Kliska]

So anyone can do what they please and its up to them to correct their practice through the same HS and scripture which first placed them in the situation they are in.

Wow. Take a moment to reread what you wrote, I don’t that is what you really mean.

That’s how we arrived where we are today. And that’s how “they” snake handlers and so forth arrived at were they are.

There’s no compulsion in religion. Where you have freedom of religion you are going to have splits, when our governments cease dictating who can believe what, this is what you have. You think it is a bad thing. I don’t. What I believe is that it frees up man to make a study and an an attempt to come to truth without any type of physical threat looming over them. I trust that whoever truly seeks God will find Him because that’s what He tells me, I’m not as concerned about the splits in Christendom in the same way you are but it grieves me just as deeply because I do think Jesus wants unity. What type and what form that would come in is where we differ.

Namely in kicking tradition, the Saints and Communion of Saints to the curb which of course follows with Gods elect on earth. Not only is tradition circumvented, but yours continues to evolve into what it never was even after all this.

Again, sola scriptura does not kick all tradition to the curb.

I’d rather keep to the rosary example rather than snake handling. Maybe we can agree on this… The rosary prayer is neither necessary for salvation, nor does it hinder the salvation journey.

I would say that it could hinder the salvation journey if misused, misunderstood, etc… that’s why you’ll hear many protestants teaching a “better safe than sorry” approach. But, it would also depend upon which prayers are said and to whom they are directed. So, for simplicity, lets use the Our Father; as long as it didn’t amount to vain repetition for someone, then it would not hinder the salvation journey and could even help it.

It seems as if you appeal to relativism… “you have your truth and I have mine”. Or, “God lead you to the CC with its truth, but God has lead me to this particular church with its truth. But both are ok, because there is some truth in either”. Perhaps I am off on my assessment.

There is only One Truth and it is a Person; Jesus Christ. I believe, for example, (Some) Baptists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Methodists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Roman Catholics, Orthodox, etc… God uses whatever comes into a persons life for that person’s good, if they love Him. He will guide them into wherever He sees fit for His purpose. Once I tell Him I’m His and that He can send me and I’ll go, can any of us know where we’ll end up? Labels don’t determine salvation.

What I say is just for clarification; would I think it better if an RC saw the gospel in the same manner as me? Absolutely. But my job isn’t to try to sway anyone, my job is to share the teachings that are true. I understand not everyone is going to agree with that, of course they aren’t. I’m a fan of absolute truth, but we have to remember in Christianity, absolute truth is seen as an actual Person. The way is narrow and few there be that find it, but that doesn’t give me the right to be uncharitable to people, but when I speak I’m going to speak truth, and if people disagree that is their right.

If I don’t know the answer to something I admit it; it’s like the apostasy debate on another thread. Can apostasy void salvation; I dunno yet, I see both sides (OSAS) and the predominant view of the RCC. Still working on that one. lol

Also, if two parties claim they are led by the Holy Spirit & have scriptural support for their “truth”, but both parties differ significantly in position… how do we know which truth is of God’s revelation?

This is where working out our own salvation with fear and trembling comes in. Prayer, study, scripture and the Holy Spirit is my only answer to you. I can give an example if you like; The Trinity. It is perhaps one of the hardest concepts to really grasp and understand. How do we know if the teaching that God is Triune is true and what does it mean and how can it be? I studied and read and prayed and read and studied and prayed and agonized and read an studied and meditated. Always asking God to help guide me. One day it just cleared for me after praying and thinking, and it all made sense it all fit with the pictures in scripture, it all fit with how the world works, and the descriptions of God, etc… I know it because I know it and something on that level can only be truly owned and grasped if we come to that truth by His help.

For some if a certain church or person says it, that’s good enough for them. I can’t say that’s true for me, I have to do as I preach and search scripture, study, pray, and ask God to help me understand it.

Look at Peter Flesh and blood didn’t reveal it, but the Father in Heaven did.

Please expound a little further that I may better understand your perspective. Thanks!!

Thank you for your kindness and questions!

 

[stewstew03]

Wow. Take a moment to reread what you wrote, I don’t that is what you really mean.

There’s no compulsion in religion. Where you have freedom of religion you are going to have splits, when our governments cease dictating who can believe what, this is what you have. You think it is a bad thing. I don’t. What I believe is that it frees up man to make a study and an an attempt to come to truth without any type of physical threat looming over them. I trust that whoever truly seeks God will find Him because that’s what He tells me, I’m not as concerned about the splits in Christendom in the same way you are but it grieves me just as deeply because I do think Jesus wants unity. What type and what form that would come in is where we differ.

Again, sola scriptura does not kick all tradition to the curb.

I would say that it could hinder the salvation journey if misused, misunderstood, etc… that’s why you’ll hear many protestants teaching a “better safe than sorry” approach. But, it would also depend upon which prayers are said and to whom they are directed. So, for simplicity, lets use the Our Father; as long as it didn’t amount to vain repetition for someone, then it would not hinder the salvation journey and could even help it.

There is only One Truth and it is a Person; Jesus Christ. I believe, for example, (Some) Baptists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Methodists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Roman Catholics, Orthodox, etc… God uses whatever comes into a persons life for that person’s good, if they love Him. He will guide them into wherever He sees fit for His purpose. Once I tell Him I’m His and that He can send me and I’ll go, can any of us know where we’ll end up? Labels don’t determine salvation.

What I say is just for clarification; would I think it better if an RC saw the gospel in the same manner as me? Absolutely. But my job isn’t to try to sway anyone, my job is to share the teachings that are true. I understand not everyone is going to agree with that, of course they aren’t. I’m a fan of absolute truth, but we have to remember in Christianity, absolute truth is seen as an actual Person. The way is narrow and few there be that find it, but that doesn’t give me the right to be uncharitable to people, but when I speak I’m going to speak truth, and if people disagree that is their right.

If I don’t know the answer to something I admit it; it’s like the apostasy debate on another thread. Can apostasy void salvation; I dunno yet, I see both sides (OSAS) and the predominant view of the RCC. Still working on that one. lol

This is where working out our own salvation with fear and trembling comes in. Prayer, study, scripture and the Holy Spirit is my only answer to you. I can give an example if you like; The Trinity. It is perhaps one of the hardest concepts to really grasp and understand. How do we know if the teaching that God is Triune is true and what does it mean and how can it be? I studied and read and prayed and read and studied and prayed and agonized and read an studied and meditated. Always asking God to help guide me. One day it just cleared for me after praying and thinking, and it all made sense it all fit with the pictures in scripture, it all fit with how the world works, and the descriptions of God, etc… I know it because I know it and something on that level can only be truly owned and grasped if we come to that truth by His help.

For some if a certain church or person says it, that’s good enough for them. I can’t say that’s true for me, I have to do as I preach and search scripture, study, pray, and ask God to help me understand it.

Look at Peter Flesh and blood didn’t reveal it, but the Father in Heaven did.

Thank you for your kindness and questions!

The problem is that your paradigm is utterly useless when confronted with heresies. Thank God for the Church.

 

[pocohombre]

That is beside the point, poco. We’re working within your sola scriptura paradigm. You said the recitation of the Rosary did not resemble anything in the bible. To be consistent you should be prepared to defend the idea that the SBC does not resemble anything in the bible.

First I must say it goes beyond SS, beyond OT or NT sacred scripture. I may also have posted that it is not found in tradition either, the Talmud or the early church father writings. So there is not “conferencing” in scripture or tradition, or do you mean no “baptist” conferencing ?

 

[Kliska]

The problem is that your paradigm is utterly useless when confronted with heresies. Thank God for the Church.

Are you supposing that the church always handled the people they labeled heretics in the proper way? Or, again, are we not to ever look at actions to show the heart and teachings of someone?

It’s only utterly useless if you feel the Holy Spirit is incompetent. I know men are incompetent, but never Him. Yes, thank God for the church. Truly.

 

[pocohombre]

I am curious to understand how you would address the follow scripture in terms of repetitiveness. Are God’s angels praying incorrectly? Aren’t these angels being too repetitive?

Rev 4:8 - “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” KJV

Is 6:2-3 - “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” KJV

Welcome BC. Good point. I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. That is definitely repetitive (Rev 4, not Is). My first thought is that Jesus was talking about us humans and how to pray. I suppose there is a time and place for everything. There will be a time when all creation will praise him, but the rocks did not do so when Jesus came riding on a donkey. The time was not right. The Revelation scene is one of the future. Secondly, Rev 4:6 is a proclamation, not *supplication,*for the race is finished. While the Rosary has some proclamation, it’s thrust is intercession, supplication, the kind Jesus taught how to do properly. Thirdly, the four beasts represent nature (man being part of that), and by themselves they do declare the Lord’s brilliance in creation unceasingly, just by “being”, especially in a state of salvation. Thank you for bringing it up.

 

[dronald]

Welcome BC. Good point. I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. That is definitely repetitive (Rev 4, not Is). My first thought is that Jesus was talking about us humans and how to pray. I suppose there is a time and place for everything. There will be a time when all creation will praise him, but the rocks did not do so when Jesus came riding on a donkey. The time was not right. The Revelation scene is one of the future. Secondly, it is proclamation, not supplication,for the race is finished. While the Rosary has some proclamation, it’s thrust is intercession, supplication, the kind Jesus taught how to do properly. Thirdly, the four beasts represent nature (man being part of that), and by themselves they do declare the Lord’s brilliance in creation unceasingly, just by “being”, especially in a state of salvation. Thank you for bringing it up.

I would simply say that worship and praise are separated from prayer and petition. Jesus’s point is that we are not to repeat over and over our petition as if it increases the likelihood of being answered. God knows our needs and tells us how to pray.

However, singing lyrics to a song of worship can be done from your mothers womb to death. Context.

 

[Kliska]

Welcome BC. Good point. I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. That is definitely repetitive (Rev 4, not Is). My first thought is that Jesus was talking about us humans and how to pray. I suppose there is a time and place for everything. There will be a time when all creation will praise him, but the rocks did not do so when Jesus came riding on a donkey. The time was not right. The Revelation scene is one of the future. Secondly, Rev 4:6 is a proclamation, not *supplication,*for the race is finished. While the Rosary has some proclamation, it’s thrust is intercession, supplication, the kind Jesus taught how to do properly. Thirdly, the four beasts represent nature (man being part of that), and by themselves they do declare the Lord’s brilliance in creation unceasingly, just by “being”, especially in a state of salvation. Thank you for bringing it up.

well put

 

[dronald]

Are you supposing that the church always handled the people they labeled heretics in the proper way? Or, again, are we not to ever look at actions to show the heart and teachings of someone?

It’s only utterly useless if you feel the Holy Spirit is incompetent. I know men are incompetent, but never Him. Yes, thank God for the church. Truly.

Also, look at how peaceful Christians are now. Not having one authority demanding the death of heretics has molded Christianity into a great supporter of peace under all circumstances.

I really like this Pope Francis, but Leo X probably wouldn’t last in this day an age. Now Popes have to start acting Christ like or they can be prepared for scrutiny by other Church’s.

 

[pocohombre]

I would simply say that worship and praise are separated from prayer and petition. Jesus’s point is that we are not to repeat over and over our petition as if it increases the likelihood of being answered. God knows our needs and tells us how to pray.

However, singing lyrics to a song of worship can be done from your mothers womb to death. Context.

Yes, thanks. He inhabits the praises (not supplications) of His people, so the more “talking” of this the better.

 

[pocohombre]

well put

Thanks.Blessings, carry on, I am encouraged by you and all here.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Also, look at how peaceful Christians are now. Not having one authority demanding the death of heretics has molded Christianity into a great supporter of peace under all circumstances.

I really like this Pope Francis,** but Leo X probably wouldn’t last in this day an age**. Now Popes have to start acting Christ like or they can be prepared for scrutiny by other Church’s.

Pope Leo X comment got the attention of this Lutheran. The Church is led by human beings who strive to discern the Faith. The Church evolves otherwise it is deaf to what God is saying. Hope GKC doesn’t mind for me to post his response on another thread

" . . . Henry [King Henry viii] was the perfect storm to cause the split, but even if he had sired a rugby team of healthy male heirs, in time, such a division would still likely have occurred, at some point. History suggests that . . ."

The point is that we recognize that the Gospel is fluid and speaks to each generation.

 

[Bayou_Catholic]

I would say that it could hinder the salvation journey if misused, misunderstood, etc… that’s why you’ll hear many protestants teaching a “better safe than sorry” approach. But, it would also depend upon which prayers are said and to whom they are directed. So, for simplicity, lets use the Our Father; as long as it didn’t amount to vain repetition for someone, then it would not hinder the salvation journey and could even help it.

I see. So, I guess we do not completely agree, but we do at least agree on some things. Anything can hinder the salvation journey if misused or misunderstood. And, this can be true for the rosary. It can be true for scripture as well. St. Peter warns that some will twist scripture to their own destruction when referring to the letters of St. Paul in 2 Pt 3:16. As for the Our Father example, I appreciate your position on this. Vain repetition of any prayer or action is a hindrance. Indeed, it is one’s intent of the heart that determines its usefulness on the salvation journey.

There is only One Truth and it is a Person; Jesus Christ. I believe, for example, (Some) Baptists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Methodists know Jesus and preach Him, (Some) Roman Catholics, Orthodox, etc… God uses whatever comes into a persons life for that person’s good, if they love Him. He will guide them into wherever He sees fit for His purpose. Once I tell Him I’m His and that He can send me and I’ll go, can any of us know where we’ll end up? Labels don’t determine salvation.

Jesus is surely The Way, The Truth, and The Light. Christ is Truth, He has revealed Truth to us via oral and written traditions, and He has revealed Truth thru His mystical body (aka the Church). I concur that God moves us as He sees fit. For instance, here we are discussing Christian Truth on the Catholic Answers Forum. Labels do not determine salvation… but, they do help us to understand a person’s position on truth.

What I say is just for clarification; would I think it better if an RC saw the gospel in the same manner as me? Absolutely. But my job isn’t to try to sway anyone, my job is to share the teachings that are true. I understand not everyone is going to agree with that, of course they aren’t. I’m a fan of absolute truth, but we have to remember in Christianity, absolute truth is seen as an actual Person. The way is narrow and few there be that find it, but that doesn’t give me the right to be uncharitable to people, but when I speak I’m going to speak truth, and if people disagree that is their right.

How do you know which teachings are true, if others using the same criteria disagree? I do agree that absolute truth is a person, Christ. However, it is not either/or, but both/and. Truth is both the Word made flesh, and what He has revealed to us thru the various modes of transmission - Tradition, Scripture, & Church. I should also say that the Church is both an organizational structure and the collection of Christians.

1Pt 3:15 speaks to what you are saying about dialogue with those of differing faith opinions. My aim here is to gain a better understanding of others faith perspectives and well as my own. It is the Holy Spirit that will convert hearts… I think many people forget this when evangelizing or even defending their faith.

For some if a certain church or person says it, that’s good enough for them. I can’t say that’s true for me, I have to do as I preach and search scripture, study, pray, and ask God to help me understand it.

This does help me better understand your position. For myself, I am not one to take matters of eternity lightly either. If I were to encounter a dogma or doctrine of the CC that I did not understand, I would too seek, read, pray, and have faith that the Lord will guide me. I do find it very comforting that Christ left us resources, such as I have noted in this post.

Thank you for your kindness and questions!

You are welcome. Thank you for your charity and honest answers.

 

[wmscott]

We are all supposed to discern, aided by the Spirit. This means that Christians, who have been indwelt, are better discerners than unbelievers, for they are still “natural men” as Paul would say.

My question still stands, what happens when two “Christians” read the same scripture and come to two totally different interpretations? We already agree that there is but one truth and that the Holy Spirit would never lie to us. So who is right and who is wrong? who was the Holy Spirit with and who was without? who do the two turn to for the “Authoritative” interpretation?

 

[pocohombre]

My question still stands, what happens when two “Christians” read the same scripture and come to two totally different interpretations? We already agree that there is but one truth and that the Holy Spirit would never lie to us. So who is right and who is wrong? who was the Holy Spirit with and who was without? who do the two turn to for the “Authoritative” interpretation?

The one that got it right by the Holy Spirit, why would he need another authority to turn to, and would it not offend the Holy Spirit that he had to turn to someone else? The one who got it wrong, how would he know how to decide between the three churches, all claiming to have it right ? If the Holy Spirit’s help was not received in the first place, why would he receive help in finding right church ? Do you abandon that which does work for so many (getting the same personal divine revelation on a matter), in your search for utopia, trying to perfect/ override that which can not be, doing away with personal conviction ?

 

[andrewstx]

Of course you would say that, your perspective will allow no other way of looking at it,and I fully understand that.

What makes me believe? Studying the whole context, and taking him at his word that he is teaching a correspondence. It isn’t that hard to see. Obviously it does me no good to speak of the Spirit guiding me into seeing this truth, as it is just as easily rejected as I reject your stance.

Quite the contrary the important question was how and why Noah was spared. I want to know what the ark is, and how to get on it. (That would be Jesus, and by grace through faith) Then comes the water.

Of course you’d say that.

I’m a sister in Christ, to be clear on my gender. You rely on interpretations that others hand you, instead of searching scripture with prayer and diligence to see if what others have told you are true; again, you start with the assumption that what someone else (the mageisterium) has told you is true and go from there. If you have searched scriptures then you personally have agreed to their interpretation, or else you wouldn’t belong to the RCC. You are in the same situation as I, it is just one removed, with your belief that only certain special people can be lead to truth instead of you being able to find it on you own with the help of the Spirit.

I covet every prayer I can get, however, I already have the fullness of truth. The fullness of Truth is a Person, and His name is Jesus. Christ and Him crucified is the truth of the faith that we share and the foundation that never changes. There was protest long before 500 years ago and can be seen in the protestations of Paul not to change the gospel, to fight against misrepresenting it in action, and to not return to the old way of doing things.

Again, you are Roman Catholic for a reason, I’m a protestant for a reason, we obviously are not going to agree on everything.

Is it true that you reject Baptism as sacrament that saves because it disagrees with the Protestant principle of sola fide?

But even the author of sola fide, Martin Luther held that baptism forgives sin. To this day Lutherans baptize children for forgiveness of sin.

Acts 2:38 also says that baptism forgives. As does the verse in which Paul is told what are you waiting for, get up. be baptized washing away your sins.

In denying the efficacy of baptism you are not only going against Catholicism you are disagreeing with the New Testament but also a large number of your fellow Protestants.

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

Return to the topic please

 

[stewstew03]

Are you supposing that the church always handled the people they labeled heretics in the proper way? Or, again, are we not to ever look at actions to show the heart and teachings of someone?

It’s only utterly useless if you feel the Holy Spirit is incompetent. I know men are incompetent, but never Him. Yes, thank God for the church. Truly.

I’m sure there’s a point in here, somewhere in your post, that is relevant, but it mostly smells like a red herring. If you want to start a thread on the Church and its dealings with heretics, let me know and I will participate.

 

[Bayou_Catholic]

Thank you both for your responses.

Welcome BC. Good point. I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. That is definitely repetitive (Rev 4, not Is). My first thought is that Jesus was talking about us humans and how to pray. I suppose there is a time and place for everything. There will be a time when all creation will praise him, but the rocks did not do so when Jesus came riding on a donkey. The time was not right. The Revelation scene is one of the future. Secondly, Rev 4:6 is a proclamation, not *supplication,*for the race is finished. While the Rosary has some proclamation, it’s thrust is intercession, supplication, the kind Jesus taught how to do properly. Thirdly, the four beasts represent nature (man being part of that), and by themselves they do declare the Lord’s brilliance in creation unceasingly, just by “being”, especially in a state of salvation. Thank you for bringing it up.

It is always difficult for me to nail the apocalyptic writings down to one given meaning. For instance, I see the writings of Revelations as something to come and as something that has come. I’d like to get more into this, but it gets off topic and can be addressed in another thread. I recommend “The Lamb’s Supper” by Dr. Schott Hahn on this subject. I would say that the rosary is as much for proclamation as it is for intercession and supplication. The very mysteries one reflects on, in the rosary, call to mind and heart the divinity of Christ and the glory of our Lord. I do like your analogy of the beast representing nature. However, I would say that on another level the beast are also the angels revealed in Is 6. They sing this unceasing hymn of praise. Also, I realize Is does not provide the example of repetition – I can’t help but include the parallels of the OT in discussion. I think it helps us with context to a degree.

I would simply say that worship and praise are separated from prayer and petition. Jesus’s point is that we are not to repeat over and over our petition as if it increases the likelihood of being answered. God knows our needs and tells us how to pray.
However, singing lyrics to a song of worship can be done from your mothers womb to death. Context.

I respectfully disagree that worship and praise are apart from prayer and petition. The Our Father, which has been mentioned frequently in this thread & is part of the rosary, provides a wonderful layout. It is prayer that begins with praise &worship and continues into petition. Songs of worship are as much prayer as any other form. In prayer I offer praise/worship, petition, thanksgiving, and intercession. Lk 18: 1-8 shows the value in persistence; and especially Mt 15: 21-28 provide examples of repeating a request to our Lord. I will grant that it is not in the same fashion as the rosary or repeated word for word, but it is none the less a repeated petition.

That is a great point! We can sing songs of worship even from the very beginning in our mother’s womb. That is a beautiful concept. St. Jean Vianney says it beautifully as well… “O my God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to say it in every beat.”

I would finish with this… the rosary is not either a prayer of worship, petition, thanksgiving, or intercession. For those who utilize the rosary, it is all of these prayer types and more. The rosary is much too complex to assign it as one type of prayer. It is also important to note that one can pray for many things while reflecting in the rosary mysteries. For example, my mind often wonders when I partake in contemplative prayer. I will typically pray for whatever or whoever pops into my mind during this time of reflection.

Thank you again for sharing your points of view. You have given me food for thought and something to consider as I study the subject further.