To converts - about Rosary

[vince2paul]

Give your friend time. My parents have been “reverts” for the past three years, but only now are they becoming comfortable enough with mary and the Rosary to pray it. My mother prays it nearly every day now. She still doesn’t feel totally comfortable, but she figures the best way to discover the rosary is to pray it.

Well, it’s difficult, especially if you live in the same house. Just now, I asked her to go with me to Legion of Mary meeting. One of the objection is that, “later I have to pray Rosary.” It really annoys me. I asked her “why?”
She said because praying Rosary is meaningless. I pointed out that she never try and want to understand and try to avoid it instead. Besides that, it’s not obligation for Catholics to pray Rosary."

It’s difficult to talk to close-minded people, I believe she still has protestant-mentality that Mary is just another girl from Nazareth.

 

[Mary3]

I’m thinking of giving her a book for Christmas gift, which one do you think is better ‘Hail Holy Queen’ or ‘Saint Faustina’s Diary’? Have u read both?

Hail Holy Queen will be more understandable, and was written by a former Protestant (Dr. Hahn). Another book I recommend is “Introduction to Mary” by Mark Miravalle. Dr. Miravalle begins by explaining what “worship” is and why we do not worship Mary. It seems basic, but the word “worship” is not always understood similarly between Protestants and Cathoics.

I’m a convert, too, and had some trouble with Mary. I was attracted to the Rosary, but afraid to even pray a Hail Mary for fear of being idolatrous. I was “cured” by praying that Jesus would show me what I should do.

He answered that prayer with a special grace of understanding that He was the perfect Jewish boy who obeyed the 4th Commandment (“honor your father and mother”) perfectly. No one loved their mother more than Jesus loved His mother, and He wants us to love her, too. More than that, He showed me that He is my Brother, which means Mary is also my mother.

 

[CSN]

Hi allz,
I have a friend who just revert back to Catholic. She was protestant for about 8 years, since she was 16. She’s having problem with praying the Rosary.

In fact, she’s having problem with Mary. It’s very difficult to explain to her and actually I give up already, because she doesn’t understand it and not trying to find out about it.

I have a feeling that she’s waiting a miracle to happen that would convince her. So anyone can help me to help her?
She said no point praying to Mary if we could pray to Jesus.

For me Rosary is an important prayer and also helps me a lot in my spirituality and to keep my family together by praying Rosary together.

I am a revert who even as late as Easter 2005 had my lingering doubts about Mary. Absolutely no longer. Your friend for one may not be praying the rosary properly. I used to question why we said 53 Hail Mary’s, and only 5 Our Father’s. The answer lies in the meditation part → the Hail Mary decades are just for timing purposes. The real focus is on the mystery at hand, which almost all deal with Jesus.

Mary is the single most powerful saint in heaven, no? Even the Angel Gabriel saluted her. We pray the rosary asking her to pray for us, just as we ask friends and relatives to pray for us – except Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Why is it wrong to do this?

Finally, if your friend wants miracles, here are some examples:

Lourdes:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lourdes

Out of 7,000 supposed miracles, only 66 have passed the Catholic church’s ultra-strict criteria for miracles. Muslim, Jewish and even atheist doctors have reviewed them, and found them to be scientifically inexplicable.

[More here on the seven criteria for finding a miracle:]

catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=1252

Miracle of the Sun:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_sun

70,000 people witnessed the miracle of the sun, and this was reported in several anti-clergy government-sponsored newspapers.

The Modern Saints:

And what about the lives of modern saints (I chose modern saints, because there are still people alive today who actually met these saints) such as Padre Pio and Maximilian Kolbe who championed Mary and the rosary. They are saints, so they too have passed the ultra-strict Catholic requirements for miracles, not once, but twice. This in fact is probably the greatest factor that convinced me of the propriety of the rosary. If these great saints – who dedicated their entire lives to God and who pondered everything the Catholic Church stands for – if they championed the rosary, there must be something to it.

Marian Apparitions in Egypt:

zeitun-eg.org/assiut.htm

Here is another site – for some reason, it’s been kept quiet, but Mary has been appearing in Egypt for decades. If you search this site carefully, you can see live video of these apparitions. I’ve seen one clip where a figure appears out of thin air and flies around, and the crowd gasps. While this might be the most modern and direct evidence yet, somehow it feels somewhat sensationalistic, and I tend to shy away from it. I get a feeling slightly similar to what I feel when I see Medjugorje websites. But in any event, there are apparitions in Egypt.

Apparitions Generally:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_apparitions

Finally, the foregoing is a general site on Marian apparitions.

Your friend’s doubt is understandable. But to reject the rosary would be a huge mistake, which is something I cannot stress enough !!!

If the ultimate exam is getting into heaven, and attending mass is like studying for that exam, then praying the rosary is like discovering the ultimate ‘cheat sheet’. You cannot fail if you pray the rosary. It’s been promised by Mary herself.

This final exam is worth 100% of the rest of our existence, man.

Pray the rosary every day, as Mary requested.
Pray the rosary every day, as Mary requested.
Pray the rosary every day, as Mary requested.

 

[CSN]

I’m a convert who struggles very much with the rosary, although I own a couple and do say it sometimes. I struggle with the repetition mostly. Can someone tell me WHY the repetitious “Hail Marys” are valuable? What is the point? Maybe if I understood it, I would embrace it better. I understand everything else about it, I think. I don’t even have trouble saying the “Hail Mary”. But 10 of them? Over and over and over, decade after decade? I really need some help with it.

On a positive note, for those who struggle with it, I would recommend the book, “Scriptural Rosary”. It has a verse that relates to the mystery prior to each “Hail, Mary.” I really like it, and this is what has helped me say it the few times I have done it. Not only because I don’t get lost in the “Hail Mary’s” and lose focus, but also because it grounds me more firmly in the mystery.

The repetition acts as a ‘timer’ while you focus on the mysteries, which almost all deal with Jesus !

 

[Jennifer_G]

The repetition acts as a ‘timer’ while you focus on the mysteries, which almost all deal with Jesus !

And the fact that you’re asking Mary to pray for you.
“Hail Mary, full of grace” - the angel’s words to Mary.
“Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus” - The words of Elizabeth to Mary.
“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” - You’re asking her to pray for you and all sinners.

All the while, meditating on each mystery and what it means.

When I pray the Rosary, I sometimes say a personal prayer that reflects what the current set of mysteries is about.

Also, the Chaplet of Devine Mercy is a good alternative, too.

 

[CSN]

That’s the problem, it’s difficult for one to love someone whom s/he never know for years, especially when the person isn’t trying to.

If you can just convince your friend to try it out regularly, at some point Mary will take over, and create some kind of spark. I’ve seen it happen, and I’ve felt it happen in me as well.

Ok, well, here a couple of more links. Not directly related to the rosary, but instead to the Miracle Medal, which are also related to Mary.

marypages.com/ratisbonneEng.htm

therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/mirmedal.htm

I’m sorry if I come across as overbearing, but I really feel like this world is a sinking ship, and the best way to bail water is to pray the rosary. So it’s like I’m saying “DON’T JUST STAND THERE !!! GRAB A BUCKET AND HELP !!!”

 

[vince2paul]

If the ultimate exam is getting into heaven, and attending mass is like studying for that exam, then praying the rosary is like discovering the ultimate ‘cheat sheet’. You cannot fail if you pray the rosary. It’s been promised by Mary herself.

This final exam is worth 100% of the rest of our existence, man.

Pray the rosary every day, as Mary requested.

I think it is difficult for her to understand, I mean she’s questioning who is this woman and why she is so powerful that she could make promises to us, because the only Almighty is God alone. If she has the power means it only comes from God. If this is the case, then might as well pray directly to God. Besides that, I have the feeling that the apparation won’t work well, because she just doesn’t like Mary. Simple as that. Difficult right?

Don’t get me wrong, what I just say is the argument she’d tell me. For me, praying Rosary is a big help in my life, especially to unite my family. It’s one of the tools that keep the family together. Actually, I can see that it will help her a lot, because her family isn’t very close to each other. I might be wrong, but I see that nowadays family are getting farther apart.

It’s a big dilemma for me because to me Mary is like my spiritual mother and to see someone disrespect her is a slap in the face.

Well, divine mercy won’t work also, because to her devotion is nothing and useless; repetition of words and novena/prayer. She told me that if we want to pray we must use our own words and say what our hearts want to say, because it is more personal and closer to God.

 

[Tonks40]

I think it is difficult for her to understand, I mean she’s questioning who is this woman and why she is so powerful that she could make promises to us, because the only Almighty is God alone. If she has the power means it only comes from God. If this is the case, then might as well pray directly to God. Besides that, I have the feeling that the apparation won’t work well, because she just doesn’t like Mary. Simple as that. Difficult right?

Don’t get me wrong, what I just say is the argument she’d tell me. For me, praying Rosary is a big help in my life, especially to unite my family. It’s one of the tools that keep the family together. Actually, I can see that it will help her a lot, because her family isn’t very close to each other. I might be wrong, but I see that nowadays family are getting farther apart.

It’s a big dilemma for me because to me Mary is like my spiritual mother and to see someone disrespect her is a slap in the face.

Well, divine mercy won’t work also, because to her devotion is nothing and useless; repetition of words and novena/prayer. She told me that if we want to pray we must use our own words and say what our hearts want to say, because it is more personal and closer to God.

Don’t want to look facetious - but are you sure she’s a revert to the Faith? Every revert I know credits our Blessed Mother for coming back to the Church (including me!)…

 

[vince2paul]

Don’t want to look facetious - but are you sure she’s a revert to the Faith? Every revert I know credits our Blessed Mother for coming back to the Church (including me!)…

Erm… actually, I’m questioning that also, because the only reason she reverted because of the Real Presence, other than that no.

May be I’m just impatience, it’s been 6 months only. I only pray that the Holy Spirit will guide her to understand things, and give me the patience that I need, coz I definitely need it.

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

Don’t want to look facetious - but are you sure she’s a revert to the Faith? Every revert I know credits our Blessed Mother for coming back to the Church (including me!)…

I credit St. Michael the Archangel.

Really.

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

Ended the post too soo.

I have to ask the question, how can anyone not like Mary?

I can relate to being uncomfortable with the rosary, though. My parents, who weren’t particularly religious, sent me to a Baptist school for a few years- they had this idea that I was a “bad kid” and a religious school would “fix” me. So, of course, I was taught the Gospel According to Jack Chick.

When I came back to the Church (I say back because, even though I wasn’t raised with any kind of religious faith, I was baptized as an infant and, even when I was going through my self-styled Hindo-Shamanistic Buddhist with a twist of Islam phase, on some level I always knew I was a Catholic girl at heart, but I was resisting the idea of Christianity because of the image of God that I got from that baptist school was that basically, because some chick I never met fifty thousand years ago ate fruit off the wrong tree, human beings are, essentially, born damned) I was not real comfortable with the rosary because on some level I felt it was idolatrous. I prayed it anyway, because, well, I’m Catholic.

I didn’t really become comfortable with the Rosary until I read Karl Keating’s book, Catholicism and Fundamentalism. You might want to recommend it to your friend.

Also, I’m with those who say you shouldn’t push your favorite devotion on someone. In time, she’ll come around and even if she never becomes an avid rosary person, at least she’ll be more comfortable talking to the Blessed Mother.

 

[CSN]

Also, I’m with those who say you shouldn’t push your favorite devotion on someone. In time, she’ll come around and even if she never becomes an avid rosary person, at least she’ll be more comfortable talking to the Blessed Mother.

Yes, this balance should be kept in mind, always. I think it applies not just to pushing a particular devotion, but pushing our faith in general. I need to stop myself at times. Like in this case.

It’s like feeding squirrels – if you try to forcefeed anyone, they’ll scamper into the woods and never return.

Also, 6 months is not really a long time at all. It may be better to think in terms of years.

Anyway, you’ve made your point to your friend already, and I suppose now you can concentrate on praying for her, which is exactly what it sounds like you’re doing.

If (when !) your friend comes around, please advise…

Unh…I will pray for your friend also – recommend her to Mary as stated in this prayer, the Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer of St. Maximilian Kolbe:

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to you,
and for all who do not have recourse
to you, especially the enemies
of the Church and
those recommended to you.

consecration.com/learn-more1.html

Yeah, tell us what happens…

 

[Linda_Marie]

I’m a convert, but not from a Protestant faith so I had no problem with Mary per se. I did have a problem with the repetition and had a hard time developing this devotion. I think that for me it was that I lacked a clear understanding of the mental prayer portion, which is the heart of the Rosary. The rosary consists of 2 kinds of prayer - oral (the Hail Marys and Our Fathers) and mental (meditation on the mysteries). Once I got that part, the Rosary became a favourite. It is, above all, a Jesus-centered prayer.

For some, especially those coming from the Protestants, just the word ‘meditation’ smacks of eastern pagan religions and is not something a ‘proper’ Christian should do, so this term needs to be defined for her.

Also, some people cannot get the hang of saying one thing like the Hail Mary while thinking another, Jesus presented at the Temple, for instance. I have a very dear cradle Catholic friend who just cannot do this. He can do one or the other, but not both at the same time.

I would not push this devotion on her at this time. Let it go for a while and pray for her.

I had another friend in my prayer group who sounds a lot like your friend. She came to Catholicism from some Dutch Protestant denomination (I’m not sure what it was). Her father was a minister. She came to the Church only because of the Real Presence but she could not accept many of the other teachings. She would not let go of Sola Scriptura for instance and the mere mention of Mary made her screw up her face like she had just bitten into something rotten. It got to where we could not even say one Hail Mary at the end of prayer group without a wave of disapproval and rejection emanating from her.

I got very fed up with her because I wanted to be able to at least mention my Beloved Mother and felt it rather personally that she rejected her so vehemently. We lost several members of the prayer group because of her, over this and some of her other strongly held Protestant beliefs. Rather than confront her, they just left. I confronted her (gently) to correct her and she left. Now I feel very bad about it because she left not only the prayer group but the Church as well, choosing a Fellowship worship over the Mass and the Sacraments. I can’t help but feel that I was at least partly responsible. I see her occasionally around town and we greet and hug but I still feel guilty as if I drove her from the Church.

I would not want anything similar to happen to you and your friend. Just keep praying for her to accept all the teachings of the Church, not just those which which she is comfortable.

One thing that helped me to see Mary as truly my mother:
If Mary is the mother of Jesus and Jesus is my brother, then it follows that Mary is also my mother.

How many of us have not gone to our mothers first when we wanted something important from Dad? When we were so sure that Dad would say no but Mom would be able to get him to say yes.

And - if you ever want to truly insult someone, just say something bad about their mother. How, then, does she think Jesus feels when someone treats His mother with disrespect? We should love Mary because Jesus does.

 

[Mary3]

She told me that if we want to pray we must use our own words and say what our hearts want to say, because it is more personal and closer to God.

Hmm, well you could remind her that Jesus gave us a recited prayer to say.

Patience, friend. She may take more time, but can still come around. A wise person once gave me this advice about my wayward teenagers. “Talk to them less about God and talk to God more about them.”

 

[Sheeniac]

Erm… actually, I’m questioning that also, because the only reason she reverted because of the Real Presence, other than that no.

May be I’m just impatience, it’s been 6 months only. I only pray that the Holy Spirit will guide her to understand things, and give me the patience that I need, coz I definitely need it.

I think you should just let it be. A person can be a very good Catholic and never pray the Rosary. If you push, it will be a turn-off.

If it was a requirement for the faith, that would be one thing, but you really shouldn’t insist on others following your private devotions. With Christian love, I would like to add, perhaps you should focus on your own spirituality and stop judging hers.

 

[Eireann]

I have a feeling that she’s waiting a miracle to happen that would convince her. So anyone can help me to help her?
She said no point praying to Mary if we could pray to Jesus.

The Hail Mary asks Mary to pray for us, like the wedding feast at Cana, Mary wrought the first Miracle of Jesus, did the Apostles know He could do it ? obviously not.

Mary knows Jesus better than any person in the Bible, after all she spent 33 years in His company, while the Apostles only 3.

Ask her whats wrong with asking someone to pray for us, we do pray to God when we say the Rosary, unless off-course she discounts the Our Father, Apostles Creed,Glory be.

The Hail Holy Queen asks Mary to bring us to Jesus at the end of our lives.

Then an optional prayer is the Fatima one, Oh my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.

So it’s incorrect to say we don’t include Jesus, and all Mary does is pray with us and for us.

And you could remind her that part of the Hail Mary is in the Bible, maybe she could look at it as reading Bible passages.

Mary didn’t change the water into wine, she asked Jesus to help, like she still asks for us, and if the Rosary troubles her so much, maybe she should leave it out, it is the Holy Spirit who will ultimately guide her, if she asks, God will not force our freewill.

Personally I think not asking a woman so **highly favoured **by God to pray for us is a big mistake.

 

[vince2paul]

Erm… I take back my words. On her birthday 25/01, I give her a Jerusalem Bible (she didn’t have any catholic bible), a rosary, & Divine Mercy prayer book.

Today (my birthday), she gave me CCC, divine mercy statue and a Divine Mercy chaplet and she told me that she’s been praying Divine Mercy chaplet every night since I gave it to her.

She told me that she didn’t know that we can pray Divine Mercy using the Rosary. She’s in love with it and even suggested that we pray Divine Mercy chaplet together. No, she’s not my girlfriend, but we share an apartment (with her brother and another person, four of us!) I think I would start soon, because it will definitely give a good example to her brother, who is currently addicted to online game.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestion. Well, I’ve been more patient, and I told her that it’s okay if she still feel uncomfortable praying the Rosary, it takes time and she shouldn’t force herself to understand, because it won’t work.
Well, I wouldn’t be able to tell them such thing without all of your help. So thanks!

 

[water]

Erm… I take back my words. On her birthday 25/01, I give her a Jerusalem Bible (she didn’t have any catholic bible), a rosary, & Divine Mercy prayer book.

Today (my birthday), she gave me CCC, divine mercy statue and a Divine Mercy chaplet and she told me that she’s been praying Divine Mercy chaplet every night since I gave it to her.

She told me that she didn’t know that we can pray Divine Mercy using the Rosary. She’s in love with it and even suggested that we pray Divine Mercy chaplet together. No, she’s not my girlfriend, but we share an apartment (with her brother and another person, four of us!) I think I would start soon, because it will definitely give a good example to her brother, who is currently addicted to online game.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestion. Well, I’ve been more patient, and I told her that it’s okay if she still feel uncomfortable praying the Rosary, it takes time and she shouldn’t force herself to understand, because it won’t work.
Well, I wouldn’t be able to tell them such thing without all of your help. So thanks!

wow, that’s awesome.

 

[mariam1976]

i have just recently started saying the rosary and it was so weird yesterday when i went to church that i found so many rosary booklets in there… never seen it there… so i took them all and am planning to give them out to people that i know…

 

[lumendelumine]

I think it’s great that she is so in love with the Divine Mercy chaplet, which is really a very Eucharistic prayer. I also agree with the others that you should give her time and pray for her. That’ll do for the time.

I’m a convert from an agnostic background, but first I also had great misgivings about Mary and why we should pray to her. With the Rosary, It was okay, as soon as I learned that is was about Jesus.

What brought me closer to Mary first was theology: reflections about who she is and how she is the fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity. But still, I could not build an emotional relationship to Mary like I had with her Son. I think what really opened up my heart to her was wearing the Miraculous Medal. (Of course, I was basically open to Mary at the time already, not like your friend.)

Now I’m with the Legion of Mary, which has given me an even deeper understanding of Mary’s role and her work with us. I’ve also heard some powerful homilies about the Rosary which helped me a lot.

What I liked very much is the idea of looking at Jesus through the eyes of Mary while praying the Rosary, looking at Him through His mother’s eyes. “The Passion of the Christ” movie is made partly from this perspective, which is helpful both for deepening one’s relationship with Christ and for getting closer to Our Lady at the same time.