What to do when praying the Rosary

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Texas2014

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Hi y’all,

As a college senior, it’s hard to find time to actually sit down and pray the rosary but I try my best to do it everyday. Lately, I’ve been wondering if I had been praying the Rosary right. I know all the prayers by heart (except for the Mysteries which I look at a prayer book). However, I sometimes feel as if I’m just saying the rosary and not PRAYING.

Questions:
  1. How am I suppose to meditate on the mysteries while saying the Hail Mary? Am I suppose to visualize what it would feel like to be there( like at the Nativity scene)?
  2. How do I start off praying the Rosary? Usually I just walk into a church, kneel down, say Hi to God and start praying. Am I suppose to mention an intention?
Thanks y’all!
 
What’s the best way to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary?

There are many approaches. For me, the best way is to focus on something being taught in the Gospel about living a holy life and to try to apply it to my own life.

For example, at the Visitation, Mary had to “rise up” (from her humble retirement) to head for Juda (Lk 1:39), which is in contrast to my inclination to be constantly out and about looking to see and be seen. She proceeds with “haste” (Lk 1:39), unlike my tendency to drag my feet in doing the Lord’s will. She immediately deflects Elizabeth’s praise of her and redirects it to God when she says, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Lk 1:46). I, on the other hand, love to dwell on the compliments I hear from other people.

So during your meditation you can focus on one of the virtues taught by the Gospel, think about a recent time when you did just the opposite, and resolve to handle the situation differently the next time it arises.
 
Since the Rosary is a (WONDERFUL) private devotion, it’s really up to you how you begin, providing you pray the correct prayers.

If you are struggling with your attention span, try this:
Pray a decade first thing in the morning when your head is very clear.
Over a period of 5 days you will complete one set of mysteries of the rosary.
Very quickly this will not be sufficient for you…you will feel like going forward, and before you know it, you are praying an entire rosary daily. The time of day makes no difference, although it’s very easy to fall asleep when praying in bed…LOL, Our Lady relaxes your heart, brings peace to your soul. It’s a lovely thing to fall asleep contemplating Our Lady and her Son. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Eventually your stamina will prevail.

As far as contemplating the Mysteries…pause a bit and read the blurb on the pamphlet (if they are present, or print ourtsome Mystery scripture passages, (there are oodles online) and just contemplate the scene for a couple of minutes. Don’t try to think about it and pray at the same time…For me, I like to ponder the scene, and then offer the Hail Marys in thanksgiving for this event in our salvation story.

You can mention your special intention or the people you wish to pray for at the beginning.
Pray the rosary anywhere. I particularly like praying out in nature if possible. At my desk at work during a break is reinvigorating. I feel a tremendous peace, even if I can’t finish it right then.

So great that you are interested in perfecting this devotion. I only offer what seems right for me. You will find your own rhythm and manner that is appropriate to your relationship with Jesus and Mary.
God bless you!
I make rosaries for people,…if you want one, PM me. I’d be delighted to make one for you as a gift.
Peace!
pianist

Oops I forgot!
When learning the Mysteries, remember that they are in order of the events of Christ’s life.
The Joyful are all about the Incarnation and His early life.
The Luminous are about what He accomplished in His public ministry.
The Sorrowful are in order of the events of His Passion.
The Glorious are about the Resurrection and events afterward.
If you begin to picture this in your mind, as a timeline of history…it’s easy to remember what comes next.
 
Hey Texas2014!
As a college senior, it’s hard to find time to actually sit down and pray the rosary but I try my best to do it everyday
Click to expand...
I understand completely. I too am a college senior (with another semester to go) and it is difficult to find time to pray such a beautiful set of prayers, especially when you may have homework to do and a job to go to.
  1. As an artist I think using visuals. Normally I meditate upon the Mysteries by remembering different artwork pertaining to the day. For example, I think about my church’s altar crucifix while I meditate on Tuesday and Friday’s Mysteries (The Sorrowful Mysteries,) especially when I’m on the Fifth Mystery (The Crucifixion of our Lord.)
  2. You may have an intention if you wish. I personally dedicate my Rosary to multiple causes (To those who contemplate, attempt, and commit suicide, that the Lord may keep them in his care, to the souls of purgatory, that they may enjoy the rewards of heaven soon, and to my girlfriend, that our relationship may continue to be strong.)
We prayed a communal Rosary last Saturday at Daily Mass and one woman had at least 6 intentions! Don’t limit yourself 👍
 
pianistclare said:
Oops I forgot!
When learning the Mysteries, remember that they are in order of the events of Christ’s life.
The Joyful are all about the Incarnation and His early life.
The Luminous are about what He accomplished in His public ministry.
The Sorrowful are in order of the events of His Passion.
The Glorious are about the Resurrection and events afterward.
If you begin to picture this in your mind, as a timeline of history…it’s easy to remember what comes next.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this! I am a new Catholic, confirmed just before Christmas, and I’m still learning a lot… I never realised that this sequence existed because of the different rosaries on different days. Now it kinda makes sense.
 
  1. How am I suppose to meditate on the mysteries while saying the Hail Mary? Am I suppose to visualize what it would feel like to be there( like at the Nativity scene)?
techniques vary-meeting the needs at that moment/ the rosary is said to be simple/
a 'bible on a string, ’ so to speak/ if imagery, then scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus/

the human condition brings to one’s knees, sometimes; while anger and fear seem to have a forward movement, then the man or women of God may discover a clash of self and Divine love. These are not particular to the term ‘intention’ rather, on the worse days of one’s life, or having a bad day-the intention , giving Mother Mary your prayer
might even be a percent not so perfect/ (we do have doubts)discover how Mary takes a prayer and filters it, if needed; then she gives it to her son. Notice, 'Blessed be the fruit of thy womb." your response might be that fruit is the son of God, and a peaceful answer might be realized.the rosary removes doubts of faith and those who pray it recieve a strong faith, ( Discover the mysteries. Of course, a secret may not compare to a mystery. There is no secret of the Rosary, really; maybe the rosary is a method of prayer to make dscoveries/with experience. it takes time to do it-God’s time is a time of mercy/ The very first mystery, of the angel and Mary…repeats in the Ava Maria, “Hail Mary…” Discover how time seems to be affected, in that your practice of the Rosary may discover a secret…that this moment of angel and Mary is not so chronological, as in ‘once it happens it is all over.’ perhaps, you might discover either a time machine of sorts (reference to the suggestion of Pope John Paul ii), to revisit the event/ i would explain the experience of one Hail Mary is the ‘scene’ of angel and Mary to jump forward…this reminds me of Mary’s title, “Full of Grace…” (to feel like you are there is to bend time-in context of a new era of Divine love) so all said-your experience may be different than my experience-my example may not work for others, as i seem to make the simple too complex…
2. How do I start off praying the Rosary? Usually I just walk into a church, kneel down, say Hi to God and start praying. Am I suppose to mention an intention?

well, once established, your hand on the beads, proceed with the three virtues/ if this seems to mechanical-consider, as per above, to experience the Rosary/ consider the identity of Mary, in your own time, as she has a title , Full of Grace…(might she give a gift?)
yes, notice as you might pray out loud, then over lap the silence, asking with the hearts desire.It becomes a multi-tasking of sorts/ to ‘ask’ seems to connect with the word ‘intention.’ or a soul of whom greets God to say hi to him…might be drawn to pray for others, a parent, a co-worker-Mary prays for others, just give her your prayer/well Mary of whom i speak of her as a real person often-nevertheless appreciates you coming to church, maybe she even sees sinners coming, some walking fast into church, some slower…she knows your soon to be approach to her…the thing i like about the rosary is that Mary, mother of God and Queen, is so approachable…

you will learn how to step off the accelerator, slow it down, even slower…with due regard to a pause…wait for it -sometimes to receive and immediate answer to a bad day (you know don’t do as fast as possible to get to the end)
Well the rubric grows. I include in my ‘intention’ worries or things of what i left behind, as i walked from street to church/ not a nice world out there/notice what might happen that a distraction , otherwise a car horn, or an interior worry…is resolved; in that the interior distraction is made part of the prayer process/the church is a place of safety/ with the safe feeling-i grow in confidence that my prayer is heard because, i the process of communication-so then Mary hears me, and give the intention to her son, Jesus…(well then if you love Jesus’ Mother as he loved her-then think of the possibilities) don’t forget to ask for graces to pray the rosary/then in confidence it naturally becomes praying not saying/.discover the joy…
 
Is there a Rosary icon booklet out there for meditation upon the mysteries? My mind tends to wander, so I wonder if there’s an approved way to meditate…kind of like Rosary training wheels…
 
As a college senior, it’s hard to find time to actually sit down and pray the rosary but I try my best to do it everyday
Click to expand...
That is great Texas2014, keep at it, stay faithful to it and you will find carving out the time easier and easier. What I have done is get up about 45 minutes earlier in the morning and that enables me to get in some extra prayer time. It hurts to roll out of bed when you don’t technically have to, but my day is now off kilter if I don’t.
However, I sometimes feel as if I’m just saying the rosary and not PRAYING.
Click to expand...
I hear what you’re saying! From my own personal experience, this is normal. Some days are going to be better than other days. It will take time to train your mind to be less distracted, more focused and pray from the heart. What you can do before starting the rosary is ask St. Anne to help you grow stronger in rosary prayer and keep you focused (she’s Mary’s mother). Always remember that it is your INTENTION that matters. Mary knows and she will help you. It’s like riding a bike with training wheels. Things are wobbly right now, but soon enough, with consistent effort, you’ll get there.
How am I suppose to meditate on the mysteries while saying the Hail Mary? Am I suppose to visualize what it would feel like to be there( like at the Nativity scene)?
Click to expand...
You can visualize the scene and/or think of the gospel text that applies. For example, during the 2nd Joyful Mystery (Visitation), I am fond of reflecting on Elizabeth’s words: “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” because that’s how it feels for me, that Mary has touched my life and brought me back to Jesus. If you can find some scripture that has meaning for you or holds your attention for some reason, and start with that, it can grow from there.

Then I reflect on the “characters” in the mystery. For example, Simeon and Anna during the 4th Joyful mystery (the Presentation). How did Simeon know for sure? How long did he wait to lay eyes on Jesus? And then I think how God was preparing Mary even then for what lay ahead when Simeon foretold what was to happen (and a sword shall pierce your soul).
How do I start off praying the Rosary? Usually I just walk into a church, kneel down, say Hi to God and start praying. Am I suppose to mention an intention?
Click to expand...
What I do is make the sign of the cross (with the rosary crucifix), spend a few moments thanking Mary for her help in my life and state my intentions to her and God (this rosary is for the conversion of my brother, or our Lady’s intentions, or world peace, whatever), then start with the Apostles Creed and carry on with the rest of the prayers. When I’m done, I thank Mary, make the sign of the cross with the crucifix then kiss it again before putting away.

Quick Tip: When I first started getting serious about praying the rosary, I did two things: For the first few months I used the scriptural method of praying the rosary (a related text of scripture is first read for each bead of each mystery). This really helps you get to know the mysteries. Then I prayed a few 54-day novenas. That really helps you stay on track and MAKE SURE you pray the rosary each day. Who wants to start all over again when you have already done 24 consecutive days? It gives that little extra edge.

It’s been just over a year since I began getting focused on the rosary and it’s a very rare day that I don’t say a single one. Usually I pray 3 (one in the early a.m., one at noon and one later in the day) and then I pray the 7 sorrows rosary right at bed time. It’s not an issue for me at all because I work from home. This didn’t happen overnight, it took time. Don’t push it at the start because it will just turn you off. One a day is perfect to start with. Once you’re comfortable with that, consider adding another. It also helps if you can find a parish that prays the rosary before daily mass. This will ensure you get at least one done a day (if you go to daily mass).
 
There is a Scriptural Rosary app for iPad (and I think iPhones) that you can buy on iTunes, I found it lovely and quite useful. It’s by Valent Richie: itunes.apple.com/ca/app/scriptural-rosary/id416544127 . The images are gorgeous and are useful to look at while praying if you’re not up to reading all the scripture.

I have quite a few little booklets that I found very useful (lovely pictures and scripture texts), these are the ones I keep returning too:

amazon.ca/Rosary-Fra-Angelico-Giotto/dp/0818909749/
The Rosary with Fra Angelico and Giotto

amazon.com/The-Magnificat-Rosary-Companion/dp/B000JFVL0E/
The Magnificat Rosary Companion

amazon.com/Scriptural-Meditations-Chaplet-Franciscan-Sorrows/dp/0879463880/
Scriptural Meditations: For the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Franciscan Crown, Seven Sorrows and the Rosary
(no images though)
 
EIF5A said:
Is there a Rosary icon booklet out there for meditation upon the mysteries? My mind tends to wander, so I wonder if there’s an approved way to meditate…kind of like Rosary training wheels…
Click to expand...
I highly recommend “Praying the Rosary Without Distractions”, which is a little booklet put out by the Rosary Center. It was only a couple dollars…and I think you can also access it online at their website: www.rosary-center.org.

For each mystery there is a lovely picture, and then 10 “one-liner” meditative lines to think about before praying each Hail Mary. I find I know the prayers well enough I can be praying them “in the background of my mind” (if that makes sense!) and still think about that little meditation and the mystery. If my mind starts to wander I look at the picture and that takes me back, too.
 
Hey there I’m also a newer Catholic, confirmed last Easter. But I live a busy life also. I’m a truck driver and its very hard to find a “peaceful” moment in my day to pray the rosary “properly”. What helps me as even after two years I still don’t know all of the mysteries I down loaded all four sets in mp3 format to my phone from rosaryarmy.newevangelizers.com/ it may not be the best way but it’s what helps me. I just made a playlist in my music player and put them in order of the days.
 
I often use Laudate, a free app for Android and Apple, which has many Rosary audio options, some of which have a scriptural reading before each Hail Mary.

I like Melissa at Scriptural Rosary, as well as the other one.
 
Since the rosary is contemplative prayer, it is not primarily about repeating the vocal prayers, but rather, about contemplating the mysteries while you pray. A couple of sites which may help you to visualize the mysteries:

comepraytherosary.org/ Pretty self-explanatory. A video of a pilgrimage to the holy land. A world-wide rosary in which you can pray along with others around the globe. A counter at the bottom tells you how many you are praying with.

starrymantle.blogspot.com/ On this blog, if you scroll down the home page just a bit, you will see artwork along the right side. The first to appear is “Annunciation Images” (the rest are below it). Click on that annunciation pic and a picture of a rosary will appear in the center of the page. Click on the rosary and it goes full screen, revealing a collection of art related to the annunciation. Then, you may use your arrow keys to navigate to the right through the collection of artwork as you pray the Hail, Mary prayers. I find plenty to meditate on by scanning the paintings by some of the great masters. Once done, hit ESC or X out and repeat the process with the next mystery.
 
Texas2014 said:
Hi y’all,

As a college senior, it’s hard to find time to actually sit down and pray the rosary but I try my best to do it everyday.
Click to expand...
Welcome! I like what others have posted, and here’s one more thing.

I don’t know what exactly is behind the time issue, but you can try to pray the rosary in smaller bits throughout the day. I don’t have exact citations ;), but there’ve been other posters here who’ve described their habits of breaking five (or more) decades into smaller groups, if not individual decades, as they go about their lives. If part of the issue is not having longer uninterrupted blocks of time, this idea may be something to try.
 
Pax2u said:
I highly recommend “Praying the Rosary Without Distractions”, which is a little booklet put out by the Rosary Center. It was only a couple dollars…and I think you can also access it online at their website: www.rosary-center.org.

For each mystery there is a lovely picture, and then 10 “one-liner” meditative lines to think about before praying each Hail Mary. I find I know the prayers well enough I can be praying them “in the background of my mind” (if that makes sense!) and still think about that little meditation and the mystery. If my mind starts to wander I look at the picture and that takes me back, too.
Click to expand...
The booklet is available for sale off their site ($3.00 each as of this writing).

And yes, those lines are available for free viewing online, too.

rosary-center.org/joyful.htm
rosary-center.org/luminous.htm
rosary-center.org/sorrow.htm
rosary-center.org/glorious.htm

I haven’t seen a paper copy of the booklet, but according to these pages, the pictures are the same.

A similar practice is St. Louis de Montfort’s fourth method, also available for free viewing online, with a similar (and I think complementary) set of reflections for the fifteen “traditional” mysteries. (As we see in retrospect, though, he’d incorporated four of the five luminous mysteries–the only exception is the wedding at Cana–into his reflections for the Finding in the Temple. Only one reflection there is directly related to the Finding in the Temple; the rest of it is a telescoped “life of Christ” during the period between the joyful and the sorrowful mysteries.)

I should really do what I’ve meant to do for years and look into at least some of the sets of “Scriptural rosaries.” My ignorance is the only reason that I don’t have any sets of those to recommend here. 😛

Not all people will find one of these sets of reflections to their liking, but maybe a lot of people will find at least one of them to their liking, and anyone who’s wondering about how to meditate on the rosary may find one of these helpful.
 
Here are also some more helpful thoughts:

History of the Rosary
catholicapologetics.org/ap080600.htm

You can try Methods of saying the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort
montfort.org.uk/Writings/MSR.html

Scriptural rosary
ainglkiss.com/ros/sr.htm

How to say and pray the rosary
familyrosary.org/en/TheRosary.aspx

Thoughts for each decade of the rosary
rosary-center.org/howto.htm

Scriptual thoughts
how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/military-victories-through-the-rosary.html

Pray the rosary in 17 minutes with online audio.
catholicity.com/cds/rosary.html
 
fred_conty said:
Here are also some more helpful thoughts:

History of the Rosary
catholicapologetics.org/ap080600.htm

You can try Methods of saying the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort
montfort.org.uk/Writings/MSR.html

Scriptural rosary
ainglkiss.com/ros/sr.htm

How to say and pray the rosary
familyrosary.org/en/TheRosary.aspx

Thoughts for each decade of the rosary
rosary-center.org/howto.htm

Scriptual thoughts
how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/military-victories-through-the-rosary.html

Pray the rosary in 17 minutes with online audio.
catholicity.com/cds/rosary.html
Click to expand...
Many excellent suggestions above. I pray the rosary daily on my way to work, along with a Catholicity CD, and use my beads over the weekend. God bless.
 
Texas2014 said:
Hi y’all,

As a college senior, it’s hard to find time to actually sit down and pray the rosary but I try my best to do it everyday. Lately, I’ve been wondering if I had been praying the Rosary right. I know all the prayers by heart (except for the Mysteries which I look at a prayer book). However, I sometimes feel as if I’m just saying the rosary and not PRAYING.

Questions:
  1. How am I suppose to meditate on the mysteries while saying the Hail Mary? Am I suppose to visualize what it would feel like to be there( like at the Nativity scene)?
  2. How do I start off praying the Rosary? Usually I just walk into a church, kneel down, say Hi to God and start praying. Am I suppose to mention an intention?
Thanks y’all!
Click to expand...
The answer to your first question is yes. The answer to your second question is: begin your Rosary as you do by acknowledging God, but mention your intentions too. Whenever you begin a new mystery pray for a virtue that pertains to the mystery. For example, pray for humility when you pray the first Joyful Mystery; pray for love of neighbor when you pray the second Joyful Mystery. God bless you!
 
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