What's the difference between one Hail Mary and a 54 Rosary day novena?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pyjamarama
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Pyjamarama

Guest
Surely God will answer your prayers the way your want or a different way or say no?

So why would a 54 day rosary novena do more than just one hail mary?

Is it just about how much effort you are putting in or something else?
 
Last edited:
The Rosary is a meditation, not just a vocal prayer. The Blessed Mother herself has told us repeatedly to say the Rosary many times. She has never said “just pray one Hail Mary and that’s all you need.” The more we pray and meditate on the life of Christ, the more He is able to change our hearts and incline our wills toward His. This has been proven by, oh, 2000 years of saints, most of whom prayed constantly.
 
I don’t know. What’s the difference between telling somebody you love, “I love you” once and telling them regularly?

If you love somebody you communicate with them often, and the more you do so, the better you know each other and the deeper your love can grow.

Now you know the difference between one Hail Mary and a 54 Rosary novena.
 
In one sense, God is not sitting “up there” with a magic number of rosaries in mind that if you do them, your problems will go away (ie “Well, I would have given him what he wants for 67 rosaries, but he only said 62, so tough luck”)

It’s more useful to see prayer as part of your relationship with God. You make time for Him like you make time for any of your loved ones.
You communicate your need and He talks to you through the scripture.
 
In one sense, God is not sitting “up there” with a magic number of rosaries in mind that if you do them, your problems will go away (ie “Well, I would have given him what he wants for 67 rosaries, but he only said 62, so tough luck”)

It’s more useful to see prayer as part of your relationship with God. You make time for Him like you make time for any of your loved ones.
You communicate your need and He talks to you through the scripture.
I understand that but why do these novenas/devotions appear if any prayers will be as beneficial?
 
Unfortunately, sometimes people over-promise on what a novena can do.

Certainly, we can trust in the promise that our spiritual lives will improve.

But that’s also not the same as walking an easy road.
 
If God knows it will be helpful for your salvation he will answer your prayer. If he doesn’t, just trust Him, and be aware that you are growing spiritually by your many prayers and trust.

Also, intercessory prayer to gain something isn’t the only way to pray. It is very beneficial to worship and adore God and thank Him for all his benefits and what He did for us.
 
That wasn’t the question. Do you only say “I love you” to somebody you love to ‘get something’ from it?
 
Do you only say “I love you”
What’s that got to do with my question?

If I was drowning why would I have to say I love you to the lifeguard? How many times would I have to call for help before he saves me?
 
Well you see, when I pray the rosary I am praying to the Mother I love, and to my Father in Heaven, not to a lifeguard.

The rosary isn’t just a prayer of petition. Certainly petition can be a part of prayer —after all even if God knows what we need, we can ask, just as a child asks Dad or Mom for help. But it’s also communication, and it’s a way of showing love, gratitude—yes, even if we are in a terrible situation and it looks as if there is no help for us—and indeed of worship, ‘worth ship’ in the original sense, of knowing how wonderful God and His saints are, of knowing that we are ourselves of worth and that He cares for us and wishes for our eternal happiness with Him.
 
Is a 54 more likely to get a problem solved than a single Hail Mary?
I’ve prayed the rosary everyday for the majority of my life (I went through patches where I didn’t). There were two instances in my life where I begged for healing for someone I loved. Both with life threatening illnesses.
One survived and the other died.

If this is in regards to your job situation, I would encourage you to pray the rosary. It takes around twenty minutes and is a beautiful prayer. However, don’t it expect it to guarantee you a “yes”. Expecting something that may not happen only leads to bitterness and doubt. Trust me.

That being said, you may gain peace and strength you didn’t know you needed. No harm in trying 🙂
 
54 Novena kept popping into my head today for no apparent reason so I thought maybe I am being called/encouraged to pray it?

I will start today.
 
Is a 54 more likely to get a problem solved than a single Hail Mary?
Praying isn’t about “saying a prayer enough times that God will solve your problem.”

That would be the sort of “vain repetitions” that the Bible warns us about.

Prayer is about building a close relationship with God and growing in that relationship.

Prayer is communication with God. As someone said, if you love somebody, you don’t just say “I love you” once and ignore them. You say and show your love many times a day.
 
Praying isn’t about “saying a prayer enough times that God will solve your problem.”

That would be the sort of “vain repetitions” that the Bible warns us about.

Prayer is about building a close relationship with God and growing in that relationship.

Prayer is communication with God. As someone said, if you love somebody, you don’t just say “I love you” once and ignore them. You say and show your love many times a day.
I pray every day therefore I must be communicating with Him every day right? So when I need help are you saying I shouldn’t pray more?
 
You can pray more, if you’re doing it with the right spirit.

The right spirit would be, “God, I need a lot of help, please help me.”

The wrong spirit would be, “God, if I just say X number of prayers, will that be enough for you to help me, or do you need 2X number of prayers.”
 
Prayer is so confusing.

You have prayed the 54 before haven’t you? Why?
 
I’ve prayed it a bunch of times. Main reason is to get into a habit of praying the Rosary, talking to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Usually the intention was something rather broad like for peace, for justice, for our country, for an end to abortion etc. and there was a group praying it.

Prayer’s not confusing. It’s just talking to God (sometimes also to saints).
 
Last edited:
So I can pray any prayers I want and it won’t make any difference which I pray?
 
The difference is 2,861 Hail Marys, plus 270 Our Fathers, etc.

The rosary is not magic. It is an intercessory prayer (to which the answer may be maybe, or no. or “I have something else in mind” as well as “yes”. It is also a meditative prayer. and a pryaer of honor of the BVM.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top