Rosary Series (Part 4 of 4): So What am I Going to Get Out of This?

This month, this blog has focused on the Rosary.  It has covered personal relationships with the Rosary, Rosary novenas, and the mysteries of the Rosary.  Today, I want to address the question, “So what am I going to get out of this?”  What do we get when we pray the Rosary regularly?

The Blessed Virgin Mary made fifteen promises to St. Dominic when she gave him the prayers of the Rosary.  These promises are enumerated on this site.  In brief:

• ·         our prayers will be answered (whether we get the answers to our prayers that we want or are hoping for is a different matter entirely, but we are promised an answer)
• ·         we will be spiritually prepared for death
• ·         ultimately, we will go to heaven and enjoy eternal life with God
• ·         the world will be a better place because God will be at work in us, and 
• ·         Mary assures us of her personal intercession with her son, Jesus

All well and good, one might say, but what do I get out of it?  The answer to that is similar to the answer you might receive when looking into any remedy:  results may vary.  It depends on the intent behind the devotion.  If we intend to spend mindful time in prayer, it is preferable to doing it for the sake of doing it, just because we know we should.

I will admit, there are times I pray simply because I know I should, with very little thought to the deeper reasons why I should.  Developing a habit of prayer goes beyond making it an obligation.  Our motivation in developing a habit of prayer needs to come from a place of recognition that we need God’s help in our lives, and the way we ask for that help is through prayer.  When we pray the rosary regularly, not only are we assured of God’s help in some way.  We know that we have a mediator in Heaven in the Blessed Virgin Mary as well, and she only wants good things for us.

Rosary Series (part 3 of 4): A "Mysterious" Tour through Jesus' Life

When praying the rosary, each day of the week has a specific set of mysteries associated with it.  Sunday is typically associated with the Glorious Mysteries, which is fitting, since each Sunday is like a mini-Easter celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead.  During Advent, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recommends praying the Joyful Mysteries on Sunday, and during Lent, they recommend praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, in observance of the solemnity of these liturgical seasons (source).  Monday is typically associated with the Joyful Mysteries, Tuesday with the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Wednesday with the Glorious Mysteries.  Friday is associated with the Sorrowful Mysteries, which is fitting as Friday was the day of the events of Jesus’ death.  Saturday is associated with the Joyful mysteries.

Today, Thursday, is associated with the Luminous Mysteries of Pope St. John Paul II.  Prior to the implementation of the Luminous Mysteries in 2002, Thursday was associated with the Joyful Mysteries.  Some conservative members of the Church still observe this, contending that when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic and gave him the prayers of the rosary, she did not give him the Luminous Mysteries.  Further, when she appeared to the children in Fatima, she said to pray the fifteen mysteries of the rosary for the reparation of sins, not twenty.

Personally, I like the Luminous Mysteries.  They complete the story of Jesus’ life as observed in the mysteries of the rosary.  If one prays all twenty of the mysteries in a single sitting (ambitious, but possible), one meditates on the entire life of Jesus, including the years of His public ministry.  Leaving them out, to me, feels like missing an important piece of Jesus’ life:  His example to us through His shared humanity with us.

Of course, there isn’t one right way to pray the rosary.  It is a private devotion.  What matters is that we use it in a way that is beneficial to us as well as to the world.  It doesn’t really matter which Mysteries one meditates on each day.  The typical associations noted above simply provide some unity throughout the Church’s prayer of this devotion.

How do you pray the rosary?  What is your opinion of the Luminous Mysteries?  Share in the comments below, and please remember to be respectful and courteous of others and their views and opinions.

Rosary series (part 2 of 4): Rosary Novenas

You have probably heard of a prayer novena before – a prayer, often to a certain saint, which is said nine days in a row for a specific petition or for that saint’s intercession in a time of need.  If you can think of a saint or a specific issue you may face, there is probably a novena to meet your needs.  But did you know there is also such a thing as a rosary novena?

A rosary novena (nine days praying the rosary in a row) could be said for any intention.  After all, the rosary incorporates intercession to Mary to “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”  And who better to intercede for us than the Mother of God herself?

According to EWTN:  

“A 54-day Rosary is basically six novenas of the five-decade rosary that is said for a particular intention.  The first set of three novenas (27 days) are said in petition for the intention and the second set of three novenas (27 days) are said in thanksgiving, even if the answer to your intention was not yet given. In other words, in the second set of novenas you are giving thanksgiving that God's will is going to be done. To make the novena, you pray a five-decade rosary for 54 days in a row for your intention.”

Now, like me, you’re probably thinking, 54 days?!  In a row?!  It does seem daunting on the face of it.  However, a 54-day rosary has much to teach us.  It could teach us patience.  It could teach us perseverance.  It could help us make saying the rosary a daily habit.  There really aren’t any cons to giving it a try at least.  And, if we fail, we can always try again, confident in the fact that Mother Mary will not judge us for our failures.

Have you tried a rosary novena?  What about a 54-day rosary?  What spiritual benefits did you gain from this practice?  Share in the comments below.

Rosary Series (part 1 of 4): My Developing Relationship with the Rosary

During the month of October, this blog will focus on the rosary.  I will begin this four-part series with a reflection on my relationship with the rosary and how it has changed over the years.

I am a cradle Catholic.  My earliest memories of the rosary are a combination of the large children’s rosary I had hanging above my bed and my rosary coloring book.  I would spend what felt like hours carefully coloring each bead, being super careful to color inside the lines.  That was my earliest expression of devotion to the rosary. 

As I got older, my relationship with the rosary evolved.  I remember bringing a rosary to school with me in October when I was in second grade at Cosgriff and having the whole school gather in the church to pray together.  I remember the CD I received as a gift that had kids from Australia praying the rosary.  I remember receiving a specially blessed rosary from the shrine of Our Lady of Betania in Venezuela.  (I still have and use this rosary.)

As an adult, my relationship with the rosary has become more about the devotion itself.  I am still trying to find the way of praying it that is most satisfying to me.  I want to “do everything.”  I want a scriptural passage to meditate on.  I want an expansion on the holy name of Jesus to help keep the mystery top of mind.  I want to make sure I am including the prayers for the pope and his intentions and the Litany of Loreto at the end.  And I want a way to incorporate the intention of my rosary into the prayers.

Maybe I want to do too much.  I have yet to find a method or app for praying the rosary that incorporates all of these things.  I have read conflicting articles.  Some say that it’s not about the quantity of your prayer (i.e., the time you spend in prayer), it’s about the quality of your prayer.  Then others seem to say the exact opposite.  Of course, the best thing to do most likely is to find a balance between the two.  As Dr. Mary Healy says in the Symbolon video we used for RCIA this week, “If we say we are too busy to pray, we’re too busy.”  She goes on to explain that prayer needs to be a priority in our lives.  What could be more important than developing our relationship with God through prayer?

What are your earliest memories of the rosary?  How do you incorporate this devotion into your prayer life?