How to Pray the Rosary
June 11, 2012 29 Comments
Writes Joel ove
r at Unsettled Christianity:
Figured that this could serve two purposes. First, for those who are mystified by it, you could see what is being said. Second, for those who need it, well, here is a quick cheat sheet, if you will. You can find it here where it is now in my media library for safe keeping, but thanks to New Advent for it.
Someone I know, a few months ago, began to pray the rosary. This man expressed that one time, during the praying for this rosary, something happened. It was as if the world stopped spinning, time slowed, and for a brief moment, he experienced clarity and a connection with something higher. It last but a moment or three, but it was enough to be noticed and retained by him. It was different than his former pentecostal experiences and radically so. Indeed, his expression was one of peace rather than one of excitableness.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
I was weened on the Rosary as an Irish Roman Catholic, but now I can see that this is more of a mystical discipline. And of course there are other faiths that practice some form of this kind of prayer… Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam. Did Jesus himself have something negative to say about this kind of prayer? See, Matt. 6:1-8, etc. noting verses 7-8 especially! Then this is followed by the Lord’s Prayer, itself! And Jesus also says that “fasting” should not be done in the visual of other people, but in “secret” or alone! (Matt. 6:18) Indeed Matt. 6 is an important chapter in our Lord’s whole teaching, doctrine & theology of prayer!
And? What’s the point with the Biblica quote? Either it has no point, either the point is to call us (RCs) pharisians…. I don’t think I’m wrong saying this is a Catholic-friendly blog, and having a “resident” protestant pastor and apostate detracting everything Roman all the time on almost each article starts to get on my nerves.
Did God hear my prayers as I prayed the Rosary? Sure, because I was a Catholic Christian, and God hears even the most feeble prayers of His people! But, the real question here is the repetition of the Rosary prayer, is it a biblical form of mental and verbal prayer? I think this is an open and real question, as I have mentioned perhaps the Rosary is better put within the mystical genre? Note, there are many Catholics that do not pray the Rosary, or do so rarely, and some confess its use to be secondary, to personal prayer itself! For me anyway, the Lord’s Prayer itself is the more biblical and theological pattern in prayer and approaching God…”Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6: 9-10) Yes, we poor “Protestants” pray too!
And I hope “biblically” and “theologically”, “In Jesus Name”! (John 16: 23-24)
Btw, this old “resident” Anglican considers himself, both “catholic” and “reformed” – (“protestant”). That to my mind really is classic “Anglicanism”!
Btw, Don, ya better quit with the “apostate” word, or I will start quoting “Luther”! And he will be a hard act to follow!
No, the rosary is not secondary. Perhaps it does not pertains to the core of our Faith, but every Pope in modern times has strongly recommended its use both by their words and example. And the Virgin Mary herself asked us at Fatima to pray the rosary (and now I’m waiting for the protestant sneering on “Catholic fables”).
@Don: YOU really have no clue to my faith, nor how I feel about “Catholicism”, fully! I am actually Catholic friendly, at least on what I see as the true essence of Catholicism! I could perhaps give many a Roman theolog a run for their money about Roman Catholic doctrine and dogma, but I am not going to press this. And as you know too well Fatima is not part of the biblical and Roman “deposit” of the Apostolic faith & doctrine! One can take it or leave it!
Btw, as I have mentioned here many times, I see Mary Ever-Virgin, as the Theotokos (as the Council of Ephesus). I am again closer to the EO on the Blessed Virgin.
Just a historic note, but I lived thru the charismatic movement in the RCC in the 60′s and 70′s, and it was simply factual that many Roman Catholics at the time prayed first to God, and the rosary sort of took a secondary place in those days! This was a time when many RC’s simply left Rome btw. I was one of them!
Fr. Robert: during that turbulent time…when the ‘charismatic movement’ took off like the wind, I understand now that it was those anchored with the Rosary–”Anchora Salutis”–who never left Rome.
Dear Margaret, I noted how you ran away from the whole chapter of Matthew 6…the “words” of our Lord! It is a very challenging chapter, on both prayer, providence.. and the place of the Christians interior life! > Not a “works righteousness”, but a faith-righteousness, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added (provided) to you.” (Matt. 6:33)
Blessed John Paul II said: “the Rosary is the Prayer of the Gospels as seen through the eyes of Mary”. St. Pio of Pietrelcina said (in refering to the Rosary): “Give me my weapon”.
Mary is also “Mother of The Church” and so she is our Mother too. The Rosary is her ‘Gift from Heaven’, bequeathed to her children on earth, so as to draw us ‘closer to Christ’; lassoing many a Soul from perdition, comforting many a Soul in purgatory, procuring many a Grace on earth and securing many a place in Heaven. How sweet and secure to see Mary on our side when someday we will meet Jesus. Then to hear Jesus say: “Come, MY Mother has told me all about you”!
All of Heaven is in Awe at the ‘Virgin’s Humble Ascent’! And so it was Blessed John Paul II’s total dedication to Mary: “Totus Tuos” or St. Louis Marie DeMonfort’s: “All to Jesus through Mary”!
Thank you Margaret for your support! It’s difficult to be a good Catholic apologist on the net, enven more when the person in front of you is a clergy with considerable experience in protestant argumentation.
+ PAX et BONUM
Don Henri: “Peace and ALL Good” to you as well! St.Francis is my most favorite Saint! I love how he preached to the animals when his words fell upon deaf (human) ears; perhaps we should take his counsel?
Btw, Margaret and Don, I know my share of Roman Catholic “theolog’s”, both lay and priests. And this whole aspect of Marian devotion, must needs to brought closer to the biblical and historical places! This was part of Vatican II, by placing the Blessed Virgin Mary within the Christology of Christ! Much of the stuff quoted here is on the edges of proper Mariology, and indeed some of that may have been erroneous and superstitious, and cannot claim to be guaranteed by the teaching of the RCC. But, I will let any Roman Catholic apologists come in here, themselves. And certainly the greatest title given to Mary is that of the “Theotokos”, certainly this title became the watchword of Cyril of Alexandria. Simply and profoundly Mary gave a human nature to the Eternal Son, and she was not merely a channel through which a newly created nature passed, as the Gnostic’s, and even some Protestants today maintain. The title “Theotokos” therefore emphasizes the special privilege and grace “given” to St. Mary the Virgin!
Fr. Robert: I am not an egg-head Theolog by any canonical contortions, but I can simply say …that it takes great Humility to travel from the head to the heart; someone once said that it is the longest journey we can ever make – but the way is the path of Humility–the ‘Humility of Christ’ and who better than “Theotokos” to shod our feet with this only preferred attire. The Rosary has an Infinite depth beyond just ‘a pious devotion’!
@Margaret: I think we can say that Ratzinger/Benedict is certainly a “Theolog”, and hopefully no “egg-head”! But all of us “theolog” types, even St. Paul it appears grappled with head & heart! And in reality it must be so, this is the Christian “anthropology” itself…man, “body, soul and spirit”! (1 Thess. 5: 23) And too, humility applies to me as a “creature”, as a “sinner”, and as a biblical “saint”. And it well becomes me in each of these categories.
Btw, I hope I have a very real practical reality and understanding of Mary, the Theotokos! She is with us in the Body of Christ, and has gone before us also!
Fr. Robert: My expression of “egghead” here is a ‘term of endearment’–as applied to someone who abides as an ‘intellectual scholar’. So it can be truly said of Pope Benedict that he abides as an ‘Beloved and Admired Luminary (or an egghead)’; but above and beyond this Intellectual Prowess – he is the Humble and Anointed ‘Vicar Of Christ’ on earth!
Margaret: My parish priest, Father Sweeney (RIP), was a great intellectual and Augustinian (his order in education). He was both the egg-head and the pastor, he was always honest with my hard questions! Yes, I was one of those who questioned often, but not really a lack of faith, but the how and why of things. I am still always the student!
And I learned this somewhat from Fr. Sweeney! (Oh yeah, my father – RIP, was a scientist, physicist. A moderate Roman Catholic. I certainly got some of this from him.)
The Rosary must not be abused. It is not an amulet (That many ignorant fellow Roman Catholics I’ve seen treat it) nor is it a fashion accessory. It is not superior to the Sacraments. You will not be saved by it alone. It does not have greater authority than Scripture or the teachings of the Church Fathers. The Rosary helps you by way of mystical experience to God, rather than any legalistic, mechanical processes. It is the equivalent to the Eastern Orthodox habit of praying the Jesus Prayer. But please do not equate the prayer of the Rosary to other religions. We Christians are superior and practice the One True Faith because it is established by our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. If you do not believe that the Catholic Church is the One, True Faith, please leave the Church, be an atheist/agnostic/whatever is popular right now. There is no compromise if you are a member of the Church Militant, and that means no subjectivism or relativism in matters of faith. It must be so, because it is the narrow and straight path that leads to Heaven, as the Church Fathers have pointed out. The wide and easy path will get you lost and may even lead to damnation. As for the Protestant, we must practice self-restraint and sensitivity, because they are a mixed lot. But they ARE Christians, if baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One part of Protestantism is disordered, deficient in faith, logic, and coherence in theology; it is subjectivist, emotionalistic, and relativistic. Another part of protestantism is open to dialogue, is coherent, and puts forth valid complaints (demanding reforms), and has the only problem of rebellion against valid authority.
The Rosary is a gift, not a curse. It is given to us by God that we may use it and let the Holy Spirit descend upon us and impart unto us its gifts of Knowledge, Wisdom, Counsel, and Understanding. But most important of all, we must receive God in the Holy Communion as often as possible, to unite ourselves as closely as possible with God, and to support His Church on Earth. We must fulfill the four duties of the Church Militant: 1.WORSHIP (Liturgia), 2.WITNESS (Martyria), 3.SERVICE (Diakonia), and 4,FELLOWSHIP (Koinonia).
Indeed the Rosary, in the hands of the baptised Catholic Christian, can be a mystical expression and discipline, but by itself, and pressed mechanically, means little! This was my point. The same can be said, to the conservative or Evangelical Christian who just mentally expresses knowing the term, justfication by faith, without the reality of that faith itself.
Fr. Stephen I didn’t see this ping back. But, I love the Rosary, and indeed, many Catholic Traditions. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit… Amen!
Hi Joel! I was a little surprised when I first read this post on your blog… But yes, isn’t it just awesome praying the Rosary!
Hope you are well a blessed.
Indeed, Fr. Stephen! The Rosary has provided me with a blessing, as you can see above!!
So Joel really is Trinitarian! Praise the Lord, I knew it! Tounge in cheek Joel.
I bow to the Tradition of the Church! The reason Protestants are so messed up is because each person is their own magisterium.
Perhaps we should look at the ‘Jesus Prayer’ here also? That is most mystical for the EO!
‘The Jesus Prayer (Greek: Η Προσευχή του Ιησού, i prosefchí tou iisoú) or “The Prayer” (Greek: Η Ευχή, i efchí̱ – literally “The Wish”) is a short, formulaic prayer esteemed and advocated within the Eastern Orthodox church:
Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.
The prayer has been widely taught and discussed throughout the history of the Eastern Churches. It is often repeated continually as a part of personal ascetic practice, its use being an integral part of the eremitic tradition of prayer known as Hesychasm (Ancient Greek: ἡσυχάζω, hesychazo, “to keep stillness”). The prayer is particularly esteemed by the spiritual fathers of this tradition (see Philokalia)..’
And btw, there is also an Anglican form of prayer beads, which usually includes the Jesus Prayer.
The Jesus Prayer is also strongly discouraged to new Orthodox Christians, for fear of it becoming a “vain repetition”. It’s usual for a spiritual father (or mother!) to restrict use of the Jesus Prayer to maybe 10-20 repetitions per day at the most, until the convert is able immerse himself fully in the communal Prayer of the Church, and then to very gradually, over several years, increase the rule.
My spiritual father tells me that his job is often to apply the brakes to prevent his spiritual children from running out into the desert armed with nothing more than enthusiasm and good intentions.
Indeed the authority for at least classic Anglicanism, has commonly been as the Lambeth Quadrilateral: 1. Adherence to the Holy Scriptures as the ultimate standard of faith. 2. Adherence to the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed (with Athanasius’s Creed, per the Thirty-Nine Articles, VIII.) 3. Adherence to the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 4. Adherence to a belief in a historic episcopate.
Also in classic Anglicanism, generally: The First Seven Eumenical Councils (325-787) are believed, and somewhat followed.
We can note too, that the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, for the four sources of authority: Scripture, tradition, Holy Spirit and experience, and reason.
No papal authority here!
Here’s a link for Anglican Catholic Christianity…
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/Anglo-Catholic/
Also a link, older, but very profoundly a grand piece by Rev. Boultbee on the Thirty-Nine Articles… note # 19. Of the Church.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041027153047/http://bellsouthpwp.net/i/c/icteas/Boultbee/b_ch01-08.htm