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Concentrating on the Rosary
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Ruthie
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 Posted: Tue Nov 14th, 2006 09:28 pm

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I am so glad to find this topic on the Rosary. I've had the tiniest of questions the last year and a half since I started praying the Rosary again in earnest.

I keep worrying about praying the Hail Mary's without concentrating on their meaning while I'm trying to concentrate on the Mysteries. Isn't this what anti-catholic protestants accuse us of - repetitive prayers? I don't believe that for a minute but I always wonder how I would defend praying the Rosary because of this.

Often I pray the Rosary while I'm out walking. I've heard of other peope doing this. I don't know whether to let the Rosary beads just hang loose as usual for all to see or to keep them hidden in my hand so as not to seem like I'm flaunting what I'm doing like the Pharisees in the Scriptures. I vacillate between feeling that I'm witnessing to others if they can see me praying in this way and trying to keep it private. Once, on a hike I saw a man holding his Rosary loose in his hand as he walked, and it made me feel so good to see a fellow Christian Catholic even though we didn't speak to one another. Any thoughts?

Just a comment - I have been so blessed praying the Rosary. The mysteries have expanded for me in such a beautiful way as I meditate on them - things I never thought of before, like 12-year-old Jesus going to Jerusalem for the Passover, probably in the company of Joseph and the men for the first time, his wonder and awe in celebrating the Seder Supper, and how he must have felt so immersed and excited at communicating with the wise and learned men in the Temple. I'm sure this could go even deeper with more knowledge of the customs and times on my part. Anyway, it's truly beautiful how the Mysteries can develop far beyond just the statement of them.



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David W. Emery
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 Posted: Tue Nov 14th, 2006 10:19 pm

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Hello Ruthie. Good to have you aboard.

No need to fret over the difficulty of concentrating on the words of the vocal prayers. They are there primarily to keep your mind on prayer by blocking out the worries of the day. The “real” prayer is the meditation on the mystery. If, however, you just can’t “get into” the mystery because of your preocupations, you can always fall back on the words. If you’re like me, you can think of only one thing at a time, so there’s no possibility of meditating and following the words simultaneously. You do either one or the other, depending on how things work out.

By the way, that business about “repetitious prayers” is bunk. That’s not what Jesus was talking about. If you look at some recent translations of the biblical passage, you will see that the words used are “babbling on” and “heaping up empty phrases.” People who do these things are paying more attention to rhetoric and their own desires and vanity than to God. Jesus himself prayed repetitively in the Garden of Gethsemane, so repetition in and of itself cannot be bad.

Showing or hiding the beads while praying in a public place is your decision. Do what’s comfortable. There is no “wrong” way to use them. If you feel really self-conscious, you might try a rosary ring. A ring works great while driving, too. It doesn’t get tangled up in the steering wheel. Some years ago I found one for a dollar, and I use it while traveling.

I recall having trouble some years ago with the young Jesus causing his parents anguish when he stayed behind. It did not sit well with me. My pastor had no explanation for it, either. It was a “mystery.” Well, of course. That’s what we call them. But wasn’t there more to it?

Age 12 is the traditional time for a young Jew’s bar-mitzvah, when he takes his place in the congregation as an adult, shouldering all the responsibilities of the Law. As a full member now, a “son of the covenant” (translation of the Aramaic phrase “bar-mitzvah”), Jesus would naturally have had the desire to approach the rabbis in the temple as a foretaste of his public ministry, still years away. But more important is his question: “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” The gospel states that Mary and Joseph did not understand, even though it is clear that they knew that his real Father is God. What is it they did not understand? Probably the answer to “Why now?” — wasn’t he too young to begin his mission? What, then, was the significance of his hidden life?

David


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CajunRick
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 Posted: Tue Nov 14th, 2006 11:44 pm

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David W. Emery wrote: Showing or hiding the beads while praying in a public place is your decision. Do what’s comfortable. There is no “wrong” way to use them. If you feel really self-conscious, you might try a rosary ring. A ring works great while driving, too. It doesn’t get tangled up in the steering wheel. Some years ago I found one for a dollar, and I use it while traveling.

A rosary card is another option.  It's a recent innovation, the size of a credit card with bumps where the beads would go.  It's very convenient.  Unfortunately, because of my diabetes and repetitions blood testing, I can't distinguish the individual bumps, but I know others who love them.

 



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Ruthie
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 Posted: Wed Nov 15th, 2006 12:12 am

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Thanks David and Rick. I feel reassured by your comments.

David, your description of what was probably going on with Jesus is just as I thought. It is one of my favorite Mysteries. Being a mother and grandmother, I can also identify with Mary's anguish at not being able to find her son. So there are many aspects to this Mystery. They are all so rich.



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Ruthie
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 Posted: Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 11:21 am

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David W. Emery wrote: ...you might try a rosary ring. A ring works great while driving, too. It doesn’t get tangled up in the steering wheel.
and...

If you’re like me, you can think of only one thing at a time, so there’s no possibility of meditating and following the words (of the vocal prayers) simultaneously.

Praying the Rosary while driving?

David, as you said, I can only concentrate on one thing at a time - concentrating on the mysteries while saying the prayers as a background. I've heard several others mention praying the Rosary while driving, and I've always wondered about that. If I concentrate on the mysteries, I can't really give my full attention to driving. Just like talking on the cell phone is a little bit of a distraction that affects my driving, I would think praying the Rosary would also be a distraction. I find that even talking to a passenger is a distraction from giving my full attention to my driving.

Once on EWTN, I heard a priest (can't remember who it was) relate how he ran a red light while he was praying the Rosary in his car. A policewoman stopped him and he explained in all seriousness that he never saw the light; he had been praying the Rosary. She laughed and laughed and let him go.

But that is an example of what could happen. So is this a safe practise? I don't think I could do it. It's a little more than just thinking about something and praying spontaneously as in "just talking" to God.

I suppose for those who have been praying the Rosary for years and years can even do it in their sleep so it would pose no danger for them while they're driving. But I don't think I'm ready for this.

Comments?

Ruthie

Last edited on Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 11:24 am by Ruthie



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BodRod
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 Posted: Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 11:35 am

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>>>I can only concentrate on one thing at a time >>>

Boy!!! That's me! I don't know how people can concentrate on a mystery and recite verse at the same time.



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Katy
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 Posted: Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 01:06 pm

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Ruthie wrote: Praying the Rosary while driving?

David, as you said, I can only concentrate on one thing at a time - concentrating on the mysteries while saying the prayers as a background. I've heard several others mention praying the Rosary while driving, and I've always wondered about that. If I concentrate on the mysteries, I can't really give my full attention to driving. Just like talking on the cell phone is a little bit of a distraction that affects my driving, I would think praying the Rosary would also be a distraction. I find that even talking to a passenger is a distraction from giving my full attention to my driving.




Hi Ruthie!

I also like to pray the Rosary sometimes while I'm driving.  This free CD from the Mary Foundation helps when I'm in the car, because it announces the mysteries and leads the prayers. 

Once on EWTN, I heard a priest (can't remember who it was) relate how he ran a red light while he was praying the Rosary in his car. A policewoman stopped him and he explained in all seriousness that he never saw the light; he had been praying the Rosary. She laughed and laughed and let him go.

I've also heard Father Levis (from Web of Faith) tell this story.  If someone gets that distracted by praying while driving, it would probably be better to pray at home! 

Last edited on Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 01:08 pm by Katy



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CajunRick
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 Posted: Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 01:48 pm

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Ruthie wrote: Praying the Rosary while driving?

I like putting on a tape or CD.  Like listening to the radio, I can give more or less attention depending on the demands of driving.  Even if it's just playing in the background and I'm driving attentively, I'm still benefiting from hearing the words of the prayers.  I also often put on a CD of the rosary while I'm going to sleep at night.  Even sleeping, I believe I'm benefiting from what I'm hearing.

When I do actually pray the rosary while driving, I'll just stop when I need to, and pick it up again when I can.  That's usually for long trips with others in the car who might be sleeping.  I keep track of the mysteries and just start the decade over.

 



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David W. Emery
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 Posted: Fri Dec 22nd, 2006 02:05 pm

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“While driving” does not include “in city traffic.” No one need invite disaster. I only do it in the boonies on the highway. For instance, I can get in a couple of sets as I cross King Ranch each month on my way to and from the San Antonio area. (If you’re not familiar with King Ranch, at one time it spanned seven counties and was the largest ranch in the world. Today, it’s a fraction of that size but still takes an hour or so to cross. Texas is has not shrunk significantly.)

I think the strangest story I’ve heard about praying the rosary while driving was told by Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Back in the day, he was chauffering Mother Teresa of Calcutta, praying the rosary with her as he drove. New York being the phenomenon it is, the rosary became hopelessly entangled in the steering wheel. Mother Teresa, without a pause, moved on to other topics, leaving the rosary half said.

David


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GordonH
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 Posted: Mon Apr 9th, 2007 03:04 pm

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Does anyone else have problems remembering the names and order of the mysteries?

I could do with a card with that on it to carry with me. Maybe I will make one.

(This is my first post here. I am not actually a Roman Catholic but I do pray the rosary at least daily - including the "fatima" prayer. Maybe if I had been brought up a catholic I might have been taught the order of the mysteries, I have no idea if kids get taught these sort of things).

 

 


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CajunRick
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 Posted: Mon Apr 9th, 2007 03:40 pm

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GordonH wrote: Does anyone else have problems remembering the names and order of the mysteries?
Yep.


I could do with a card with that on it to carry with me. Maybe I will make one.
I bought one at a religious store for about a quarter.  I keep it in my checkbook.

(This is my first post here. I am not actually a Roman Catholic but I do pray the rosary at least daily - including the "fatima" prayer. Maybe if I had been brought up a catholic I might have been taught the order of the mysteries, I have no idea if kids get taught these sort of things).
Welcome to CHN, Gordon.  We're glad to have you here with us.  Please let us know if you have any questions and we'll do our best to answer them for you.  Hopefully, when you're more comfortable here, you'll be willing to share your faith story with us.  Meanwhile, welcome to the family!
 

 



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GordonH
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 Posted: Mon Apr 9th, 2007 03:53 pm

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Thanks for the welcome Rick.

I will try and think about how I got here and where "here" actually is.


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Annie
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 Posted: Tue Apr 10th, 2007 01:25 pm

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GordonH wrote: Does anyone else have problems remembering the names and order of the mysteries?

There are rosaries available with Our Father beads that have the names of the mysteries written on them. The old ones had beads triangular in cross-section and the new ones are square for the 4th set of Mysteries.



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 Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 06:13 pm

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I have been praying the rosary during my morning jog. Okay, okay, I use my fingers... maybe the "ring" someone mentioned would be a good choice....

Sue



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 Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 06:57 pm

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Called what and where?

 



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Candlemass
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 Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 07:40 pm

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Annie wrote: GordonH wrote: Does anyone else have problems remembering the names and order of the mysteries?

There are rosaries available with Our Father beads that have the names of the mysteries written on them. The old ones had beads triangular in cross-section and the new ones are square for the 4th set of Mysteries.

I just ordered such a rosary, the old bible I have has all the mysteries listed as well.



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CajunRick
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 Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 07:58 pm

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Candlemass wrote: I just ordered such a rosary, the old bible I have has all the mysteries listed as well.
Remember that our former Holy Father, Servant of God John Paul II, gave us a new set of mysteries that will not be included in an old bible.

You can get a complete set of mysteries with their related scripture passages here, and complete instructions on reciting the rosary here.



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Candlemass
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 Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 09:36 pm

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Let me get the old ones down first, I'm old school! :cool:



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Juan
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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 12:24 am

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Hi Ruthie,

I didn't read all the messages, so maybe these "cures" to lack of concentration may have been mentioned.

1.  Sometimes, I pray the Rosary and read the Bible at the same time.  What I do, is I look up the mystery in the Bible and I read the verses, then I pray the associated decade.

For the Assumption I read Revelations 1

For the Coronation I read  Psalms 44:10

2.  I also pray the Rosary to the Father.  Essentially, I invert the order of the Our Father and Hail Mary, praying one Hail Mary and 10 Our Fathers. 

I pray the following mysteries. 

The triumph of the Father of Creation, Adam and Eve created in the Garden of Eden
The Father's victory when Mary gives her Fiat at the Annunciation.
The Father's victory when Jesus prays, Thy Will be done and not mine in Gethsemane
The Father's victory when we return to him in conversion, the Prodigal son
The triumph of the Father on the Last Day, Rev 20 and 21, The New Jerusalem

http://www.rosaryofgodthefather.org/Rosary.asp

3.  I pray the children's prayers of Fatima. 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Hail Mary - just the titles, not the complete prayers.

4.  I read my prayers from a booklet.  I have a Scriptural Rosary booklet which helps me to concentrate because I have to read the Scripture for each mystery.

5.  I pray in the car on my way to work, but I haven't found the rings very useful, I can't tell which bead I'm on.  The Rosary gets caught in the steering wheel when I'm making a turn and the recordings make me sleepy.  So, I just pray on my fingers. 

In the end, I get distracted a lot and sometimes I pray very poorly.  But I think God looks at our effort more than anything. 

Sincerely,

Juan




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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 12:27 am

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Candlemass, you'll learn them in no time!

I must admit, I pray the Rosary anytime, anyplace.  In the car on the way to work (ok, it's not city traffic but a 20 minute country drive) and while on my daily walk.  I love Mother Angelica and the Sisters version on EWTN and also Father Mitch's Holy Land Rosary.  And I sleep most peacefully the nights I fall asleep in the middle, counting off the Hail Mary's on my fingers! 

Psalm 4

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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 02:15 am

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My Protestant family doesn't know what to think about me praying the Rosary.  They really don't understand it but are so afraid to let me explain anything, like, it might begin to make sense, or maybe Mom does know what she's doing.  When Notre Dame was playing LSU football this year, my son's friend had a bet on LSU.  I was of course pulling for ND.  My son told him he better watch out, "My Mom has her beads out!"  I would never pray for a game.  But I do love the mysteries, and I've learned the original ones. When I was first thinking about joining the RCC, I was watching Mother Angelica on EWTN saying the Rosary.  I threw a sofa cushion on the floor, knelt down and tried to say it along with them.  It seemed to take much longer then than it does now! 

I also heard about Mother Teresa praying her Rosary while traveling.  She measured travel across town not in miles or minutes but in Hail Marys.


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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 01:00 pm

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Credo Catholic wrote: When Notre Dame was playing LSU football this year, my son's friend had a bet on LSU.  I was of course pulling for ND.  My son told him he better watch out, "My Mom has her beads out!"  I would never pray for a game.

Your problem is you were praying for the wrong team!

When I was in grade school (actually 4th to 12th grade in that school), the brothers of the Sacred Heart used to have us pray for our team to win.  We were supposed to promise God something, write it down, and put it in our wallets.  If the team won, we had to take out the promise and do it.  The team never won, so I quit praying for sports teams to win.  I pray for them to have a safe trip, play their best, not get hurt, etc., but never for a win.  But that's just me.....  (I don't gamble either, so no bets.)



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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 01:07 pm

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I agree...I'm not comfortable with asking God to take sides...not over a football or basketball game! 

Psalm 4

jean



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 Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 03:38 pm

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cajunrick wrote:

 I pray for them to have a safe trip, play their best, not get hurt, etc., but never for a win.  But that's just me.....  (I don't gamble either, so no bets.)

I agree!!


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 Posted: Sat May 26th, 2007 02:02 pm

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