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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 742 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 05:03 pm |
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I love the rosary, but I also wonder if it is the best prayer for everybody all the time. Maybe some people grow closer to God through different kinds of prayer, and still are strongly devoted to Our Lady.
Yet I seem to run into a lot of literature amog the faithful that strongly encourages praying the rosary daily. It seems to strongly imply that this is omething Our Lady asks of us. Perhaps in private revelations and apparitions she strongly encouraged it. But, if it is not the best prayer for someone, or someone can not seem to pray it all each day, how can they feel like it is ok to modify it, or not pray it, or pray less of it, when it is seemigly so highly recommended by Our Lady herself?
I do accept the private revelations, yet I also think that what Mary really wants is to bring us closer to God, and therfore if some people do not pray the rosary because they have found other means of prayer that draw them nearer to God, I think Our Lady would be very happy with that. Were her requests that people pray the rosary not necessarily for all people, but the people to whom the revelations were given and those who read them and feel compelled to also accept the encouragment?
I do not know if many of us do all the fasting and prayer that some of these private revelations seem to suggest. Were they maybe for specific people?
Brian
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5079 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 09:05 pm |
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brian wrote: I love the rosary, but I also wonder if it is the best prayer for everybody all the time.
Of course not. The mass is the best prayer for everybody all the time.
Maybe some people grow closer to God through different kinds of prayer, and still are strongly devoted to Our Lady.
That's fine. Eastern Christians and Muslims both have a strong devotion to our Lady and typically do not pray the rosary.
Yet I seem to run into a lot of literature amog the faithful that strongly encourages praying the rosary daily. It seems to strongly imply that this is omething Our Lady asks of us.
I have heard faithful Catholics say it is impossible to get to heaven unless we pray the rosary daily, just as there are those who say the mass is invalid unless it is in Latin. There are many mistaken beliefs among certain of the faithful. All we can do is try to catechise them correctly.
Perhaps in private revelations and apparitions she strongly encouraged it. But, if it is not the best prayer for someone, or someone can not seem to pray it all each day, how can they feel like it is ok to modify it, or not pray it, or pray less of it, when it is seemigly so highly recommended by Our Lady herself?
But our Church does not say Mary has ever appeared to anyone at any time since her glorious Assumption. The Church states that a particular apparition is "worthy of belief" but at no time is any apparition ever a mandatory belief. Given that understanding, one must first accept the apparition before one can give any credibility to the message. The Church also does not say what constitutes the rosary. It is a private devotion, so each person who prays can choose to make it their own. It is helpful in a group setting to have a basic set of prayers, which is what the Church suggests. But it is only a suggestion.
I do accept the private revelations, yet I also think that what Mary really wants is to bring us closer to God,
Mary's soul magnifies the Lord, her Son, and her message to us is to do whatever he tells us. Mary would be quite pleased with whatever brings each of us individually to our Savior.
Were her requests that people pray the rosary not necessarily for all people, but the people to whom the revelations were given and those who read them and feel compelled to also accept the encouragment?
I think Mary speaks to all who choose to listen. Her messages are always valid, or else the Church denounces the alleged visitation. And her messages are always a validation of the teachings of her Son and the apostles through the Church. She tells us nothing new, but reinforces that which has been brought to us through the three-legged stool of Truth: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterium.
I do not know if many of us do all the fasting and prayer that some of these private revelations seem to suggest. Were they maybe for specific people?
Her messages are for all who choose to listen. Most of us do not listen. Then again, Jesus calls us to be perfect as his heavenly Father is perfect, and few of us listen to that, either. Thank God we keep getting more chances.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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