I tried. But there is something about the rosary that I don't get.
I like to actually hold something that reminds me I'm supposed to do "pray-time only" (and not, say, "cook and praise").
I think the idea of mysteries is genius. Never run out of a text to reflect upon. And there is endless graces you can ask for, endless examples to look up to and imitate.
I like St Mary as a model of patience, hope and love.
I understand the idea of intercession.
What I don't get is the repetition of Hail Mary. 10 times, times 5! Why?
Is that supposed to keep you focused? Or to keep track of time?
Why does it sounds like a race when said in Spanish or Portuguese?
Whenever I go to a recitated rosary I can't help but think of that verse where Jesus says: " when you pray, don't repeat like pagans..."
I do have a rosary in my purse, but I can't just repeat on and on. I spend more time on the mystery than on the serie of "hail Mary".. But then I feel superstitious, thinking if I don't say 10 in a row, I'm being disrespectful or something...
Ah it's so easy to make your life complicated!
So my new parish had a novena, ending tonight with mass and shared snacks. But I won't go. I went to exactly 4 evenings (out of 9) every other night or so. The first one was great. We spend 20 min in a sharing group. But it went worse and worse to me. I was bored out of my mind, feeling bad and discouraged. The worst I think was the litany. I just don't get it.
I love the litany of saints for ordinations, when we ask for the intercession of saints. I like to think about all those people who lived holy lives, yet being so unique, so full of life, really humans, not angels or emotionless..
But the litany of the names of Mary is just painful, it goes on and on and I can see it being a beautiful reflection about all the meaning she carries. But read aloud in Church, as fast as humanly possible, doesn't make it any inspiring.
Well there are many ways to pray. I think the rosary is not one for me!
Do you pray the rosary regularly? What keeps you going?
4 comments:
As a kid, my mom taught me a common prayer. That was my extent of praying for a long time. Then when I got older, I memorized the Lord's prayer. As a young teen, I began just talking to God. Not in a preset fashion and remembering that their is one mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5).
You made a good point with the verse you quoted about not repeating things like the pagans. That is the one that comes to my mind too.
Have a wonderful weekend!
When I was your age I felt exactly the same about the Rosary. But these days I find it a useful prayer form. Counting the beads helps me to focus prayer long enough to talk to God. Maybe it has to do with age and experience.
Since I am "teaching" and "leading" a Rosary with my retreat team this week I had been thinking about how to present the Rosary and what some of the feelings about praying the Rosary might be. Your post was an answer to my prayer because it reminds me of some of the objections to the Rosary. (I prefer to pray Rosaries on my own rather than at an event in church so I am with you there. But it was a good thing you did to try it out a few times to see if you were drawn to praying that way.)
I found this post interesting. My sister and I were just talking about the Rosary, in context with what Jesus said about the meaningless repetitions. We were raised Catholic, but were "born again", me when I was 17, and her when she was around 28. (she is 10 years older than me) We went to a Catholic mass this past week, and the church was beautiful. But honestly, the standing and sitting and the preaching - please take no offense,but there was no life in it! Jesus gave his life for us to follow Him, to partake of His victory, to live such a full and vibrant life....I know the Church is so much a part of you, of your upbringing and heritage. But you seem to need more, some real fellowship. Please understand I mean no offense. The Catholic church was also a big part of childhood.
I am not offended :)
I am aware of many things the catholic church doesn't care enough about, or how it offends people, and this is sad...
Post a Comment