Some questions about The Rosary

[puellapaschalis]

Chiming in with another traditional anecdote: none of the traditional priests I know have instructed me to pray the Rosary every day, let alone more than one. I've heard it as a recommendation from the pulpit, but it was within the context of ardent love for Our Lady and always within the echo reverb of "Pray as you can and not as you can't." My once-director (FSSP), when I asked him if I should pray a daily Rosary, instead told me to undertake the Angelus once each day (twice or thrice if I could manage it), although my tendency to scruples could have coloured that instruction and he equally may well have given it to someone else.

[oremus1]

 

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No I am not associated with FSSPX, Opus Dei or SSPX

Priests include: FSSP, FFI (Franciscan Friar Immaculate), some bi-ritual priests who celebrate both Tridentine and non Tridentine, and orthodox consevative novus ordo priests - including some who say the NO in Latin. I know at least one bishop who would be scandalised if someone approached him for a vocation and did not say the rosary daily. Also, VERY MANY laypeople, and all the pro-Fatima and traditional catholics who are scandalised if one does not say rosary.

The priests didn't say it was bad not to, but said it was necessary especially If one wants to enter consecrated life, and to avoid sin, and seemed to think the prayer life was deficient without it.

But I will add, I have taken the advice of the FFI priest who said to me, the only bad rosary is the one you do not say (he quoted some pre VII pope). he says the rosary all the time while doing other things. so I have started saying the rosary a lot of the time as background noise as well when doing other things and it is actually very helpful to avoid sinful thoughts, to help with sins arising from impatience, etc. it also helps to cultivate marian devotion.

the FFI priest also told me that if you do not like the rosary you should say it anyway and ask Our Lady to help you to love the rosary. Now I am not sure if it is a case of not being called to the rosary devotion, OR if it is a case of demons/laziness/lack of discipline etc not to like to say  rosary. also the FSSP priest said we cannot like everything, and would do well to say the rosary every day even if we do not like it because of devotion and discipline. I also had direction from the FSSP and the FFI

 EDIT: sorry this is responding to the person who asked which priests, congregations  etc

Edited April 8, 2015 by oremus1

[oremus1]

Chiming in with another traditional anecdote: none of the traditional priests I know have instructed me to pray the Rosary every day, let alone more than one. I've heard it as a recommendation from the pulpit, but it was within the context of ardent love for Our Lady and always within the echo reverb of "Pray as you can and not as you can't." My once-director (FSSP), when I asked him if I should pray a daily Rosary, instead told me to undertake the Angelus once each day (twice or thrice if I could manage it), although my tendency to scruples could have coloured that instruction and he equally may well have given it to someone else.

​I am not sure if they told me different because I was candidate for becoming a CV.
 

[puellapaschalis]

​I am not sure if they told me different because I was candidate for becoming a CV. 

​Ah, perhaps. I know very little about CVs and how that discernment/formation process goes.

[oremus1]

​Ah, perhaps. I know very little about CVs and how that discernment/formation process goes.

​Neither do many people hence why many trads and trad priests expect that I follow a monastic horarium at the same time as working and doing normal chores etc lol

[oremus1]

I just wanted to say, since the FFI priest told me, the only bad rosary is the one you don't say, I have been saying the rosary all the time, waiting in queues, walking in the road, eating lunch, I have a finger ring one. and it really helped me to develop marian devotion. I think the more you say it the more you like it perhaps. I only do one decade at a time if I am doing other stuff. I suggest people who find it hard try this method.

[Catlick]

Traditionalist/'conservative' priests generally have high standards when it comes to the religious life. They have a good view of the heavy responsibilities that come with living as a religious. So I can imagine them setting some standard for you when you're discerning a vocation to enter the monastery. This is as logical as when a professional athlete advices you to train alot when you ask him how to follow in his footsteps. 

[oremus1]

Traditionalist/'conservative' priests generally have high standards when it comes to the religious life. They have a good view of the heavy responsibilities that come with living as a religious. So I can imagine them setting some standard for you when you're discerning a vocation to enter the monastery. This is as logical as when a professional athlete advices you to train alot when you ask him how to follow in his footsteps.

​Yes but you do realise that someone could pray a lot, but just not pray the rosary. what if they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet instead? or the time they could have spent praying the rosary, they spent in lectio divina?

Edited April 13, 2015 by oremus1

[Catlick]

​Yes but you do realise that someone could pray a lot, but just not pray the rosary. what if they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet instead? or the time they could have spent praying the rosary, they spent in lectio divina?

​What if you put cheese on your breakfast bread instead of ham? Would anyone care? 

[puellapaschalis]

I think that ideally a parishioner who starts discernment is already known to the priests in some way, and that they already have at least some idea of who they are. Then when a chat comes about religious life or the priesthood, that a person prays this chaplet or the other rather than the Rosary is either already known or isn't going to come as some big 'shock'.

[oremus1]

I think that ideally a parishioner who starts discernment is already known to the priests in some way, and that they already have at least some idea of who they are. Then when a chat comes about religious life or the priesthood, that a person prays this chaplet or the other rather than the Rosary is either already known or isn't going to come as some big 'shock'.

w​hat happens if they are very devout in their prayer life, but belong to a mega-parish. or if they are new to a parish then the priest isn't going to know who they are even if they were basically like a monk most of the time

[The Historian]

​1) Saint Louis Marie said no such thing.  If you read his Secret of the Rosary and try following his directions on saying the Paters and Aves you'll probably extend your rosary by an extra 10 minutes.  Saint Louis said something is better than nothing if the intention is right.  If you're working the farm and genuinely won't have time to say your rosary, it's best to say it whilst working than not to say it at all.

2) No the rosary is not obligatory.  Devotion to Mary is necessary and obligatory, but particular expressions of devotion are not (except for the liturgical devotions).  Our Lady asked us to recite the rosary.  You don't have to, but it would certainly make her happy if you did.

3) If it takes half an hour to meditate on a particular mystery because you are struggling then I'd suggest not being too focused on the meditation.  Don't get too wrappped up in it.  The rosary isn't meant to be a strenuous task.  If you spend half an hour in contemplation then Saint Louis says let the Holy Ghost lead you and don't worry about not finish the rosary.

4) I don't know.  How well are those 15 decades being prayed?  I really wouldn't worry about this one.

5) Announce the mystery.  Have a minute or two of meditation.  Then recite the vocal prayers.  Rinse and repeat.

6) In general just stick with what you know and experience in your parish life.  If you don't want to pray the Luminous mysteries then don't.  I don't.  If you do, then go ahead.  A rosary is at the bare minimum 15 Our Fathers, 150 Hail Marys, and the five joyful, give five sorrowful and five glorious mysteries.  Everything else is pious custom or tradition.

7) Different strokes.  She wants devotion to her rosary spread.  It's a weapon given us to assist us in our salvation.  It's one of many.  Simple as that.

8) Because it's the best of them all.

9) As many as you can.