rosary

[Leah]

I've been attempting to pray the rosary for the last week, but feel confused as to how one meditates on the different mysteries. It's like walking and eating at the same time; I can't verbally pray and meditate at the same time. What should going through my mind while I'm doing this? Any advice?

[homeschoolmom]

As the prayers come more naturally to you, the meditation is easier. It might be helpful to have pictures to look at for each of the mysteries. Also, a cd of someone leading the rosary might be helpful. Then you don't have to concentrate so hard on the words of the prayers.

[zabbazooey]

Praying the mysteries is so infinitely complicated.

[All For Jesus]

I think that different people have different approaches. I think I have heard that one way to pray the rosary would be to let the actual words of the different prayers to become a background. Allow the mysteries to take the forefront.- there are so many facets to the mysteries to be discovered. But yes, I agree, it is hard to focus sometimes. Just keep praying...ask Mary to help teach you how to pray.

[zabbazooey]

I just can't seem to get the hang of it! Urrggh so frustrating...

[journeyman]

[quote name='zabbazooey' date='Aug 9 2005, 03:47 PM']I just can't seem to get the hang of it! Urrggh so frustrating...
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I occasionally use the EWTN programs to help guide my thoughts - Someone like Father Groeschel is very good at preparing a reflection, and if it resonates with me, I see where it goes . . . if it doesn't, I focus on the prayers

[cmotherofpirl]

Try using virtual rosary: [url="http://virtualrosary.org/"]http://virtualrosary.org/[/url]

There are verses to meditate for every Hail Mary.

[sweetpea316]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Aug 10 2005, 03:30 PM']Try using virtual rosary:  [url="http://virtualrosary.org/"]http://virtualrosary.org/[/url]

There are verses to meditate for every Hail Mary.
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Yes, I've used this one also. And you can set it so that it gives you a daily reminder... Nifty.

And like someone said above, there are shows on EWTN that help me.

[All For Jesus]

Another thing you might find helpful is one of the rosary books. You can get them at a Catholic bookstore...or you could probably find them online (maybe even from EWTN.) There is one by Father Peyton that is supposed to be wonderful...such things can be nice b/c they give you a starting point for you meditation (perhaps a sentence or two about the mystery.) Just a suggestion.

[Honour]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Aug 10 2005, 01:30 PM']Try using virtual rosary:  [url="http://virtualrosary.org/"]http://virtualrosary.org/[/url]

There are verses to meditate for every Hail Mary.
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This thing is soooo cool. I use it alot. You can also check out www.59beads.com Its cool but last time I checked its only got one of the mysteries.

[Lil Red]

i wish virtual rosary was getting updated though. i've been checking for months and they still don't have the program up for macs.

[Leah]

Last week I ordered [i]The Rosary Prayer Book[/i] by Fr. Patrick Peyton. Does anyone else know of this book? Did I make a good choice?

[Quietfire]

concentrate first on learning the words spoken in the Rosary, all of them, from beginning to end.
I did this for months until I could recite them at the drop of a hat.

THEN, I started with the Sorrowful Mysteries, concentrating on each particular aspect (scene, thought) before praying the particular rose associated to it.
THEN, I moved on daily to follow this format with regards to that days particular mystery.

The Sorrowful was the easiest (yet emotionally difficult) since I was able to visually (in my mind) use the movie "The Passion" to help me.

I then saw an interesting movie on EWTN that I was then able to use visually (of course all this in my mind) on the Joyful Mysteries.

Scripture can help immensely with all of these too.

I still use Virtual Rosary occasionally.

It gets easier as time goes on.
But once you know the Hail Mary's, the Our Fathers, and all the others, you find that concentrating on the mystery is easy while reciting the prayer.
Its the interior reflection that is most important. I usually pray the rosary silently anyway, especially at work, and cannot use the rosary itself and have to either use my fingers or mentally keep track of where I am that so often I am sooo lost in the particular aspect of the mystery that I tend to forget where I was on the rosary. But I dont mind, I just start over.

There have been days that its taken me all day to finish the rosary.

Ah..............you gotta love God.
Such gifts.

Pax

[Fidei Defensor]

I started praying it by having a verse to accompany each Hail Mary, and this has helped my focus on the meditation.

[Frank]

I just got enrolled in RCIA classes and I'm excited to get started. The online Rosary has helped me alot in guiding me to properly meditate with the Rosary. I will also be purchasing The Rosary Prayer Book by Fr. Patrick Peyton. Thank you all for your help

[DeeDee]

Hey Leah,
I don't pray the rosary very much, but I know people who do, and they say that the idea is to meditate on the mysteries -put yourself into the situation as much as possible, and use the words as kind of a mantra. You'll get the hang of it.

[Jeff]

Journeyman mentioned Fr. Groeschel. You can get free C.D.s by him with music by Simonetta @ [url="http://saintphilomena.com/"]http://saintphilomena.com/[/url].

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='All For Jesus' date='Aug 8 2005, 01:20 PM']I think that different people have different approaches.  I think I have heard that one way to pray the rosary would be to let the actual words of the different prayers to become a background.  Allow the mysteries to take the forefront.- there are so many facets to the mysteries to be discovered. But yes, I agree, it is hard to focus sometimes.  Just keep praying...ask Mary to help teach you how to pray.
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I love this answer. BECAUSE it ties in with what I believe

I am a "cradle Catholic" and it is still difficult to pray and meditate. I don't think anyone will ever "perfect" it because it is so personal. And that is what I love about it. I don't think you can possibly do it "wrong."

The way I think about it is like live theater.
Okay when you see a live performance you have the background which in the case of the rosary would be the prayers. With me so far?

Then you have the "out front action" actors and whatnot. That would be the meditation. They need each other to work, they complement each other. AM I HELPING ANY?

The rosary has a depth and a level to it that we will never fully realize here on earth. If you can get books on the rosary to help you understand the mysteries I would suggest that.

Let me suggest one that I love it is not so "theological" that it will scare you but it gives you a good sense of NEVER MIND, okay two things just happened 1) my computer BURPED, I lost the screen and it came back. 2) I can"t find the book. NUTZ, when I find the book I'll be back.

Edited September 8, 2005 by ofpheritup

[therese]

that was tricky for me at first too.
reading from a sciptural rosary book helped me alot.
when I pray the rosary, i tend to see the images of the mysteries, rather like a movie,while reiciting the words.if that makes annny sense at all

[Noel's angel]

yeah, its good if you can focus on an image of what is happening and really get deep into what is happening.

The thing that annoys me most are those people who sit with their rosary, ratlling it off in what seems like one single breath. Don't they understand that it is no good doing it that way?