October and the Queen of the Holy Rosary
The prayers of the Rosary.
I frequently write about prayer, especially the prayer of recollection or the presence of God. St. Therese told her sister, Mother Agnes of Jesus that she (Therese) was certain she never went more than three minutes without thinking of God. Though the times set aside for prayer and meditation were difficult for Therese, and she lived most of her religious life in aridity and darkness, her heart was set upon God. This is prayer. Little Therese also said she loved the Rosary, yet found it difficult to concentrate, exactly like many of us.
When friends tell me they have trouble praying the Rosary, I always suggest they break the decades up throughout the day, pray one decade in the morning, another while walking the dog or something, and so on. Another way to pray the Rosary is using a tape or CD, following along as you drive or jog. Some elderly folks use tapes, which help them focus upon the prayers while making them feel not so alone. Many people watch and pray along with the prayers of the Rosary on EWTN, which is a tremendous help.
Very often people worry that they are not able to meditate upon the mysteries or feel they do not pray the Rosary well. They want to be ‘perfect’ in the practice of this devotion over night. The important thing is to pray as you can, Our Lady sees the desires of our heart. We must always remember that prayer is a matter of the heart, and the Holy Spirit prays within us ”for we do not know how to pray as we ought”.
I think it is good to try and pray the Rosary, even if a person is only able to pray one decade. The practice of prayer is just that, we incorporate the practice in our daily routine. One decade easily leads to two, then another, and soon all five decades. Making the intention of meditating upon the mysteries by recalling each mystery as we pray, eventually leads to deeper reflection, meditation, and contemplation. It becomes easier to pray - but it takes perseverance.
The Dominican method of praying the Rosary is very simple and among the most ancient. Instead of the creed and the five prayers before the first decade, the Dominican tradition begins with the sign of the cross: Then the announcement (or calling to mind) of the set of mysteries to be prayed, with the Hail Mary. Followed by the invitatory, “O God come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.” Glory be to the Father, etc. Then, after announcing the particular mystery, we proceed with the Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys and the Glory be.
In order to gain particular indulgences, and when the prayers of the Rosary are recited publicly, there are guidelines one must follow. For example, the various mysteries are assigned to certain days of the week, the creed and the five prayers before the decades are recited, as well as prayers after the Rosary for the intentions of the Holy Father, and so on. However, in private recitation one may follow one’s pious inclination; maybe using the Dominican method, breaking the Rosary up into decades throughout the day, or praying a set of mysteries on a day not assigned, and so on.
For people who feel they cannot pray, or know how to meditate, the prayers of the Rosary are an excellent means for prayer. No matter what stage one is at in the spiritual life, the Rosary is the most efficacious form of prayer outside of the Mass. If a day goes by and I have failed to pray the Rosary, no matter if I spent hours in adoration and lectio, I feel I have not prayed at all.
Try to pray the Rosary every day in October - at least a part of it. Our Lady always consoles the soul who prays her Psalter, no matter how deep the darkness of soul you may be experiencing. For those of us who are sinners, the Rosary is our ladder out of hell.
For complete information on how to pray the Rosary and other matters, go to The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.
