Posts Tagged ‘catholic rosary prayers’
I was recently reading the book The Eucharist and The Rosary by Matt Swaim. At the end of the book he makes a great point to dispel any myths that the rosary is meant to be some sort of “lucky charm” that Catholics carry around so that they won’t be hit by a car or so their plane won’t crash. The rosary is anything but such a “lucky charm”. The rosary is not a mere security blanket, fashion accessory or Catholic identification card. The Rosary is instead one of the most important aids to Catholic prayer. The rosary is not a self-sustaining device but a way of prayer.
One might accurately state that wearing a rosary comes close to being a useless practice if praying the rosary is not part of the life of the wearer. It’s not as though God checks your pockets at the gates of heaven to see who has a rosary and who doesn’t before letting people in. Knowing all, seeing all, and hearing all, our Almighty Father understands who carries a rosary out of a desire to connect with Him on a deeper level and who carries one because it looks good with a certain belt.
The reasons for carrying the rosary on our person sould be neither fashion nor mere identification. If we go to the trouble to put a rosary in our pocket or purse along with our keys when we go to work, it should be because we have the intention of praying the rosary before we arrive home that evening.
Source: The Eucharist and The Rosary, Matt Swaim, 2010, p. 114-115.
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The Rosary is a simple, uncomplicated, nonliturgical way to pray when conscious thought and words may fail you, no matter what your feelings or emotions may be at the moment. If you are depressed, the Rosary works. If you are happy or sad, the Rosary works. If you are anxious or worried, the Rosary works. If you are sick or just plain sick and tired, the Rosary works. No matter how you’re feeling, the Rosary is a way to be physically and intentionally in the presence of the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the risen Christ and, therefore – through the Sacrament of Baptism in Christ – our mother too.
The Rosary has something to offer just about everyone because the Rosary is simple and the Rosary is deep. It is so simple that the humblest believers love the Rosary. It is so deep that many of the greatest thinkers and mystics down through the centuries have loved the Rosary. The simplicity and depth of the Rosary are the simplicity and depth of the gospel itself, the good news of God’s love and forgiveness for all in Christ. The combination of traditional prayers and meditation on sacred events makes the Rosary a particularly personal prayer that can be as uncomplicated or as complicated as you want to make it. It suits just about anyone’s spirituality. Chances are that the Rosary is a perfect match for you, no matter what the shape or characteristics of your personal piety.
Source: The Rosary Handbook, Mitch Finley, 2007; p. 12.
In today’s gospel reading we learn how we are to pray. And we have no better teacher than Jesus. In the gospel, Jesus teaches us the Lord’s Prayer, or the Our Father prayer (Matthew 6:9). This is a foundational prayer and one that connects each decade of the rosary.
But where did this prayer come from? Did it drop from heaven and just come out of Jesus’ mouth one day? Not exactly. As with everything else that Jesus said and did, this prayer passed through His humanity. It was the result of His experiences in the world, coupled with His pure uninterrupted union with His Father. You might say, that this is the only prayer that could come from the heart of Someone who lived fully in this world and fully in the presence of God. On the human level, we can imagine the influence that Mary and Joseph had in the development of this prayer. Who better to teach Jesus to pray, “Thy will be done” than the woman who said, “May it be done unto me according to your word.” (Luke1:38) Who better to teach Jesus to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” than the carpenter who trusted in God’s provision enough to uproot his family to flee to Egypt and then to settle in Nazareth?
God wants us to see that just as Jesus’ prayer was rooted in His daily life, so can our prayer come from our daily lives and from our hearts. God the Father wants to show us His love and presence in our everyday lives so that we will spontaneously cry out the same words of petition and praise that Jesus said. So the next time that you are praying your rosary and you come to the Our Father, remember that God wants to hear your prayers from your heart!
Source: The Word Among Us; Daily Meditations for Catholics, March 15, 2010, p. 34.
Use your Catholic Rosary for Prayer and Fasting during Lent
posted by praytherosary @ 9:20 PM
Saturday, March 12, 2011
As you continue on your journey this Lent, try to combine 2 of the traditional disciplines – prayer and fasting. If you usually watch a regular TV program, try fasting from that program to pray your rosary. This can be done individually or as a family. Instead of watching TV or playing video games or surfing on the internet, fast from technology to pray the Catholic Rosary for a special intention.
This may even bring you other benefits as well. As Pope Pius XII said, “There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family…than the daily recitation of the Rosary.” And Father Peyton says,”If families will give Our Lady ten minutes of their twenty-four hour day by reciting the daily Family Rosary, I assure them that their homes will become, by God’s grace, peaceful, prayerful places – little heavens, which God the Author of homelife has intended they should be!”
Source: The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis De Montfort, inside front cover.
There are so many stories attesting to the power of the rosary. Perhaps the most well-known story is of Jim Castle and his chance encounter with Mother Teresa on a flight home to Kansas City, Kansas in 1981. Jim wasn’t a particularly observant Catholic when he met Mother Teresa. He admittedly only attended church out of habit, but when the Sisters started praying, he felt compelled to join with them.
He noticed that Mother Teresa rosary beads were each a different color. Mother Teresa explained that each color represented various areas of the world, and that she prayed for the poor and dying on each continent. She asked him, “Young man, do you say the rosary often?” “Not really,” he replied. She dropped the rosary in his hand and said, “Well, you will now.” Jim did go on to pray the rosary and lent Mother Teresa’s rosary to many in need, who in turn were healed.
On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubiroux in a grotto in Lourdes, France. By July 16, she had appeared 18 times and declared herself to be the Immaculate Conception. During one apparition, she told Bernadette to drink of a fountain, which suddenly appeared. For over a century and a half, pilgrims to Lourdes have been miraculously healed by contact with the fountain’s waters.
A novena to Our Lady of Lourdes can be prayed at any time, but it is especially appropriate in the days before February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Praying this novena on an Our Lady of Lourdes rosary would be especially meaningful. You can find this nine day novena to Our Lady of Lourdes at HowToPrayTheRosary.net
My Aunt Clara is quite the devout Catholic. Each Sunday she travels 20 miles by train to the nearest Catholic Church to worship the lord and uplift her spirit and faith. She has attended the same church for more than 30 years and has yet to miss a service or church function. And every Friday evening when I join her for dinner, she shares her experiences and beliefs with me as we enjoy a home-cooked meal.
Her lesson for the night usually starts with the blessing she has prepared for before the meal. This blessing tends to stem from the lesson that was discussed during the church service that Sunday. Then, as we eat she shares stories of her rosary prayers and their purpose. She tells me the purpose of the rosary is to remind us of certain principle events or mysteries during the history of our salvation. It’s also a way to praise and thank God for these mysteries.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) This is what Jesus assures us when we gather to pray. It is the same with praying the Rosary Prayers as a Group.
When the Rosary is prayed as a group, the leader will begin each of the prayers and the rest of the group will finish the prayers. Below are the Rosary Prayers with designations for what the leader says and then what the rest of the group says.
The Apostle’s Creed
Leader: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He decended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead…
Response: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Our Father
Leader: Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven…
Response: Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Leader: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Response: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be
Leader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…
Response: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
O My Jesus (Fatima Prayer)
Leader: O my Jesus…
Response: forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Hail Holy Queen
Leader: Hail! Holy Queen,…
Response: Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send us our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God…
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer After the Rosary – The Breviary
Leader: O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His Life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchasesd for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sign of the Cross
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
March for Life – Rosary Prayers in Response to Abortion 5 of 5
posted by praytherosary @ 9:30 AM
Thursday, January 27, 2011
This is the weekend that thousands of people around the country are Marching For Life. They will gather at Washington DC as well as in other cities to stand up for Life and to silently protest Abortion. This is the 38th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the decision legalizing abortion in the United States of America. Since that time, over 50 million babies have been aborted.
I recently attended an evening of prayer and witness to pray for the end of abortions and for those who are making the trip to Washington DC to March for Life. During this time of prayer we prayed the rosary in combination with the Litany in Response to Abortion. Praying the rosary prayer in this way was truly inspiring and I wanted to share it with you here.
One decade will be posted each day for 5 days. It will be prayed with the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Pray the beginning of the rosary as usual. Then beginning with the fifth decade, say the Hail Marys as shown below:
Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Lord Jesus, living in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 3. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Lord Jesus, Lover of the poor and weak. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 4. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Lord Jesus, Defender of the helpless.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 5. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Lord Jesus, Bread of Life.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 6.Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
In thanksgiving, for the babies saved from abortion.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 7. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
In thanksgiving, for the mothers saved and healed from abortion.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 8. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
In thanksgiving, for the former abortion providers who have become pro-life.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 9. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
In thanksgiving, for all those who take a stand against abortion.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 10. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
In thanksgiving, for the call to be part of the pro-life movement.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Source: Litany in Response to Abortion by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
March for Life – Rosary Prayers in Response to Abortion 4 of 5
posted by praytherosary @ 9:30 AM
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
This is the weekend that thousands of people around the country are Marching For Life. They will gather at Washington DC as well as in other cities to stand up for Life and to silently protest Abortion. This is the 38th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the decision legalizing abortion in the United States of America. Since that time, over 50 million babies have been aborted.
I recently attended an evening of prayer and witness to pray for the end of abortions and for those who are making the trip to Washington DC to March for Life. During this time of prayer we prayed the rosary in combination with the Litany in Response to Abortion. Praying the rosary prayer in this way was truly inspiring and I wanted to share it with you here.
One decade will be posted each day for 5 days. It will be prayed with the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Pray the beginning of the rosary as usual. Then beginning with the fourth decade, say the Hail Marys as shown below:
Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. For courage and perseverance in pro-life work. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 3. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. For those who suffer ridicule and rejection for their stand for life. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 4. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For those imprisoned for defending life.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 5. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For those who have been injured and mistreated for defending life.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 6.Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For legal professionals.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 7. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For courts and judges.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 8. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For police officers.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 9. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For educators.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 10. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
For media professionals.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Please come back to pray the last decades of the Joyful Mysteries to include the Litany in Response to Abortion.
Source: Litany in Response to Abortion by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life