Saying the Rosary?

Question

So Vatican 2 kind of put down the Rosary in the sixties. It was considered a childish form of worship, and kind of lost favor. At the same time, in the fourteenth and fifteenth century, monastic living really gave rise to the idea of daily devotions and set prayers.

How do you feel about the Rosary? Is it outdated, repetitive, boring, etc. or is it a valuable prayer aid, necessary to faith, a beautiful ritual, etc.?

Is saying the Rosary still a valid part of the Catholic faith?

Answer 1

Where in the WORLD do you get that Vatican II put down the Rosary? That has never happened.

For pity's sake. Pope John Paul II instituted new mysteries. The Luminous Mysteries. AND during World Youth Day encouraged young people to wear their Rosaries to spawn dialog. As an evangelical and eccumenical tool.

We just had a wonderful dialog about the Rosary in my Secular Francisican group. How the Rosary is a walk through the Gospel. Know the Gospels, Know Jesus. No Gospel, no Jesus.

The Rosary is a focus tool. A guided meditation, to use today's popular terminology.

Daily devotions such as the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, the Sacred Heart - all of those are still in use today.

I think there is a lot of confusion about what Vatican II did. What it did was create a breach. We have American Catholics - who are whimps. And Roman Catholics who still say their daily rosary, who still wear a veil in church and who still abstain from meat on Fridays. All things to difficult for American Catholics. While I live in America, I'm a Roman Catholic...

Oh, and for my Protestant friends who want to quote the bible as saying "do not repeat your prayers" you might want to know that's a change made by Martin Luther. Just like Sola Fide was an addition made by Martin Luther. The true text is 'do not babble.'

People say Jesus never repeated. He most certainly did. He repeated the Psalms through out the Gospels. Over and Over again.

Answer 2

Vatican II didn't put down the Rosary, but encouraged more participation in the Mass. What people would do pre-Vatican II in the Latin Church was pray the Rosary in the pews, while the acolytes and priest prayed the Mass. This is not the proper way to celebrate Mass, Vatican II corrected this by having more lay participation. The Rosary is/was an official private devotion and should be prayed.

It is true, some people took reforms too far, now those extremes are being slowly corrected.

Answer 3

You are mistaken. The Rosary was never frowned upon by Vatican II as a matter of fact Vatican II urged all devotions to The Blessed Virgin Mary be encouraged. It is the Liberals that have come into the Church that made up their own Vatican II that decided and started teaching that the Rosary was no longer needed. This is why Pope John Paul II added new mysteries to the Rosary to try to reinstill an interest in it because next to the Mass with the "Our Father" it is one of the most powerful prayers. I have listened to a real life exorcism that included the recitation of the Rosary and he (Devil) screamed "STOP IT, STOP IT! I hate that woman, I hate her" It is a very POWERFUL prayer because Jesus loves his Mother and will always listen to her (wedding feast at Cana)

Answer 4

Try surprising yourself by now and again saying a Hail Mary when you should be saying an Our Father, or an Our Father when you should be saying a Hail Mary. When you get good at that, you can then try changing the order of the Mysteries you contemplate while saying the Rosary.

Answer 5

the rosary is still a valid form of communal and solitary prayer. it was started by the monks to remember the 150 psalms. a full rorary has 150 basic prayers attached. the rosary is a beautiful to remember the life of Christ as seen through His mothers eyes. You have the joyful mysteries, the luminious mysteries, sorrowful & gllorious mysteries. For example in the scruptural rosary which is my favorite -
the first joyful is fulled with 10 scripture passages to meditate/pray upon:
1st - the Annnunciation
2nd - the visitation
3rd - the nativity
4th the presentation of our Lord
5th finding of Jesus in the temple

it's a way to focus on the life of Christ and how to keep Him present in your daily life.

Answer 6

I am a Protestant Baptist girl so I do not use the Rosary. But My Mother-In-Law is a Strict Catholic Woman and The Rosary is Very much a part of her Life. I never see her without it.

Answer 7

Yes is it.

It is a way to mediate on the Life of Jesus (our Brother) and His Mother (our Mother).

Each section of small beads or "decade" of the rosary is an opportunity to contemplate a part of the life of our God from Conception to Ascension.

And each bead is associated with a verse(s) from Holy Scripture.

It is also called "Praying the Gospel".

Pope John Paul II wrote about the Rosary:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae_en.html

Praying the Rosary is a way to strengthen your personal relationship with Jesus and His Mother ... Our Blessed Mother.

Learn about it... you wont be disappointed.

Answer 8

Your Savior gave the answer here... Why can't anyone see this..

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Besides, did you ever hear of the Savior using a Rosary? Use his example and Keep the Laws of the Father, and don't worship mother Mary.

Answer 9

I'm not a catholic. My dad was. I am a converted Mormon. But, I can say that both Catholics and Mormons can agree on one thing... Christ was the great examplar.

Did you ever see or hear of him doing this? or telling anyone else to do it?

The Rosary is an idol. The scriptures tell us that we should not pray or worship to any idols.

Further.... it would be said that the Lord rebukes repetative prayers in the scriptures.. he wants to hear your heart felt prayers. He only hears those from the heart. Not a repetative, act of habit and motion.

I say skip the idols and false worship and give him your heart in your prayers.

He loves you and knows you are seeking to know the truth. He will answer your prayers about it.
Choose the right

Answer 10

I pray the Rosary daily. It is especially useful in my drive into work. I can focus on the Word of Jesus and meditate on his life, suffering, death, and resurrection.

The Rosary has never gone out of style in our family. It is what you put into it...just like scripture reading.

A great prayer and aide in biblical study.