Can Protestants pray the rosary?

Question

I have been praying the rosary for a few days now and have fallen in love with it. This is different for me since the prayers of the rosary do seem to pray to Mary. It is making me want to learn more about the Catholic church and I am looking into RCIA classes to become a member of the Catholic church. Do any Protestants pray the rosary or not since the Protestand church doesn't teach much about Mary? Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes. I know a number of Protestants who pray the rosary. There are several Protestant variations, including the famous Anglican rosary, and several other Protestant rosary prayers. I also know Protestants who pray various chaplets and novenas, especially the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Here's one of several Protestant-oriented rosary sites:
http://www.christianrosary.com/

Here's a non-denominational rosary:
http://www.ecumenicalrosary.org/

And an article about Protestants doing the rosary:
http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/catholicism/rosary_not_just_catholic_ritual.htm

Answer 2

I am A Convert to the Catholic Church My husband was born and raised Catholic and wanted me to raise my children that way. And it was due to his parents praying the rosary everyday for my conversion that made me look into RICA.That was five yrs ago and since then I have seen and witnessed many miracles behind praying the rosary. I also have several protestant friends and family members who pray the rosary. If you like the rosary you'll absolutely love the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I have seen many miracles behind it as well.
I pray that you will take the RCIA classes and listen with a open heart. God Bless you on your journey and peace with you!!!

Answer 3

I started praying the rosary before I became Catholic. All the prayers of the rosary are very Biblical. The Hail Mary combines actual versus in the Bible along with adoration for who she is (If Jesus is God than that makes Mary the Mother of God), and then asking her to pray for us. It is important to note that all prayers to the saints ask them to pray for something. We do not give them the power of God or any of the worship that is God's alone. RCIA is a great places to get a full understanding of what the Catholic Church believes.

Answer 4

To my knowledge, praying the Rosary is definitely not a Protestant custom. Mary is generally held in much higher honor in the Catholic faith. As for praying to Mary, or any other saint for that matter-----it equates with calling up a friend to pray for you or with you. We can never have too many people praying for us. I think you should do the RCIA classes. Even if you decide not to become Catholic, they can be very rewarding, educational, and spiritually awakening. Peace be with you.

Answer 5

The key to spirituality is to not limit yourself to dogmas. Do what works for you. If the rosery works for you, pray with it. If you want to say the prayers and do the mysteries (glorious, joyful, sorrowful, and whatever else they have tacked on over the years), but direct them to someone else, thats fine too. Spirituality is between you and whatever you believe in. Don't let the strict guidelines of the Catholic church nor the fire and brimstone because you are praying to a 'false idol' of many protestants detur you from filling your spiritual needs in the privacy of your home.

So do any protestants use the rosary? If you are a protestant and you are enjoying it, you answered your own question the only way that matters.

Answer 6

+PAX

Oh Yes! Most definitely! Anyone can say the Rosary. The key to it is meditating on the different mysteries of our Precious Lord's Life through the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries.

Unfortunately, most folks who aren't Catholic believe it is a prayer only to the Blessed Mother. They don't understand the meditative process on our Lord's life that goes along with those prayers or the following prayers,

"Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy"

or the "Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..."

or the Creed which are all prayers of the rosary.

And as far as the Hail Mary and the Our Father. Both are found in the bible. The Angel Gabriel stated "Hail Mary, full of Grace" and Elizabeth, Mary's cousin stated, "Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

We all know where the "Our Father" came from.

The Rosary is a most beautiful prayer, one very close to my heart. I say it daily, sometimes more.

Welcome, welcome! I hope the Holy Spirit moves you to start the RCIA. He has moved you this far. May the Lord bless you. You are in my prayers.

Benedicite,
J

Answer 7

Praying the Rosary is not something that the Bible supports; repititous prayers mean nothing. Not only that, but there is no indication (Biblically) that anyone other than Jesus Himself intervenes with the Father on our behalf. Past the Rosary, there is no other Name under Heaven by which we can be forgiven - Jesus, something the RCC ignores in light of the requirements of Confession. There is a contradiction between grace by faith & the requirements of the Sacraments, as well.

I would suggest you learn more about the RCC, by means other than an RCIA class, before you consider applying.

Answer 8

The Catholics view Mary and the saints in a completely different light than most Protestant denominatons. The Catholic view is that the greater "Church" is made up of the Church on earth, the Church of those who have passed on and are with God in heaven, and the Church of those who have passed on and are having the remainder of their sins purged before going on to heaven. We view those in all these states as brothers and sisters (and in the case of Mary - mother) to whom we can request intercession with God on our behalf (God being the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). We don't really pray to Mary or the saints like we would to God, but request that others pray to God on our behalf as family would for each other. I don't believe that Protestant denominations believe in such intercession, but believe solely on a personal relationship with God. I have never heard of any Protestants praying the rosary as they believe this elevates Mary to an equal position with God. As you procede in RCIA, you will also learn the great difference between how Catholics and Protestants view communion - perhaps a more significant divergence than the issue of Mary and the rosary.

By he way, good luck in your spiritual journey.

Answer 9

Sure, a Protestant could pray the rosary, but that Protestant would be practicing a different religion. It would be like a Jewish person taking communion... they could, but doing so would not be part of the religion they identify with.

I'm glad you're looking into learning more... I firmly believe that it is far better to attend a church whose teachings you believe in rather than attending the church you are "supposed" to attend (for whatever reason) and pick and choose which parts of the teachings you agree with/believe/are willing to practice.

Good luck to you!

Answer 10

Protestants don't venerate the Birgin Mother like Catholics. Now the Virgin Mother came up to a saint and taught him....ANYONE may pray the rosary. If you like the rosary, you WILL LOVE the Divine Mercy Chaplet!

Faithful Atheist, Protestants believe in saints, just not canonized saints. Many Protestants don't like to ask for saints intercessions, they think we worship statues and such.

EDIT:
God bless! :-)

EDIT: Quote from Snoopy.
"Sure, a Protestant could pray to the rosary, but that Protestant would be practicing a different religion. "

That is not true! Mary is in the Bible and just because this Christian wants to so honor to her mother - let alone Christ's Mother doesn't change anything.