Rosary

Originally posted by humblejoe
Are there any churches other than the Roman and Orthodox Sees that advocate the Rosary?

Click to expand...

I cannot think of one, but I know several non-Catholics who pray the Rosary.

Originally posted by humblejoe
Is one required to believe in all Catholic doctrines to do the Rosary?

Click to expand...

 

No.

Originally posted by humblejoe
For instance, I cannot believe in the Assumption. However, I find nothing wrong with the "Hail Mary" request for intercession. Any comments?

Click to expand...

Go for it. I should do it more than I do. It is a great prayer and away to meditate on mysteries of Christ's birth, death and resurrection.

Hey, hj, just make up one of your own mysteries in place of the Assumption. Sometimes I'll follow the general outline, but won't meditate on the traditional mysteries, but the five wounds of Christ, instead: His hands, His feet, His side, The Crown of Thorns, and the Scourging. I still pray the Rosary, but I pray this, too, sometimes in front of the Crucifix in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.


God Bless,

Neal

Are there any churches other than the Roman and Orthodox Sees that advocate the Rosary?

Click to expand...

I know of some Episcopal and Lutheran Churches which pray the Rosary. Some change the wording of the Ave Maria to exclude the intercessory prayer, but many say it as is. I'll try to track down a website or two for you.

Neal

To Joe:

There is no "Rosary Police" that will hide in your closet and jump out at you if you don't do the Rosary "correctly" or check to see if you are a card-carrying Catholic before allowing you to pray the Rosary.

Wols posted a lovely alternate set of Mysteries in the FAQ thread at the top of the Catholic Forum.

In this fast-paced life, where you have to do twelve things at once, and thoughts are having fist-fights in your head just to get to the take-a-number machine, the Rosary is an incredible source of comfort. In fact, when I was having trouble with panic attacks, and was even seeing a therapist for some short-term counseling, I was advised to use a mind-clearing thought, and for this, the Rosary is perfect. In a panic attack, some horrible thought gets trapped in a circle in your head, and it crowds out everything, even a voice of reason. Your heart pounds, you get dizzy, and you think the world is going to end.

The Rosary FORCES you to push all that aside. The prayers on the beads serve as a soothing "background chant" and then you picture the mysteries in your mind. If the other thoughts try to crowd in, you kick them out with the prayers and the mysteries.

I can even picture myself crawling up into Mary's lap, like a little child, and having her arms go around me as we pray the Rosary together.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

There is no shame in being queezy at the thoughts of Jesus' wounds. In all honesty, we should probably all feel that way. I have a book that I am reading that has a section that details the wounds of Christ, and the reality of it just hits me in the gut. I'd rather have it that way though as opposed to being desensitized to the point of it not really bothering me.

There is no "Rosary Police" that will hide in your closet and jump out at you if you don't do the Rosary "correctly"

That's classic!

There is a website, and I will find it for you because I recieve e-mails from them periodically, that does an ecumenical (spelling?) Rosary.  I will try and find it to post it here.

Humblejoe,

Don't be afraid to be creative- you were made in the image and likeness of God!

For example, 1) you could meditate on the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles for the last three decades of the Glorious mysteries.

2) For the Fourth and Fifth Decades of the Glorious Mysteries you could select any two of the following subjects: a) The Peace of Heaven; b) The Joy of Heaven; c) The Permanence of Heaven; d) The Bliss of Heaven; e) The Glory of Heaven; f) The Reality of Heaven; g) The Loveliness of Heaven; h) The Holiness of Heaven; i) The Comforts of Heaven; j) The family of Heaven; k) The beauty of Heaven, etc., etc. etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum.

Possibly less congenial to you, but as an example of what can be done, it is possible to meditate on the titles of Our Lady in the Litany of Loretto and use them for the fifteen mysteries and more. Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, etc.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your open-ness to  these elements of Catholic piety even though you are determined to remain a Calvinist.  This kind of spirit bodes very well for the future of the Church, and it is an attitude which I wish more Catholics would cultivate.  How can we communicate unless we can learn one another's language, and come to appreciate aspects of one another's spirituality? 

Personally, I do not see anything at all contradictory with holding that the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the truth and saying at the same time that aspects of that truth can occasionally (and actually very frequently) be found more fully developed among our separated brethren who are- it must be remembered- united to us by virtue of Baptism and share in the same Christic grace.

To me, a prime example of this are many of the writings of Watchman Nee, esp The Normal Christian Life.  Is there anything in that book which is contradictory to the faith and morals of the Catholic Church? THAT is the test, not whether its human origins are from persons who are Roman Catholics.  Is it from the Holy Spirit? Then there is nothing to fear.

  How do we know whether it is from the Holy Spirit?  Of course it is ultimately for the teaching authority of the Church to decide, for I am in no way advocating syncretism, in which we patch together disparate elements of Catholicism, Lutheranism, Calvinism etc. in order to hurry ecumenism along.  No way! At the same time, even before the formal approbation of the Church, it is possible for a well instructed Catholic to appropriate prayers, practices, and aspects of the piety and practice of Protestant saints such as Nee, Hudson Taylor etc. which are not contrary to the teaching of the Church.  Any Catholic taking this approach has the full backing of the Decree of Ecumenism and places himself in an excellent position to be a resource to both Protestants and Catholics, just as Humblejoe is doing for his part.

Patriarch

 

Humblejoe,

Check this site out and see if you like it:

http://www.ecumenicalrosary.org/

Here's a bunch of alternative mysteries I have come up with over the years. Most of them are Scriptural, although a few of them come from the Deuterocanon. I usually go through and read the passage first, to get the context in my mind and what was going on in the passage, before meditating on the mystery. I post these specifically for you, so I hope you find them helpful.

ANGEL MYSTERIES:

1. The Scribe and the Six Warriors (Ezek. 9:1)

2. Michael, Battler of Evil (Dan. 10:13, Dan. 12:1, Rev. 12:7)

3. The Two Men at Jesus' Tomb (Luke 24:1)

4. The Angel Frees Peter From Prison (Acts 12:1)

5. "I am Gabriel" (Luke 1:19); "I am Raphael" (Tobit 12:15)



RESURRECTION MYSTERIES:

1. Elijah raises the widow's son (1 Kings 17:17)

2. Elisha raises the son of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:8)

3. God heals King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7)

4. Jesus raises the son of the Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11)

5. Jesus raises Lazarus (John 11:1)



EUCHARISTIC MYSTERIES:

1. Manna in the wilderness (Exod. 16:4)

2. Water into Wine at Cana (John 2:1)

3. The Loaves and Fishes (John 6:1)

4. The Last Supper (Mark 14:22)

5. Jesus is recognized in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus (Luke 24:28)



MIRACULOUS MYSTERIES:

1. Elisha cures Naaman's leprosy (2 Kings 5:1)

2. The ravens feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:1)

3. Jesus cures the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1)

4. Jesus calms the storm (Matt 8:23)

5. Jesus heals the two blind men (Matt 9:27)



RESURRECTION MYSTERIES:

1. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11)

2. The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13)

3. Jesus heals Thomas's doubt (John 20:24)

4. Jesus reinstates Peter (John 21:15)

5. Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1)



POWER OF GOD MYSTERIES:

1. Creation (Gen. 1)

2. Parting of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21)

3. The sun stands still (Joshua 10:12)

4. Elisha and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18)

5. Destruction of Sennacherib's army (2 Kings 19)



FAITH MYSTERIES:

1. Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22)

2. David slays Goliath (1 Sam. 17)

3. Joseph accepts Mary's vocation (Matthew 1:20)

4. The woman touches Jesus' garment (Matt 9:20)

5. Peter walks on water (Matt 14:22)


HEALING MYSTERIES:

1. The paralyzed man lowered through the roof (Mark 2:1)

2. The man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1)

3. Jesus heals ten lepers (Luke 17:11)

4. Jesus heals the centurion's servant (Matt 8:5)

5. Jesus heals the man born blind (John 9:1)



COMFORT MYSTERIES:

1. Psalm 46 (God is our refuge and strength....)

2. Psalm 121 (I will lift up my eyes to the hills....)

3. Isaiah 54 (Sing, o barren....)

4. John 14 (Let not your heart be troubled....)

5. Revelation 21 (God shall wipe away all tears....)



MYSTERIES OF JESUS' HIDDEN LIFE:

1. Jesus submits to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51)

2. Jesus works with Jospeh as a carpenter (Mark 6:3)

3. Jesus with His extended family (Mark 6:6)

4. The Death of St. Joseph (Sacred Tradition)

5. Jesus enlarges His family (Matt 12:46)



JESUS' MINISTRY TO WOMEN:

1. The womn who touches His garment (Matt 9:20)

2. Jesus raises Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21)

3. Jesus raises the widow's son (Luke 7:11)

4. Jesus forgives the adulteress (John 8:3)

5. Jesus pardons the sinful woman (Luke 7:36)



JESUS AT THE TABLE:

1. At Matthew the tax collector's (Matt 9:9)

2. At Simon Peter's (Luke 7:36)

3. At Martha's (Luke 10:38)

4. At Bethany (John 12:1)

5. By the sea (John 12:1)



There you go. I realize some of these don't exactly fit the categories they're in; so if they bug you, insert something that works better for you. I wouldn't get too hung up about the legalistic aspect of the Rosary, by the way; as long as you're meditating on holy things, you're doing what you're supposed to do. It's a meditative prayer, and it really doesn't matter if you're meditating on the Joyful Mysteries, or one of these above, or something else.....in fact, when I'm in the car and have come up dry for ideas to meditate on, I have been known to do a decade based on the lyrics of "Good King Wenceslaus", one of my favorite Christmas carols:

1. Good King Wenceslaus looked out, on the Feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about, deep and thick and even.

2. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel; when a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

3. "Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou knowest it telling---yonder peasant: who is he? Where and what his dwelling?"

4. "Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain; right against the forest fence, by St. Agnes' fountain."

5. "Bring me meat and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither; thou and I shall see him dine, when we bear them thither."

6. Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together; through the rude wind's wild lament, and the bitter weather.

7. "Sire, the night grows darker now, and the wind grows stronger; fails my heart I know not how---I can go no longer."

8. "Mind my footsteps, my good page, tread thou in them boldly; thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."

9. In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted; heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.

10. Therefore Christian men, be sure, rank or wealth possessing: ye who now that bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

(St. Wenceslaus was a cool guy; he was the king of Bohemia, and actually loved and cared for his people, even the peasants, which was pretty unusual for the 10th century. I think this carol brings that out admirably.)

Now that I think about it, I should sit down and do a bunch of mysteries based on the lives of saints. In fact, as a coda to this post, here's a set for St. Francis of Assisi, composed by me, even as I sit here right now:

1. Christ on the Cross speaks to Francis: "Repair My Church".

2. Francis rebuilds the Church of San Damiano.

3. Francis returns his father's money and clothes, and is recieved naked by the Bishop of Assisi.

4. Francis attracts the little brothers.

5. Francis goes to see the Pope.

6. Francis preaches to the birds.

7. Francis receives Sister Claire.

8. Francis reproves the Wolf of Gubbio.

9. Francis recieves the stigmata.

10. Francis explains Christ to the Sultan of Egypt.



There you go, Joe. This ought to keep you busy for quite a while.

God bless,
---Wols.

Originally posted by humblejoe
Thanks Wols!!! I think... lol

I didn't know you could change around the Rosary. I thought that was "wrong" or "bad practice", or something.

Click to expand...

I don't think there is any such thing as a "bad" rosary as long as you're trying.  Also, if you like the Rosary you might also like the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.  It's not really quite as Marian in nature, but it can be said on ordinary Rosary beads.  There aren't really any "mysteries" when praying this chaplet, but it is a beautiful prayer.  For more info on the Divine Mercy devotion try: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmhome.htm .  For the chaplet click on the link that says "the chaplet." 

I didn't know you could change around the Rosary. I thought that was "wrong" or "bad practice", or something.

Click to expand...

Father Peter Stravinskas, in The Catholic Answer Book Vol. 3: "There is certainly nothing wrong with using alternative mysteries. In fact, Pope Paul VI envisions just this in his document on Marian devotion, Marialis Cultus."

Quoting from that same document:

55. In concluding these observations, which give proof of the concern and esteem which the Apostolic See has for the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, we desire at the same time to recommend that this very worthy devotion should not be propagated in a way that is too one-sided or exclusive. The Rosary is an excellent prayer, but the faithful should feel serenely free in its regard. They should be drawn to its calm recitation by its intrinsic appeal.

Click to expand...

(February 2, 1974.)

Now you have corroboration from both a Pope and from a theologian that I personally trust implicitly. Go forth and pray.

Originally posted by humblejoe
Actually, I think I can handle the Hail Mary.(although I'm kind of skiddish of the Hail Holy Queen)

Click to expand...

Actually, I do not consider the Hail Holy Queen to be part of the Rosary, but a late addition.  When I was in Catholic school we recited the Rosary every day after noon recess. There was NEVER the Hail Holy Queen said, but I started hearing it used years later. (My brother came in as I was reading this and he agreed we did not say it as part of the Rosary.)Not that I find it wrong, but to me it doesn't belong. We must remember that the Rosary has changed many times over the centuries. 

I like the sign of the cross. I think it's pretty cool, and very unitive. And I can't find anything wrong with identifying yourself with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Of course, it freaks out some people, but only because they're scared of Catholics, lol.

If I get a Rosary, I think I might get a priest to bless it, if that's not "bad practice" or "forbidden" or something. I want to be connected to my brothers and sisters. I think it's bad if we live so far away and seperated from each other, because it gets lonely, and we lose a lot of love that way. I know I can't believe in all the same stuff, but I try really hard sometimes to be with you guys anyway. It's hard trying to span the chasm, believing different stuff and all that. Ah well, I guess I can believe "Insofar as I can, insofar as you[God] have given me the power".

Click to expand...

Have to agree with you about the sign of the cross, people think it's only Catholic.   Get your Rosary blessed, it's just another way of saying this is to be used for a HOLY purpose.

Best of God's love to you,  Kotton