Rosary questions; maybe someone has an answer

BrAndreyu · Jul 16, 2021

When I was in jail, I'd pass the time by laying in the bed and praying the rosary (to the best of my ability, as I don't have the Hail, Holy Queen memorized) on my knuckles and now I pray the rosary every night (I just did about half an hour ago). I was wondering if the rosary is only something that you can pray once a day and that doing it more than once is seen as obsessive and invalid? Because it really helped me get through my time in jail and I would just pray it for hours and sometimes not even go through sacred mysteries-- instead, each decade I'd do would be dedicated to something like ending abortion or euthanasia, for the relief of world poverty and hunger, etc.

So I'm wondering if you can say more than five decades a day and if this has any actual benefit to doing so because praying the rosary calms my mind down and helps me to deal with the symptoms of my mental illness. Like if I said ten decades and just repeated that day's mysteries, would that be OK? Because it only takes me about twenty or so minutes to say it and there are periods of the day where I feel like I could benefit from saying it again.

Furthermore, what exactly is a novena? I have a booklet from Aquinas press entitled "Novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary" but I've never used it because I don't know what a novena is or how you're even supposed to utilize them. But I want to put this book to use maybe starting tomorrow, I'm just not sure how to.

Any answers would be appreciated.

Michie · Jul 16, 2021

BrAndreyu said:
When I was in jail, I'd pass the time by laying in the bed and praying the rosary (to the best of my ability, as I don't have the Hail, Holy Queen memorized) on my knuckles and now I pray the rosary every night (I just did about half an hour ago). I was wondering if the rosary is only something that you can pray once a day and that doing it more than once is seen as obsessive and invalid? Because it really helped me get through my time in jail and I would just pray it for hours and sometimes not even go through sacred mysteries-- instead, each decade I'd do would be dedicated to something like ending abortion or euthanasia, for the relief of world poverty and hunger, etc.

You can pray the rosary endlessly if you want. And many do. I’m more of a Divine Mercy person myself.

So I'm wondering if you can say more than five decades a day and if this has any actual benefit to doing so because praying the rosary calms my mind down and helps me to deal with the symptoms of my mental illness. Like if I said ten decades and just repeated that day's mysteries, would that be OK? Because it only takes me about twenty or so minutes to say it and there are periods of the day where I feel like I could benefit from saying it again.

Again, pray it as you are led. You are sure to gain graces as well of graces for others.

Furthermore, what exactly is a novena? I have a booklet from Aquinas press entitled "Novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary" but I've never used it because I don't know what a novena is or how you're even supposed to utilize them. But I want to put this book to use maybe starting tomorrow, I'm just not sure how to.

A novena is usually a 9 day devotion of a particular prayer. There is a book I love that you may be interested in: https://www.amazon.com/My-Treasury-Chaplets-Patricia-Quintiliani/dp/0911218467

Any answers would be appreciated.

I hope this helps. Any other questions, just ask. There are many more here more knowledgeable than I.

zippy2006 · Jul 16, 2021

BrAndreyu said:
When I was in jail, I'd pass the time by laying in the bed and praying the rosary (to the best of my ability, as I don't have the Hail, Holy Queen memorized) on my knuckles and now I pray the rosary every night (I just did about half an hour ago). I was wondering if the rosary is only something that you can pray once a day and that doing it more than once is seen as obsessive and invalid? Because it really helped me get through my time in jail and I would just pray it for hours and sometimes not even go through sacred mysteries-- instead, each decade I'd do would be dedicated to something like ending abortion or euthanasia, for the relief of world poverty and hunger, etc.

So I'm wondering if you can say more than five decades a day and if this has any actual benefit to doing so because praying the rosary calms my mind down and helps me to deal with the symptoms of my mental illness. Like if I said ten decades and just repeated that day's mysteries, would that be OK? Because it only takes me about twenty or so minutes to say it and there are periods of the day where I feel like I could benefit from saying it again.

Originally the Rosary was a 15-decade prayer, and you would pray all fifteen mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious). This was a way for the illiterate laity to participate in the monastic life. Monks would pray the Psalter (150 psalms) and the laity could pray the Rosary (150 Aves). Eventually it was chopped up into three sections for convenience, and in 2002 John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries. If you ever see a Dominican they will usually wear a full 15-decade rosary on their left hip, where knights would have worn their sword (link).

So of course you can pray more than 5 decades a day, but I wouldn't over-do it. Maybe limit yourself to 15 or 20 decades unless you are having a particularly difficult day.

Furthermore, what exactly is a novena? I have a booklet from Aquinas press entitled "Novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary" but I've never used it because I don't know what a novena is or how you're even supposed to utilize them. But I want to put this book to use maybe starting tomorrow, I'm just not sure how to.

Any answers would be appreciated.

"Novena" is just the Latin word for nine. It is a prayer meant to be prayed for nine consecutive days. Usually you would end a novena on the feast day of the saint you are praying to, or else on the day of some special event which relates to your petition. In Catholic piety this kind of prayer is used for special requests or petitions.

narnia59 · Jul 17, 2021

I would add that we understand the spirit of praying a novena is that of the apostles waiting for Pentecost. They were simply told by Christ before his ascension to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. So they waited and prayed, and in nine days the Holy Spirit came.

But they most likely didn't know what that would really mean until it happened, and they had no idea how long it would take until it did. As the days wore on, they simply had to trust in Christ.

So that is the spirit with which we pray a novena -- not that there is anything magical about nine days. But it is in the same spirit as the apostles waiting for Pentecost. They didn't know exactly how their prayers would be answered or how long it would take. They just prayed and trusted in Christ.

Rhamiel · Jul 17, 2021

I think Pope Leo XIII prayed 3 rosaries a day

Praying more rosaries a day is fine but people can get in the habit of doing something and become overly legalistic about it

John Wesley Harding · Jul 19, 2021

BrAndreyu said:
When I was in jail, I'd pass the time by laying in the bed and praying the rosary (to the best of my ability, as I don't have the Hail, Holy Queen memorized) on my knuckles and now I pray the rosary every night (I just did about half an hour ago). I was wondering if the rosary is only something that you can pray once a day and that doing it more than once is seen as obsessive and invalid? Because it really helped me get through my time in jail and I would just pray it for hours and sometimes not even go through sacred mysteries-- instead, each decade I'd do would be dedicated to something like ending abortion or euthanasia, for the relief of world poverty and hunger, etc.

So I'm wondering if you can say more than five decades a day and if this has any actual benefit to doing so because praying the rosary calms my mind down and helps me to deal with the symptoms of my mental illness. Like if I said ten decades and just repeated that day's mysteries, would that be OK? Because it only takes me about twenty or so minutes to say it and there are periods of the day where I feel like I could benefit from saying it again.

Furthermore, what exactly is a novena? I have a booklet from Aquinas press entitled "Novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary" but I've never used it because I don't know what a novena is or how you're even supposed to utilize them. But I want to put this book to use maybe starting tomorrow, I'm just not sure how to.

Any answers would be appreciated.

I started praying the rosary almost every day about a year ago when I came back to God. A different mystery each day. I read you can make a petition with the rosary for Mary to help you with a particular problem you may be having. This lead me to start praying the 54 day novena which is a different mystery every day for 54 days in petition for help. I'm on day 10 now and loving it. I need drastic help at the moment and whether my petition is answered or not, it brings me closer to Mary and helps me calm my anxiety. I'm facing jail time myself most likely and hope I can carry on saying the rosary whilst I'm inside as a way to get me through and provide hope. I'd be interested in hearing more about your jail time and how you coped through it if you'd be willing to share.

BrAndreyu · Jul 19, 2021

JohnWesleyHarding said:
I'm facing jail time myself most likely and hope I can carry on saying the rosary whilst I'm inside as a way to get me through and provide hope. I'd be interested in hearing more about your jail time and how you coped through it if you'd be willing to share.

I was only in jail for 18 days, but I thought I was going to be in there for a while, so the first thing I did was have them give me a bible. It was not a catholic edition, of course, but I read through most of the old testament while I was in there.

The other thing I did, was use my knuckles to say the rosary and I did that in there a lot. Like for hours a day. I did not have any sorts of psychiatric medicine when I was in there, so I was hallucinating a lot and felt sick the majority of the time I was locked up.

John Wesley Harding · Jul 19, 2021

BrAndreyu said:
I was only in jail for 18 days, but I thought I was going to be in there for a while, so the first thing I did was have them give me a bible. It was not a catholic edition, of course, but I read through most of the old testament while I was in there.

The other thing I did, was use my knuckles to say the rosary and I did that in there a lot. Like for hours a day. I did not have any sorts of psychiatric medicine when I was in there, so I was hallucinating a lot and felt sick the majority of the time I was locked up.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a tough time in there. By the grace of God you weren't in for longer. I sadly may be in for a lot longer. I'm glad they gave you a bible as this will be my first request too. I've heard the common horror stories about prison (fighting, getting raped etc) I pray this wont happen to me. I'll be praying the rosary every day and hope I can remember all the mysteries whilst I'm in there. I also hope there is a priest available to talk to once a week perhaps too. God will reveal all to me in the fullness of time. Hopefully Mary answers my petition and I manage to stay out of jail in the first place.

BrAndreyu · Jul 19, 2021

JohnWesleyHarding said:
I've heard the common horror stories about prison (fighting, getting raped etc) I pray this wont happen to me.

I'm in the US, so I don't know what the situation is like in the UK, but in county jails there really is no opportunity for being raped. They didn't let us all shower at the same time, only one person got to use the shower at a time and this was right in the beginning of COVID19, so they kept us locked in cells by ourselves for the first 14 days (it was essentially like being in solitary for 14 days which made it worse for me). Eventually they moved me to the mental health wing of the jail around the 14th day and then put me out in population with the rest of the guys who were low security risks and could behave themselves. I spent a lot of time praying with, drawing, and reading the bible with a homeless guy who was picked up for having drug paraphernalia (an exceedingly stupid reason to lock someone up at the cost of the state in my opinion) while in that phase of the entire thing. I didn't see a single fight while I was in there, but there was a high security risk in one of the cells in the MH wing who used to bash his face against the mirror when he'd start hearing voices, so I felt very bad for him.

I don't know your situation, but I'll be praying that you can avoid a prison sentence and change your life for the positive.

John Wesley Harding · Jul 19, 2021

Thanks very much for sharing your experience and for the prayers. Its very much appreciated. I'll pray for better days for you too

BrAndreyu · Jul 19, 2021

JohnWesleyHarding said:
Thanks very much for sharing your experience and for the prayers. Its very much appreciated. I'll pray for better days for you too

Yeah no problem. I have my second to last court date today; I'm in "mental health court" which is like drug court but for people who offended based on a mental illness. I've done fine in it so far and I'm expecting another fine appearance before the judge today and then next time I go in in August, I read off a statement to the court and I am done, so that will free me up to look for a part-time job perhaps.

I still have another year of probation before I can seek to early terminate, which I am going to do, because we want to move out of Florida and go to either TN, NC, NY, or PA and my mom is going to retire in another year or so, and by that time we'll be ready to sell the house and go, I just have to get off of probation before we can do so. Luckily the judge I have tends to let people off of probation halfway usually provided they've paid everything off.

I've been on probation for a year already and I have up to another three years, but with the option to early terminate at the halfway point which I am going to be all over like white on rice when the time comes. It's not that my life has changed much being on probation, because I was not really breaking the law prior to getting arrested for something inconceivably stupid, but I just have to check in with an officer once a month and usually take a drug test (I don't use drugs or drink alcohol, so I never have to worry about that).

John Wesley Harding · Jul 19, 2021

BrAndreyu said:
Yeah no problem. I have my second to last court date today; I'm in "mental health court" which is like drug court but for people who offended based on a mental illness. I've done fine in it so far and I'm expecting another fine appearance before the judge today and then next time I go in in August, I read off a statement to the court and I am done, so that will free me up to look for a part-time job perhaps.

I still have another year of probation before I can seek to early terminate, which I am going to do, because we want to move out of Florida and go to either TN, NC, NY, or PA and my mom is going to retire in another year or so, and by that time we'll be ready to sell the house and go, I just have to get off of probation before we can do so. Luckily the judge I have tends to let people off of probation halfway usually provided they've paid everything off.

I've been on probation for a year already and I have up to another three years, but with the option to early terminate at the halfway point which I am going to be all over like white on rice when the time comes. It's not that my life has changed much being on probation, because I was not really breaking the law prior to getting arrested for something inconceivably stupid, but I just have to check in with an officer once a month and usually take a drug test (I don't use drugs or drink alcohol, so I never have to worry about that).

Sounds like you’ve got some things to look forward to which is great. I hope the court day today goes well. I’ve said a prayer for you. I have a court date as well this week. One of many I think. The anxiety is building in me. I used to drink a lot, which has caused a lot of pain in my life, and a drink would usually help in a situation like this, but I’ve been sober for almost a year now and know I can’t go back. My priest tells me to keep climbing the mountain. And I will

BrAndreyu · Jul 19, 2021

Court went fine. I discovered that next court date in August is my final court date, then I just have probation for another year and I can early terminate after that and get my voting rights and whatnot restored.

I hope things go well for your court date, I will be saying prayers for you.

pdudgeon · Jul 20, 2021

JohnWesleyHarding said:
I'm sorry to hear you had such a tough time in there. By the grace of God you weren't in for longer. I sadly may be in for a lot longer. I'm glad they gave you a bible as this will be my first request too. I've heard the common horror stories about prison (fighting, getting raped etc) I pray this wont happen to me. I'll be praying the rosary every day and hope I can remember all the mysteries whilst I'm in there. I also hope there is a priest available to talk to once a week perhaps too. God will reveal all to me in the fullness of time. Hopefully Mary answers my petition and I manage to stay out of jail in the first place.

Since you have access to a computer, now would be the time to prepare.
Call the office of your local Catholic parish, and ask if there is anyone who can visit you, both now and while you are in jail, if it comes to that.
I don't think that the Eucharistic Ministers are operational yet since the pandemic struck, but priests have no such restrictions, as far as I know.
At the very least you should be able to get on the parish prayer list, and that would help you.
Also, some parishes are broadcasting their mass on tv now, so this might be another resource for you.
Best wishes!

pdudgeon · Jul 20, 2021

P.s. I'm sorry that you are so far away. If you were in our parish area, all of this would be much easier to set up, as we already have a deacon who works with the local prison inmates each week. Hopefully your parish will have something similar set up.

BrAndreyu · Jul 20, 2021

pdudgeon said:
I don't think that the Eucharistic Ministers are operational yet since the pandemic struck, but priests have no such restrictions, as far as I know.

I'm in Florida, and our parish is doing Eucharistic ministers again. What honestly shocked me is how people went a year without receiving the Eucharist just because "the government" said so. If it was up to me, I would have gone straight to mass when I got out of jail last year like I wanted to, but our diocese shut down in-person mass to abide by government rules, which in my opinion was kind of weak on their part.

But again, I live in Florida so everything is open again down here even with that Delta variant thing going around that supposedly the vaccine doesn't protect against. Truthfully, I don't see people getting behind another shutdown. I think that people have had enough of that regardless of what the Biden administration thinks that it's going to do to further restrict people's liberties.

John Wesley Harding · Jul 21, 2021

pdudgeon said:
Since you have access to a computer, now would be the time to prepare.
Call the office of your local Catholic parish, and ask if there is anyone who can visit you, both now and while you are in jail, if it comes to that.
I don't think that the Eucharistic Ministers are operational yet since the pandemic struck, but priests have no such restrictions, as far as I know.
At the very least you should be able to get on the parish prayer list, and that would help you.
Also, some parishes are broadcasting their mass on tv now, so this might be another resource for you.
Best wishes!

Thank you very much for your thoughts and advice. I’ll definitely do that if it looks like it’s heading that way. I speak to my local priest often at confession so yes that’s a great place to start. God bless you

Rosary questions; maybe someone has an answer

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