Would Jesus Condemn the Rosary? Jesus condemns ‘vain repetition’ in prayer . . . but Catholics also have the rosary.

Michie · Oct 10, 2025

Are Catholics guilty of “vain repetition” in prayer? Protestants often make this accusation. They say that repeated standard prayers—rather than spontaneous, improvised prayers—is pointless and even damaging. Typically, this comes up with regard to the holy rosary, but it is often applied more broadly. The claim is that Our Lord specifically condemned repetitive prayer during his earthly ministry, and Catholics are in violation of this prohibition.

The passage in question comes during the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew: “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (6:7-8). In some translations—including the King James, which is the translation of choice for a great number of Protestants—“empty phrases” is translated as “vain repetitions.”

So was Jesus condemning repetition in prayer?

Let’s take careful note of the qualifier in the sentence, as that adjective makes clear what our Lord is saying: vain repetition or emptyphrases. Jesus is not condemning all repetition in prayer; if that were his intention, he would not have needed that qualifier. It would have been much clearer for him to say, “Do not heap up repetition in prayer, which is in vain” or something similar. As it is, he condemned not all repetition, but vain or empty repetition.

Continued below.

Would Jesus Condemn the Rosary?

Jesus condemned 'vain repetition' in prayer . . . but Catholics also have the rosary. Is the Catholic Church wrong to encourage this popular devotion?

www.catholic.com

jamiec · Oct 15, 2025

Psalm 136 is full of repetitions. Repetition is not forbidden. Vain piling up of words - a common Evangelical practice - is what is forbidden.

Psalm 136 ESV

fide · 2025-11-10T10:00:33-0600

jamiec said:
Psalm 136 is full of repetitions. Repetition is not forbidden. Vain piling up of words - a common Evangelical practice - is what is forbidden.

Psalm 136 ESV

I'm sorry to suggest that some Evangelical protestants do not have the total market on empty repetition in "praying." It began with Cain and Abel.

Mt 6:7 "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Mt 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mt 6:9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.....

Cain had perhaps noticed the way his brother Abel prayed..., or offered..., or worshipped.... His brother no doubt had within him a sense of reverence. He no doubt honored God in his acts, and his words, and his whole demeaner. He no doubt walked with God, and Cain, no doubt, did not. Some men walk with God realizing Him - that is, knowing God is Real in them, and with them. Other men are all about themselves, and attempt from time to time to do something to fool God (if He even exists) and other men, pretending to be religious in the eyes of men, in order that religiosity might be of profit to them somehow.

Such men are pretenders - actors - hypocrites. God sees their hearts. But to them, God says what He said to Cain:

Gen 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
Gen 4:4 and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
Gen 4:5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin ....is couching at the door; its desire is for you,..... but you must master it."
Gen 4:8 Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

No, Cain had an idol in him: Himself. He was a god unto himself. He would not live for God (if He even existed), he would live for himself. He would immitate outwardly, or so he thought, what he saw of his honorable brother Abel; but in himself, he would "do it his own way." God warned him: "if you do well, will you not be accepted?" Prayer, and offering, and worship, must be "done" "well" - within. But men who are in love with themselves, do all for themselves. Inordinate Self-Love is our greatest interior enemy, and this self-love must be done away with - and can be, in His Holy Grace.

RileyG · 2025-11-10T15:10:27-0600

jamiec said:
Psalm 136 is full of repetitions. Repetition is not forbidden. Vain piling up of words - a common Evangelical practice - is what is forbidden.

Psalm 136 ESV

Good point!

boughtwithaprice · 2025-11-10T18:40:16-0600

RileyG said:
Good point!

It is not repetition that is condemned rather than “vain repetition” Jesus even gives us the hint that God knows what we need before we ask Him.
If we keep repeating a request over and over again and act like God can’t hear us unless we repeat the request or think the greater member of times repeated gives a greater reward. That’s vain

The Rosary has repetitions not so God can hear us, but rather recondition our mind and bodies to hear from God. They are spiritual exercises, and we need exercise because the spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. The repetition focuses our minds to meditate on the works of God and off of our fleshly desires. That is proper use of repetition in prayer. Don’t just mouth the words but actually think about what you are saying and keep doning it until your mind is properly aligned with your mouth. That kind of concentration takes practice which is why we repeat and practice it often

boughtwithaprice · 2025-11-10T23:15:22-0600

The rosary also fulfills the command of scripture

Romans 12

1 I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God

We are to sacrifice our time, talent, and treasure. The Rosary is a sacrifice of our time to develop our talent to make Jesus and the Gospel our treasure. For Jesus says, where your treasure is, there will also be your heart.

We are also told in Philippians 4

8- For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things 9 The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.

In the Rosary we contemplate the mysteries of our redemption. Are they not holy and lovely? The Rosary is not all there is to think about, but learning it and saying it daily is a way to build discipline.
The mysteries are all in scripture, and when we repetitively contemplate them, the mysteries come alive as we receive our answer from God in prayer. Even the Hail Mary prayer, most objected to by non Catholics, begins with two quotes from scripture in the Gospel of Luke 1:28 and 1:42
Should we not contemplate these until they are planted firmly in our minds?

I can testify that it is true to follow this advice given in Scripture by Paul. I have done what he instructs and the peace of God is with me through the Rosary

Search

Search

Would Jesus Condemn the Rosary? Jesus condemns ‘vain repetition’ in prayer . . . but Catholics also have the rosary.

Michie

Well-Known Member