Can a non-Catholic pray the rosary?

[xaira]

I've been drawn back into Christianity after having been a muslim for 5 years. I have no denomination as I'm still exploring local churches and researching. I do however feel drawn to the rosary prayer. Is it ok for a non-catholic to pray the rosary?

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

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[St_Worm2]

I've been drawn back into Christianity after having been a muslim for 5 years. I have no denomination as I'm still exploring local churches and researching. I do however feel drawn to the rosary prayer. Is it ok for a non-catholic to pray the rosary?

Much of it is just fine, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's prayer, etc., but where the waters get more than a little bit murky is when the Rosary departs into praying to Mary and asking her to pray for us. For example, a Christian no-no would be:

"HAIL HOLY QUEEN, mother of mercy; our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry........................"


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or

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"​

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[1watchman]

If one really is a sincere seeker after Christianity, one needs to first find Jesus Christ. Open your Bible (prefer NKJV or KJV). Read John 1; John 3; John 14, then ask God to teach you about that.

 

[angel in hope]

im a christian and i do at times pray the Rosery...I worship not mary our mother i worship and just about all my prayers our lead from the holy spirit..Which are totally differnt prayers then the Rosery..i meant to say i worship Jesus...lol..my brain hurts today..lol...

So i see nothing wrong with praying the rosery..but i personally have to put Jesus first and pray what the holy spirit has givev to me to pray..i think thats better...help.....lolo..lol..lol

 

[Sketcher]

I have a problem with the Hail Marys, myself.

 

[xaira]

When I was a protestant before I converted to Islam I also had an issue with what I perceived to be praying to Mary. However now I see it as just asking her to pray for me in the same way I would ask anyone else alive or dead to pray for me. However I'm still transitioning back to Christianity so I'm trying to keep an open mind and spirit to all things.

 

[parsley]

If you like the idea of reciting a pre-written prayer, you might enjoy the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

The Online Book of Common Prayer

In it, you'll find nice rhythms and meaningful expressions of devotion to God. Click on Prayers and Thanksgivings, and it gives such a comprehensive list of things to pray for, it's humbling how many needs we forget to pray about!

 

[Shane R]

In Orthodoxy, and I think Catholicism agrees, one is encouraged to begin a rule of prayer while a catechumen. So, yes, you could pray the rosary, the trisagion, the hours or some such rule.

 

[theophilus40]

However now I see it as just asking her to pray for me in the same way I would ask anyone else alive or dead to pray for me.

The Bible encourages us to ask living believers to pray for us but it forbids communication with the dead.

What does the Bible say about praying to / speaking to the dead?

Catholics claim that asking Mary for help isn't actually praying to her but think about what it entails. People all over the world are speaking to Mary and expect her to hear them. That implies a belief that Mary is omnipresent and able to hear all of their prayers. This is actually an act of worship even tho it isn't called that.

There is nothing in the Bible that even indicates the dead are able to hear anything that is said to them. If you want to ask someone to pray for you ask those who are still alive.

 

[chilehed]

...I do however feel drawn to the rosary prayer. Is it ok for a non-catholic to pray the rosary?

Absolutely!!! The Rosary is a wonderful meditation on Christ.

However now I see it as just asking her to pray for me in the same way I would ask anyone else alive or dead to pray for me.

Yep. There's nothing at all about it that any Christian need worry about... including the Hail Holy Queen.

And I'd like to invite you over to the One Bread, One Body section of the forums.