Rosary?

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I have recently been asked what I think about "Lutheran rosaries". I thought that they were full of it until I noticed adds in this forum for them, but apart from what I have read on their websites, I know nothing.

Does any one here know anything about them? Does any one use them? Where did they come from? Have we up here in Canada been living in the dark?

Any info would be welcome.

Mark

 

[LutheranHawkeye]

I have a dark green Lutheran rosary. I heard about the idea from someone and searched on the internet. I found a company that makes Lutheran rosaries that are meant to pray the small catechism for lent. I use the rosary prescribed by an LCMS seminarian named Aaron Fenker. I was really skeptical about the rosary at first but then I spent some time researching it. Prayer beads did not start with Marian devotion. They were used by Orthodox monks that would recite the Jesus prayer. When I found out that the rosary is just the name for the beads I gradually felt better. There is something about praying it that grounds me. The large bead is the Our Father, The Chain before it is the lesser doxology, and every small bead is the Jesus Prayer. The rosary in American Lutheranism has not caught on yet, and probably will never, but it is a great daily devotion. It is also great to have something to hold onto as I pray.

 

[DaRev]

There are various forms of a Lutheran Rosary.
Here is one:
http://orthodoxlutheran.fws1.com/bvm/lutheranrosary.pdf

 

[synger]

Also keep in mind that the rosary prayers, when done correctly, are not just "vain repetition" (an accusation I hear a lot on this subject). Even the marian rosary should be used as a way to focus on Scriptural passages. Each time you pray the rosary, you think about and focus on a different "mystery", or part of Christ's life.

So when I pray the rosary, using the Jesus Prayer rather than the marian prayer, I meditate upon Scripture as I pray it. When I'm praying with my six-year-old, we have a series of meditations. We've used the story of Moses -- first decade we meditate on how God called him in the burning bush, second decade how God used him to call His people out of Egypt, third decade how God guided the people across the sea on dry land, fourth decade how God guided the people in a pillar of smoke and flame, fifth decade how God guided the people into the Promised Land. You see how it goes.

Other times, I meditate on a Psalm, or something from the lectionary for that day or week.

It's a prayer tool, and can be very useful.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Thanks for the helpfully answers.

I had no idea. Never even heard of it up here in Canada, but it does appear to be somewhat widely accepted in the US, regardless of Synod.

I must admit that I am still not quite comfortable enough with the idea to adopt the rosary myself; but neither can I see anything wrong with it. I have noticed that Da Rev's. character is often holding one!

Are there Synods outside North America that also use rosaries?

Mark

 

[BigNorsk]

I don't really know of any synod that could be said to use them anywhere.

It's like a lot of things. It's not the question of whether it is or is no okay to use an object to aid one in prayer. It certainly is, just like some people might use a book of prayer.

What Lutherans do not do in invoke the saints even Mary. So some might say Blessed are you oh Mary and Blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus Christ, and not add the invocation of asking for prayer. Even the first part is a bit weak because we have no assurance that Mary even hears us, and it's still being said as if she can. I would think it would be better to say something like. Thank you oh Lord, Jesus, for your Blessed Mother, Mary and her example of faith. May you do with me as you will, just as you did with her. Or something like that. That can be spoken in faith with full assurance that it will be heard.

And of course the vain repetition should be avoided which is one of the big problems of corporate use of something like a rosary. You end up with the pacing of the group and some people drift off and just go through the motions. Better to just stop.

And note that there is absolutely no reason to accept the common model of a rosary.

You could for instance make a personal prayer reminder. First bead might be to remind you to start by praising God. Second bead could be a bead of thanksgiving. Third bead could be prayers for our leaders. Fourth for other people. Fifth for family. Sixth for yourself. Seventh for praising God. Just a quick example.

 

[LutheranHawkeye]

The rosary is not widely excepted among American Lutherans. I would never show up to Church with my rosary. I would say the closest thing to a rosary is the sign of the cross. Few do it, but of those who do there's a sense of akwardness if doing it in public or in the divine service. I just like having an aid to center my thoughts and something to have in my hands while I pray.