The Rosary Doesn't Do Much For Me...

[TuxAme]

How are Jesus' words regarding how to pray not pertinent to helping the OP have a more fruitful prayer life?

He's asking about the Rosary. I wouldn't come into a thread about someone asking how to use Jesus beads and try telling them to use the Divine Mercy chaplet instead.

Again, I would seriously advise against hijacking the thread.

 

[Ryan Reborn]

He said the rosary doesn't do much for him, so I was trying to offer helpful alternative ways to pray that are effective according to the Bible. Sorry about that.

 

[TuxAme]

You can offer advice without writing off an ancient prayer (and one rooted in Scripture, at that) as nothing but "vain repetitions".

 

[Ryan Reborn]

I disagree with you that it is rooted in scripture, but I bid you a peaceful evening, good sir.

 

[Phil 1:21]

He's asking about the Rosary. I wouldn't come into a thread about someone asking how to use Jesus beads and try telling them to use the Divine Mercy chaplet instead.

Again, I would seriously advise against hijacking the thread.

From the OP:

Is this just because God is calling me away from the general rosary to do more specific novenas & other prayers to saints? Or what's going on here?

The gentleman's response was on point. If we seek to have a better relationship with God it would behoove us to heed His word.

 

[TuxAme]

I disagree with you that it is rooted in scripture, but I bid you a peaceful evening, good sir.

Oh, no?

And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28

42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Luke 1:42

The only additions to Scripture in the first part of the prayer, are the names of Mary and Jesus.

As far as the second half of the prayer is concerned, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death", Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is God- you don't dispute this, do you? That Mary is the Mother of God?

I fail to see what the problem is.

 

[TuxAme]

From the OP:The gentleman's response was on point. If we seek to have a better relationship with God it would behoove us to heed His word.

I disagree. The OP was seeking direction on whether he should continue or abandon the prayer- he wasn't asking for personal opinions about the legitimacy of the prayer.

 

[Phil 1:21]

I disagree. The OP was seeking direction on whether he should continue or abandon the prayer- he wasn't asking for personal opinions about the legitimacy of the prayer.

Well, the reason he should abandon it is because it's illegitimate, as per the fact that at no time does God instruct us to pray to anyone but Him alone.

 

[tz620q]

Well, the reason he should abandon it is because it's illegitimate, as per the fact that at no time does God instruct us to pray to anyone but Him alone.

Perhaps there is a difference in God telling us to pray in a different way and the normal man-made drivel trying to discourage praying the Rosary. What if this was the only prayer that had given him comfort and connection in the past? Would you similarly trash his efforts and possibly destroy his prayer life? Isn't it possible to steer him in a loving way into some suggestions for how you pray without backhanding the way he prayed before?

 

[Phil 1:21]

Perhaps there is a difference in God telling us to pray in a different way and the normal man-made drivel trying to discourage praying the Rosary.

Perhaps we should stick with what God actually says.

What if this was the only prayer that had given him comfort and connection in the past?

Just because something give us comfort does not make it correct or in accordance with God's will.

Would you similarly trash his efforts and possibly destroy his prayer life? Isn't it possible to steer him in a loving way into some suggestions for how you pray without backhanding the way he prayed before?

Interesting that you would characterize following God's will as destructive and backhanding. That speaks volumes. Thanks for your honesty.

 

[tz620q]

Perhaps we should stick with what God actually says.

Just because something give us comfort does not make it correct or in accordance with God's will.

Interesting that you would characterize following God's will as destructive and backhanding. That speaks volumes. Thanks for your honesty.

Interesting that you think you are so in God's pocket that your will perfectly coincides with His, even to giving offense and maybe causing other Christians to stumble based solely on this presumption.

 

[Albion]

Perhaps there is a difference in God telling us to pray in a different way and the normal man-made drivel trying to discourage praying the Rosary.

Does that mean that the legend of Mary giving the Rosary to St. Dominic is supposed to be God overriding all that he revealed in Scripture about prayer?

 

[Phil 1:21]

Interesting that you think you are so in God's pocket that your will perfectly coincides with His, even to giving offense and maybe causing other Christians to stumble based solely on this presumption.

If God commanding us to pray to Him alone offends you, perhaps you should take it to Him in prayer.

 

[tz620q]

Does that mean that the legend of Mary giving the Rosary to St. Dominic is supposed to be God overriding all that he revealed in Scripture about prayer?

Albion, No Catholic on this thread has stated that the Rosary is necessary. No Catholic has tried to denigrate others offering Scripture as an alternative. We see this as a valid and useful prayer discipline as well and I have studied Lectio Divina as a way of doing this. But the OP did not ask to have his praying the Rosary trashed by a bunch of knee jerk apologists that seem to think the soapbox is a good position to give effective counsel.

 

[Albion]

Albion, No Catholic on this thread has stated that the Rosary is necessary.

Then it would appear that the problem our friend "Reverand Alex" brought to us is resolved.
He should not feel guilty or disloyal or anything like that if his prayer life consists of other methods of prayer. You would agree with the responses given earlier by Rhamiel and Michie, then, I assume.

 

[tz620q]

Then it would appear that the problem our friend "Reverand Alex" brought to us is resolved.
He should not feel guilty or disloyal or anything like that if his prayer life consists of other methods of prayer. You would agree with Michie's post, then, I assume.

Do you mean Michie's post recommending the Divine Mercy Chaplet? I don't think there is a one size fits all way to pray. That is why Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans have embraced many different forms of prayer.

To me the OP was asking a question about why he didn't feel connection to God when praying the Rosary. This is a question that we cannot really answer for him. Even those who pray the most don't always feel that connection. That doesn't mean that their method of praying before was necessarily faulty, only that maybe at this time in their lives they should chose other prayers that allow them to feel that connection. Maybe God is guiding them in a certain way to ask for a certain thing or take up a certain prayer discipline. Maybe they are merely in the desert and their faith is being tested. There are a lot of reasons for that lack of connection. One reason that affects all of us is if we have walls of unconfessed sin that separate us from God. Often just confessing can drop those barriers and allow us a more intimate relation with God. I just don't know what is happening in his life now enough to give good advice. If he asked me, I would tell him to go to confession and maybe the priest can help him to ascertain which way to go.

 

[Albion]

I agree in principle with all of that. However, I don't also think that there was anything wrong with other posters suggesting that the Rosary may be a wrongful way to pray and that he should not feel reluctant to pray in other ways instead. That is one possible approach to take, just as the suggestions you made are deserving of his consideration. I recognize that he didn't throw his membership in the Catholic Church open for debate, but neither did he post his question to the Catholic forum here, choosing instead to address a larger audience.

 

[tz620q]

I agree in principle with all of that. However, I don't also think that there was anything wrong with other posters suggesting that the Rosary may be a wrongful way to pray and that he should not feel reluctant to pray in other ways instead. That is one possible approach to take, just as the suggestions you made are deserving of his consideration. I recognize that he didn't throw his membership in the Catholic Church open for debate, but neither did he post his question to the Catholic forum here, choosing instead to address a larger audience.

Perhaps, but you and I have been here long enough to have comprehended the entirety of the key verse that sends people out to do apologetics.

1 Peter 3:12-16
"12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears turned to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

13 Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation (apologia) to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, 16 but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil."

I don't mind defending the Rosary on a thread that was obviously intended to cause that sort of discussion; I just don't see this OP as wanting that here.

 

[TuxAme]

Well, the reason he should abandon it is because it's illegitimate, as per the fact that at no time does God instruct us to pray to anyone but Him alone.

There it is again- you're both giving your personal opinions about the Rosary, rather than answering the OP's question. It's extremely unhelpful. Your answers belong in a "Is the Rosary Scriptural?" thread, not a thread like this.

 

[TuxAme]

Interesting that you think you are so in God's pocket that your will perfectly coincides with His, even to giving offense and maybe causing other Christians to stumble based solely on this presumption.

Take all my likes.