I recently received a couple of questions from a person who in the process of becoming Catholic. She asked about the Rosary and thought I’d share the questions and my responses with you.
Is there a good resource that can serve as a guide in learning the Rosary? And, how do the beads come into play, and why are they so important?
The Rosary is one of my favorite prayers. It means a lot to me because it connects me to the life of Christ, to Mary, and to our Catholic tradition. I’ve got a few resources I can suggest that I’ve used and found helpful.
Here are some online resources from the Loyola Press website (the Jesuit ministry where I work):
The Rosary beads themselves are important for a couple reasons. Practically speaking, they help us keep our place as we pray all the Hail Mary’s and other prayers. Spiritually speaking, Rosary beads are considered “sacramentals” in the Catholic tradition. A sacramental can be a physical object (like beads or bread and wine or a holy medal) or a gesture (like the Sign of the Cross or laying on of hands) that reminds us of God’s presence in our everyday lives. We treat such objects or actions with respect because of their connection to God which helps us grow in our spiritual lives.
A really good way to get to know the Rosary is by actually making one and praying while you make it. Here’s another link to how to string your own Rosary and pray it.
These links should give you a good start. Each person, parish, or religious community might pray the Rosary in slightly different ways, but the basics are the same
What are other Rosary resources that you’ve found helpful? What does the Rosary mean in your life?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I use the rosary as the way to focus and enter completely into sacred space. Sometimes I remember the mysteries, but about half the time I just find myself saying the decades with an intention for each one. I am blessed to have a community of nuns, The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, practically across the street from me, so I say the Rosary with them rather often. They do remember the mysteries. haha. The rosary is a twice a day affair for me, so I recommend it highly, with or without the mystery of the day.
It was on Mary’s arms that I turned my life around to Our Lord. At first with daily prayers, which eventually included the Rosary. I tell a but about this journey at http://rosary-novice.blogspot.com.
‘Officially’ praying the Rosary is deeply meaningful to me. My rosary beads were given to me by my mother, who got them from her mother. When I take them out and use them to direct my prayer, it gives that prayer time a certain structure and solemnity that often my prayer lacks.
When out and about somewhere without my rosary, if I become upset, afraid, or disturbed it helps me to say the prayers of the Rosary while keeping track on my own fingers. Taking the time and saying these very familiar words gives me a time and a space to work issues out and let my inner affairs settle and come together.
Our Lady’s Rosary Makers is also a great resource for learning how to make rosaries. Their wire instructions are great. I get more out of making them than praying it, oddly enough. (Or maybe making them is a form of prayer?) I think for actual prayer i much prefer the Liturgy of the Hours.
Where’d you get the rosary in the picture? It’s cool.
My mother and hers before her, never left the house without rosary beads in their pockets. I’m qute sure neither would have had any deep understanding of the meaning of sacramentals and yet it seems even in simple faith there is a deeply held connection between the physical and spiritual.
Another resource for making your own Rosary beads in Bead One, Pray Too by Kimberly Winston. Much of the book is devoted to Episcopalian prayer beads, but she gives very clear directions for adapting the directions to make a Catholic Rosary. I like this book because it shares the prayer bead practices of many traditions and really makes you think about WHY we use beads to focus our prayers.
I was started go to catholic church when I had a work , need reserch about catholic church. God give me met a person of catholic believer. She told me something about catholic and praying Rosary. At the time I don’t believe god , I had hate to god , it was very strong.
And It was wonder , everyweek she have praying Rosary at church , and I went to church for praying Rosary .
I think that time “Rosary ? What is that??” It is no reason.
I was continue to go to church a few month , at the time I was change to my mind .
and with something was happend ..
I was change , I believe , love to Jesus .
That’s beautiful, Bernadette. You show that at it’s heart, the Rosary is about growing in relationship with Christ. Through Mary’s life we come to walk with Christ, to know Christ, and to love Christ.
Sister Julie
Thanks responce for my message.
About Rosary … sure , I think so and
I find what is “Truth of All” from Christ.
Before know Christ , I hadn’t love and believe for anyone.
Now , I am looking for
“What I should to do this live, Christ please teach me..”
(I’m a Japanese , my english is very bad , sorry Sister)
From Shizuoka Pref.,Japan
I’ll pray with you, Bernadette, that Christ might show you the way. It’s like falling in love — it changes everything! And not to worry about your english — it is so much better than my Japanese! I learned some when I studied shotokan karate but not enough for a conversation. Blessings.
Hi Sister Julie
I am a very happy and blessed convert to the Catholic Church for about 2 1/2 years now. Thanks be to God!
When I first started learning about the Rosary I was listening to the Rosary Army Catholic Podcast which was a part of the Rosary Army apostolate. They send a free twine knotted Rosary to anyone who requests one and it comes with a great instruction sheet that shows exactly how to pray each knot (or bead) of the Rosary. It was a wonderful way for me to learn and grow in praying the Rosary.
The Rosary Army also has audio Rosaries (regular and scriptural) that you can download on your computer or MP3 player and pray along with. I really like praying along with the scriptural mysteries.
They call themselves the Rosary Army because they have an “army” of Rosary “warriors” working with them to make the twine Rosaries that they give away. Their moto is “Make them. Pray them. Give them away.” I have been making and giving away Rosaries for a while now and find it very relaxing, as well as rewarding. I encourage everyone to check out their website, request a Rosary and start making Rosaries, if you would like to do that kind of thing.
God Bless,
Dawn
Sister Julie
Thanks pray with me.
“Falling in love” yeah
I think so ! First time, my heart get a love from Christ.
Some nuns said “You are choiced by Christ” , is it really ??
I haven’t work last spring to winter now, a helf year ,I visit to same convents… Sometimes Fathers ask me “Are you a new pre-novice ?” before or after mass at convents.
If Christ choice me then ,,, correctly I will to answer “Yes”
only one.
And sister, you studied Karate !! Surprised!
I began to listen to the rosary on the radio while going to work. I did not know anything about it. Now, I am almost three years a Catholic and it is the structure that holds my petitions to God for others and for myself. It holds my praises in which I ask the angels, saints and holy souls to join. It holds my time with Jesus my Savior, and all the while Mary is beckoning me to her Son.
I pray every morning in my car on the way to work. I pray with the Daughters of St. Paul CD. My commute from garage to parking space at work is the length a full rosary and most of the meditation song that is sung after each rosary.