As a Roman Catholic, for the past three years I have tried to pray the Rosary every day during Lent. This year, however, I haven't been as devout in my prayer and have only been praying it daily for the past week. Whenever I begin these periods of "meditation" I always hope that it will inspire me to continue the practice past the Lenten season, but it never does. I think the problem is with the whole concept of meditating on the mysteries of Christ and Mary. I guess I just don't understand what it means to "meditate" on a series of prayers. Whenever I pray the Rosary I find myself focusing on the words of the prayers, not the mysteries that each decade is supposed to represent. How is it that one can pray and meditate at the same time? My understanding of meditation has always been to clear/calm your mind to invite a state of introspection. I guess I just find it hard to clear my mind while internally reciting the words of the prayers. Here's an example: during Lent you are supposed to meditate on the Sorrowful mysteries of Christ daily until Easter Sunday. The Scourging of Christ at the Pillar paints a clear image in my mind of Christ's suffering and invokes a deep emotional response of remorse for my own sins whenever I think about it. The problem is that when reciting the prayers, I can't picture the same images of Christ's suffering while saying the words. It's like my mind can only focus on one or the other, so I either say the prayers or think about His suffering. I'm just wondering if anyone can provide any insight as to how to achieve both. I have tried to look-up information on the topic and most people seem to mention keeping the prayers in the back of your mind while you focus on the particular mystery. I keep trying to do this, but it seems almost impossible. Do I just need to patiently keep trying, or is there something I'm missing? I would appreciate any feedback anyone can provide.
Got to agree with Been There.
The Rosary is a very sweet and very powerful devotion. But it's also a way of rewiring your circuitry, so to speak. You want both right brain and left brain engaged (and the "switchboard," corpus callosum, as well). I would think the next step would be to get the cerebellum into the party as well, but that's later.
There's really no substitute for doing it. I'm not sure I totally buy into using the Sorrowful Mysteries exclusively, but I'll leave that to you and your Pastor. It can be done. Just takes practice. And there are modifications that can be used to change the experience up: The use of music, incense, and corporate prayer, to name a few. You could do your prayers in an Adoration Chapel. You can create brand new neural pathways by doing it in another language; Spanish strikes me as lovely, but I tend to switch between English and Latin...and yes, it does change the imagery when I do that.
Patience. Allow it to happen (best advice I ever heard about yoga: "The secret is in knowing when to let go"). And don't stop at the end of Lent. Keep doing this. It works.
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An information on lent seasonafterthought: since we've crossed the line into "woo-woo" stuff and since Been There was kind enough to broach the subject of Theresa, you might want to look into the Spanish Mystics. She had some stuff that should be required reading. There's also John of the Cross with Dark Night of the Soul, etc. Nothing at all wrong with falling in love with your God.
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fyi, protestant's: the Our Father is integral to the rosary.
Don't get hung up on one form of prayer. Catholics have a great variety of spiritualities and prayer forms! Expand your options and you'll find your prayer life enriched. Examples: Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, Meditative Prayer, Taize, Ignatian Meditation, Liturgy of the Hours, etc.
Easy...Begin with the prayers to clear your mind and prepare it for a state of meditation. THEN meditate! Don't do both.It's virtually impossible to speak and meditate at the same time. Even the monks only use sounds " OOOOMMMM" to get them into a state of meditation.
Best wishes!
Don't worry about doing both at once. If your mind focusses on the passion, stay there until you can comfortably return to the prayer. It's easier for some people to do two things at once than others. But if your heart is learning and being touched, it doesn't matter if you're not saying the words at that time.
Do not feel bad If you cannot pray and meditate at the same time. I can't either. I do them in succession. God Bless.
A lot of people had things to say about repetition in prayers. I would advise them to read Psalm136
Also read Matt 26: 39,42,44.
MEDITATION - Reflective prayer. It is that form of mental prayer in which the mind, in God's presence, thinks about God and divine things. While the affections may also be active, the stress in meditation is on the role of the intellect. Hence this is also called discursive mental prayer. The objects of meditation are mainly three: mysteries of faith; a person's better knowledge of what God wants him or her to do; and the divine will, to know how God wants to be served by the one who is meditating. (Etym. Latin meditatio, a thinking over.)
Here are three ways, that I have found very helpful in my own prayer life.
first is
this site has all the mysteries broken down into each Hail Mary ...I printed them out for myself and used them for quite a while to help me with concentration and keep me from being distracted....very beneficial imo
the second suggestion is a Rosary pamphlet...these are available at any Catholic Bookstore for only a few cents ... and have pictures of each Mystery that is very helpful in remaining focused....the exact same pics are available on line here...if you prefer to print them out.
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the third recommendation is the "Secret of the Rosary" by St Louis de Montfort a very helpful and inspirational book on all things Rosary ...everyone I have given this simple book to has been excited to champion the Rosary after read it......it will also help you to keep up with the Rosary after the Lenten season is over with. .... available ainformation on lent seasont any Catholic bookstore ...it too is available on line and can easily be downloaded and printed out here
Have you prayed the Gospel today?
Pray the Rosary ...transform your life.
In praying the rosary, it's important not to get too tied down or worried about the words, at least, not to get anxious about them. It you feel inspired to savor the words and their meaning, fine. There is a scriptural richness and a spiritual energy to be tapped from the words themselves. But don't hesitate to soar beyond the words to the mysteries of Christ or into the loving presence of God.
Pray from the heart. Many people who say the rosary consider the words to be like background music leading them more deeply into the mysteries or into God's loving presence within.
The words are...the framework in which the prayer is held. The words are not the prayer. The prayer lies always beyond the words.
Praying to the rhythm of the rosary:
"Be still and know that I am God."
This is the first requirement for meditation ... to quiet the mind.
When you quiet the mind, your mind becomes fluid and expansive.
And once you are skilled at that, then you can apply your thoughts to dwelling on mysteries without getting carried away by the process of thinking.
- Neurobiologists would call this fluidity developing an enhanced awareness of right-brain function.
- St. Theresa d'Avila would call it Contemplative Prayer.
- Tibetan Buddhists would call it Calm-Abiding meditation ... which is the prerequisite for being able to do Analytical meditation (which is where you contemplate on mysteries).
You are only putting the cart before the horse.
God asks for what is on your heart, not meaningless, ritualistic, repetitive prayer. He wants a close personal relationship with you, not religion.
Try praying to God only. Toss the rosary away and pray to God who will listen to you and answer your prayers.
Yes, maybe your realizing that magic god beads are just silly.
Whats better, a million prayers or one positive action
I don't understand, why would a human being pray to a dead human being.
Its a shame the catholics refuse to pray the way Jesus taught the disciples. Instead they love to pray to make them look better in the eyes of men, not in the eyes of God! In fact Jesus tells us not to repeat prayers over and over again for hours on end.
Pray the Fathers prayer in the bible instead of the rosary and God will listen to you then.
God wants a personal relationship with you bro. What do you really think a rote prayer means to him?
Rote prayer is so wrong, and does not come out of a relationship, and this is why Jesus Christ Himself warned against vain repetitions.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Pray to him like you are talking to your best friend.
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