At first, being a protestant, specifically a Methodist, this was awkward, but I felt that I was up for the challenge. Even though I say the Apostle's Creed nearly daily, I still had to look it up. Even though I always say the Lord's Prayer, I had to train myself to stop at the deliver us from evil. And I had to learn the "Hail Mary." I also did some side study, because, let's be honest, I was getting ready to embark on a journey that could (and would) change my life...or at least my understanding of the Rosary.
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| St. Benedictine Rosary from a Benedictine Friend |
Saint John Paul II said of the Rosary "The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer." Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: 'In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words' (Mt 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed”.
My first night praying the Rosary there was loads of mistakes, I am sure. I probably forgot "the Lord is with Thee" about 10 times, probably forgot the Glory Be all 5 times, and only heaven knows if I got the Lord's prayer correct. Over the week though, praying the Rosary became easier and easier; let me say I am a pro at the rosary now!
Tonight my friend sent me an email and said "So, what did you learn?" Learn? What did I learn? My response was as follows:
I learned that we need to do a lot less asking of God and a lot more contemplating the mysteries of our faith. I learned that protestants under estimate Mary and Marian devotion. But the most important thing I learned was to appreciate the centeredness I felt when I prayed. I realized immediately what Christians for centuries have found out...it is a singularly meaningful tool for praying more deeply and intimately with God. If we believe we are not to use vain repetition in our prayer, thank God for the rosary, where repetitive prayer is filled with grace.
I had given my hands something to do, my mind was conscience while I moved bead to bead, the repetitiveness of the prayers--consciously engaging my devotional awareness on these multiple levels, and I was in essence freeing up deeper regions of my soul to simply rest in the Divine Presence. So much so that I was able to simply lay down after my prayers and sleep, and not just the sleep of one who was tired, but one who was at peace.
The rosary also introduced me to new prayers and new appreciation of prayer. My new favorite being the Fatima Prayer “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.” For me this prayer, especially the single last line Especially those in most need of Thy mercy. That prayer, those last eight words became the singular prayer for my former best friend, whose salvation I am completely unsure of.
I agree with Lee M. of A Thinking Reed "For whatever reason, many Protestant forms of prayer strike me as too wordy and intellectualistic. But I also haven’t had much luck with forms of meditation where you’re supposed to “empty” your mind and wordlessly contemplate the divine. The rosary provides a good balance of structure and freedom, or mind and heart. It’s grounded in the great truths of the faith, and so has a certain “given-ness” and objectivity, but it also allows for one’s personal prayers and affections to range freely."
Today I agree with St. John Paul II just as he said in 2002 "Twenty-four years ago, on 29 October 1978, scarcely two weeks after my election to the See of Peter, I frankly admitted: “The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and its depth."
