We can get over the problems we have with the rosary.



Monday, 10/7/13

Today we honor Mary through her Rosary, and I would like to speak about my approach to the rosary. To begin with, I had two major problems with saying the rosary. The first problem stemmed from its putting on us the need to do two things at once: we were supposed to be reverently reciting Hail Marys at the same tome we were meditating on the mysteries.

The way I got around that difficulty was by recalling Christmas shopping with my mother when I was four. While holding tight to her hand as we pushed through a crowd of shoppers at the department store, I was also gaping around at all the eye-catching decorations and at other shoppers. There was no need for me to be thinking about my mother – it was enough for me to hold tight to her hand. Transferring that experience to saying the rosary, I give my attention to the mysteries while using the Hail Marys to stay tied tight to Mary.

My second problem with saying the rosary was that after years of meditating on such mysteries as the Presentation and Assumption I was all meditated out on them. The way I got around that difficulty was to use for my mysteries other elements of our faith that provided richer food for thought.

Now, while taking my morning walks I make fifteen mysteries out of the eight Beatitudes and the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. For my afternoon walk I make fifteen mysteries out of Chapter One of John’s Gospel. Let me enumerate them.

1. In the beginning was the Word. 2. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3. All things came to be through him. 4. In him was life and the life was the light of the world. 5. To those who accept him, he gave the power to become children of God. 6. And the Word became flesh.7. He set up his tent with ours. 8. And we have seen his glory. 9. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 10. Behold the Lamb of God. 11. “What are you looking for?” 12. They stayed with him. 13. You will be called Peter. 14. Behold a true Israelite in whom there is no guile. 15. Jesus and is disciples were invited to the wedding.

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