Who can pray the Rosary?

 Somethings feel a little too out of our comfort zone to feel included in. For me, becoming Catholic and praying the Rosary was one of them. From the exterior I just saw a lot of religious tradition some sensational hypocrisy and long prayers that seemed to need a special degree to learn. I had friends who were raised Catholic, seemed to know everything about it and weren’t interested in living a life with faith any longer. In short, I had a narrow view because I based faith on people, not on Almighty God. People fail, God doesn’t. Nevertheless, as a calm happy nonbeliever smuggly looking down on anyone religious, I saw I felt something when I went into a Catholic church, it felt reverent.

 I began praying starting most prayers with “if there is a God” against my logical sense that told me it was nothing more than a desire to have something. 

Prayer often begins that way, feeling so out of place and out of touch with God, and even judging Him for feeling like He judges us etc. “God, don’t even try telling me what to do… I am sensible and not a fanatic.” It is almost like I questioned God for everything that went wrong in the world, history and my life. Like children who fall and when they see their parent looking at them with compassion, yet the child is so angry they fell they don’t hug their mom but shove her away. Coming to terms with a loving good Father was a gift I didn’t see coming. But He came, gently inviting me to a fuller life and without demands.

 

The question “Who can pray the Rosary?” seems to be so easy to answer, but it can be so difficult to accept at first. The answer is: everyone who can pray, is invited to pray the Rosary, Catholic or not.

Children can pray the Rosary. They have a beautiful simple way of believing that inspires us to do the same.

Rosary miracle of Lepanto.

Those quickly approaching the end of their life can pray, to get to know the next home a little better.

Men can pray

Politicians can pray

Hikers can pray

Prisoners can pray

Soldiers can pray

 We don't have an identity to Mary other than being her child, no matter the labels we identify with here. To a mother, her child has no label. She is a mother to everyone and has appeared to people who have never even heard of Christianity (in Rwanda and more). Our Lady, Mother Mary, appeared to 3 little shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. The little kiddos were playing with their Rosaries and shortening the prayers to, “Hail Mary! Hail Mary! Hail Mary!” without saying the rest of the prayer. Mother Mary told them to pray the Rosary fully, devoutly and with love. The youngest of the children was only six years old. Mother Mary told them to pray the Rosary every day, and especially for priests. Adults naturally didn’t believe the children so Mary promised a miracle so all would see. October 13, 1917 all were to come to a large field where this miracle would take place. Thousands of people arrived. It was pouring rain and everyone was getting soaked and grumpy. Suddenly the sun emerged and began to dance in the sky: up and down, around bouncy bouncy went the sun. The people were all dry. There is a video of this miracle on Youtube called the miracle of the sun.

 

Returning to the Rosary and who can pray it. I was thinking of this as I walked and prayed this morning and here is what came to my heart. Sometimes we feel like we have to have a special ethereal floaty positive feeling to pray, or be accepted in prayer with our concept of what God is, or understand God completely. Sometimes we feel that prayer should makes us feel good, like having inner sparkles.

Inner sparkles are nice, but not necessary to pray and not always the outcome of prayer.

 Nothing could be more contrary. Yes, feeling good can help to be in the mood, or feeling connected to our view of how we view God. But quite simply, God wants us as we are, we are children, beloved children and as a good Father He wants to see our face. We can’t understand Him totally as we are children and He is Father. The Rosary is good to pray for:

1.     People who feel:

a.      Angry: Mother Mary will listen to you

b.     Depressed: Mother Mary will uplift you

c.      Alone: Mother with be literally by your side as you pray

d.     Confused: Mother Mary is the “Undoer of knots”

e.      Empty: Mother Mary will show you how to fill your vessel like Jesus first miracle turning your water into wine. You just have to make sure your don’t have a lid on the vessel of your heart. Pray to be open hearted.

f.       Grief: Mother Mary will comfort you. She suffered many sorrows including having her child murdered. Going through losing my children in miscarriage multiple times, meditating on the Rosary has comforted me in ways therapy could never compare.

g.      Malaise: Mother Mary will show you how to overcome laziness.

2.     People who are struggling with:

a.      Envy: Mary will show you how to have gratitude for the gifts you have.

b.     Resentment: Mother will invite you to love and show you how to forgive

c.      Doubt in God: Mary was spooked then said yes. She’ll help you give up control.

d.     Greed: Mother Mary will show you how to give without counting

e.      Addictions and overindulgence in something: Mother Mary will show you temperance and self-control through her life

f.       Arrogance: Mother Mary said very little in the Bible, she put Christ first then others. She’ll show you the way.

g.      Lust and porn addiction: Mary is pure of heart, ask for purity to see yourself and others as Christ sees you.

In conclusion, the Rosary is meant for everyone. Don’t feel discouraged if you have never prayed or don’t own a Rosary. Start small and ask Mother Mary to be with you and be your mother. Listen to a Gregorian chant and let it soak into your soul.

“The first thing we seek in the Rosary and the most precious grace we ask for in the Rosary is the grace of love. This is the greatest grace and the most precious gift. This, above all, is what Mary gives and in the extent that it fills our heart and the thought of self disappears.” Father Al Schwartz