You guys might both be right.
But behaviorists can make a good case that attempting to "look into" another person's mind and judge where things are "coming from" is presumptive at best. Taking the exact same behavior (lips moving, word forming, phrases repeating) and labeling it one way for one person and another way for another person is questionable.
I don't have strong thought on this and I'm not saying people who pray the Rosary are nuts. But I do _sometimes_ admire the behaviorist approach to trying to understand things and, in this case, the approach is interesting. To my eyes, it's something that's worth giving thought to.
Mark W.
P.S. Of course, there's always this, too:
Matthew 6:6-8--
"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. ..."
Just more stuff worth thinking about.
But what about this part of the sentence? I think this is saying that when you talk to God...talk to God. Don't talk to yourself, don't try to impress God or man with many fancy words but open your heart. Be honest and open. Sometimes repetition can take your mind off of your own self-centeredness and put it on God so that you can truly ponder God and His place in your life and your heart.
I don't think the words have a thing to do with it, it is the heartfelt communication with God that He wants from you. In other words it's the sentiment not the speech.