[AnAmericanMother]

I did read the article, and that's not what the author is saying at all. In fact, she says, "I think people brought up Catholic often demonstrate how little they understand about their 'separated brethren' when they blithely suggest that Protestants can pray the rosary too."

She's explaining to Catholics why Protestants have trouble with the Rosary - not trying to make them say it!

[Between the Lines]

She's explaining to Catholics why Protestants have trouble with the Rosary - not trying to make them say it!

I did not say 'make', I said convince. From the article:

As I've said, Catholics do sometimes cheerfully assert that Protestants, too, can "honor" the Virgin Mary and pray the rosary. But I've noticed that somehow, all the Catholic stories that circulate about Protestants praying the rosary tend to end with the story's Protestant becoming a Catholic. If those are the only stories you ever hear, the (inadvertent) message is "If you start praying the rosay, you'll become Catholic" -- as though the rosary were the first step down a slippery slope!

I noticed this on Rosary Workshop's "Why pray the rosary?" page and mentioned it to the website's owner, Margot Carter-Blair -- who shared my amusement, once I'd pointed it out. Margot is now looking for some good stories about Protestants praying the rosary who stay Protestant.

[higgmeister]

You understand correctly. Praying the "Hail Mary" is the main point of difference with the "Holy Roman Church."

I was raised Methodist. My Great Great Grandfather donated the land for a local Methodist church in Alabama where all my line up to me are buried.

I have been on retreat at the Cistercian Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani. I watched the endless prayers at Vespers and got up at 3:AM to observe the monks at Vigils. I was a youth counselor at a Catholic Youth Home where I got used to calling a priest "Father" without being to uncomfortable. I even helped the boys learn their Rosary for Catechism, where I learned the words myself by heart.

That is as close as I'll ever get to praying the Rosary. I have no malice against it and I admire the traditional Mother Church for currently being a positive influence over humanity.

From being taught all your life to pray to "The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit", it is to great a leap to now believe that Mother Mary will also put in a good word for you too. Additionally, Protestants believe also that the Apostles and Saints haven't interacted with mortal man since biblical times either.

[Salvation]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary. Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.