Posted on 10/07/2014 9:09:11 PM PDT by Morgana
Since today is the feast of the Holy Rosary, in this post I'd like to remind us that the rosary is a powerful weapon in our battle against unchastity and in particular pornography.
“To recite the rosary,” wrote Pope John Paul II, “is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.” To commit to praying the rosary, perhaps even daily, is to commit to spending fifteen to twenty minutes in quiet contemplation.
Quieting the Mind
Often those who use pornography habitually say they experience an inner disquiet that can make contemplation seem almost impossible. The rosary is a practical and beautiful way to reverse that problem, to begin quieting our minds and our passions.
Some people dismiss the rosary as too simple, a prayer for blue-haired church ladies. Though it’s true that the rosary is a humble prayer, this is by no means a defect. Consider the humble offering of the young boy who volunteered five barley loaves to our Lord (John 6:9).
That too was a simple offering, but its result was magnificent! In the same way, when we offer the five decades of the rosary to Jesus through the hands of our Blessed Mother, what can he not do?
The famous words of one bishop, Hugh Doyle, are appropriate here: “No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the rosary.”
I'd like to encourage us to offer a holy rosary today for all those affected by the sin of pornography: consumers, producers, and the victims who call themselves "stars."
Let's conclude by taking a look at five powerful quotes about the rosary that I hope will inspire you (and me) to greater devotion.
5 Quotes About the Rosary
1. "If you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son's path." — St. Josemaria Escriva
2. "The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin. . . . If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors." — Pope Pius XI
3. The Rosary is the Weapon. — St. Pio
4. The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God . . . and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary. — Pope Saint Pius X
5. "The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description." — Venerable Fulton Sheen
Today offer a rosary for all those addicted to pornography as well as those who are in the industry.
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Matt Fradd works for Covenant Eyes, and is the author of the new book Delivered: True Stories of Men and Women who Turned from Porn to Purity. He is also the founder of The Porn Effect (www.theporneffect.com) a site dedicated to exposing the reality behind the fantasy of porn and offering help to those seeking authentic sexual liberation.
Read more from Matt at his website www.mattfradd.com.
My old parish also started again praying the rosary before every mass so that the chatty ones could chat productively. ;)
I care and I know what you mean.
Consider this Einstein. Some people may not read so well. Some people don't own their very own Bible that they can just haul all over creation. Some people stuck alone in a nursing home may not have the comfort of the Bible close by. If they do maybe some drugged, pierced, tattooed dike lesbo will beat them up if they read the Bible.
What about the family of a dying Alzheimer patient? They stood around his bed and said the Rosary. The man joined in. They did not even realize he was still conscience. Medically he should not have been able to talk.
The countless mothers I have know who said the Rosary on the babies fingers and toes while rocking and nursing?
Kids and parents praying the Rosary together while cooking or cleaning, sure cuts down on the noise level.
I have friends that do the Rosary in the car on long commutes, use a CD, cut down on the stress. I would doubt you would want them reading the Bible instead of driving?
If you have the free time to sit around and learn scripture all day long good for you! I mean it. But the rest of us have a lot on our plates.
That’s a cheap way of getting out of an answer. I really am interested in how anyone would know that their guardian angel finished their rosary for them. I ask this, because I do not believe any man could possibly know more about God and angels, than any other man. If you could explain this, I would appreciate it.
It is taken on faith. It’s tradition. It’s not doctrine or dogma or anything like that and if one chooses not to believe it it’s OK.
ROSARY ping!
I remember a priest telling me that God was not answering me because I was conducting a monologue rather than a dialog with Him.
sidetracked by many who would be the first to refer to themselves as Christian yet have no issue promptly judging others...
“Memorizing scripture for what reason? To use it to beat other people over the head with? People spout Bible verse all the time. So what? People spout the Koran as well.”
yup- when i initially started in the insurance business 27.5 years ago our office was full of born again Christians; people who reminded us daily “we are going to Heaven because we’ve accepted Jesus into our hearts.” Scripture was often recited or as you stated, used to beat others over the head...
ironically these same people were some of the biggest crooks in the office; ripping people off, selling them things they didn’t need, getting fined by the state insurance commission for misdeeds, etc...
I can do the Divine mercy chaplet with out the beads, but still have difficulty doing the Rosary.
my God, i don’t know why i’m still amazed at people who are so obsessed with idolatry that they manage to “find” it everywhere....
To overcome lust and temptations of course. Much of the Rosary is Scripture too. The important points are to pray and use scripture to overcome temptation.
To just memorize scripture takes it out of the context of the fabric of my soul. It serves no purpose. I don't need to bust people over the head with word, word word, and then XXX:3-12. I mean if you want it OK.
In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God.
I mean how fantastically mind blowing and awesome is that? Just breathe it into you. I guess I just don't get why people use Jesus as a weapon, even unintentionally.
With that said, I read a lot. I have spent the last 30 years reading Catholic saint's writings. I also read a lot of history related and not related to the saints. I have picked up great tidbits along the way and that was one of them. It may have come from St. Pio. I add those tidbits to my prayer life.
It is all a matter of faith. If you cannot believe it then it would mean nothing to you.
I can’t or won’t memorize chapeter and verse. But I do love to find it in my mind or a song. It’s all in my head I just am not going to throw it around I will keep it in my heart and mind.
Quite powerful when you mix it with:
The first one is always so awesome at the Easter Vigil, when the lights are low and we are just standing there with our candles. Just inspiring!
ok, I just thought someone may have some form of proof, thanx
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