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.
Not at all, what purpose would that serve?
From the way it sounded, I thought that perhaps you may have some proof. Lots of folks have faith of all kinds.
No sorry, matter of faith.
I am not certain that your post is sarcastic, so I will leave it at that.
Certain prayers are scripturally infused and help the petitioner focus by having a common scriptural perspective on what is true and important, Our Father, for example. Catholics pray in their own words in addition to the liturgical prayers. There is a beautiful sense of unity to pray the same acceptable prayers across the planet with millions of people throughout the centuries. It reminds me of the Jews, from whom Catholics have borrowed much, and to whom Catholics are much indebted. Jews across the world are saying the same beautiful prayers in staggered time zones every single day, and especially on the high holidays.
I never get the sense that Catholics are preaching when they pray, using the prayer as a contemporaneous sermon as it were with "every eye closed and every head bowed."
Old Yeller Post 63:"Why do Catholics memorize prayers, instead of speaking to God from the heart and spontaneously?"
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Regarding your post 63, I'll just let you know that Catholics pray both formal memorized prayers, and informal prayers "speaking to God from the heart and spontaneously" like protestants do. Catholics also unite and integrate personal prayer intentions and requests with the praying of those more formalized prayers like the Rosary.
Now regarding your assertion concerning "learning Scripture verses", the Rosary is an excellent vehicle to do both at the same time, almost like a form of "Lectio Divina".
To briefly illustrate, the Rosary starts with blessing yourself "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", then you recite the "Apostles Creed", which is based on (or related to) numerous Bible texts, some of which are shown here:
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, (Isaiah 44:6; 45:5)
the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Acts 14:15)
and in Jesus Christ, (Luke 2:11; John 20:28)
His only Son, (John 3:16; Proverbs 30:4)
our Lord: (John 20:28)
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:35)
born of the Virgin Mary; (Luke 1:27)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Luke 23:23-25)
was crucified, (John 19:20; Acts 4:10; all Gospels)
died (1 Corinthians 15:3)
and was buried. (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He descended into hell; (1 Peter 3:18; Luke 23:43)
the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He rose again from the dead; (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He ascended into heaven, (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51, Acts 1:11)
is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3)
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1; John 5:22)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, (John 15:26; 16:7-8, 13-14; Acts 13:2)
the Holy Catholic Church, (Acts 9:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:15)
the communion of Saints, (Ephesians 1:15-23)
the forgiveness of sins, (Luke 7:48; John 20:23)
the resurrection of the body, (1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 6:39)
and life everlasting. (John 10:28; 17:2-3)
Amen.
Then you say the Scriptural "Our Father"
The Lord's Prayer (the "Our Father") - Matthew 6:9-13
followed by the "Hail Mary"
"Hail, full of grace" (Archangel Gabriel to Mary - 1st part of the "Hail Mary" prayer) - Luke 1:28
(and while you are reciting those prayers, you meditate on the various "Mysteries" of the life and work of Jesus, which can be found throughout the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament). Praying the Rosary typically includes other prayers, which are also Scripturally related.
You can also do a Google search for "Scriptural Rosary", and you will see hundreds of thousands of resultant sites with the scriptures to read and learn (or memorize if you choose) for each Rosary bead within each Mystery in the life of Christ which the Rosary calls to mind.
Here is what is available on one such web site which is filled with Scriptural references you can learn or memorize:
The "Joyful Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Sorrowful Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Glorious Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Luminous Mysteries" of the Rosary
There are also many books and DVDs and CDs you can get that are similar to those "Scriptural Rosary" web sites, and here are just some examples of each of them which are available on Amazon:
Scriptural Rosary (English) (book)
Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary (Audio CD)
You would be hard-pressed to find a better combination of prayer, Bible-learning, and meditation/contemplation than the Rosary.
I remember a priest telling me that God was not answering me because I was conducting a monologue rather than a dialog with Him.
That wasn't very kind of him, even if it was the truth. God doesn't always answer us the way we want.
When God answers me He answers me with blessings in very odd but wonderful ways...unexpected.
The priest actually said it in a very nice way and taught me to listen. Sure it's in God's time. One of my lifelong battles has been with patience. Not my strong suit.
OK, thanks
The there is a unity. All Christians pray the Our Father. You do pray that no?
Why do you memorize scripture? Same reason we memorize prayer.
Not everyone is a monastic. Prayer is not just for Sundays. People can and all religious do pray the Liturgy of the Hours which is scripture and meditations. We have been taught since we are old enough to hear that we are to pray always. But that does not means life comes to a grinding halt so I can pray for all to see.
Come Lord Jesus! There that's a prayer I pray a lot.
The priest actually said it in a very nice way and taught me to listen. Sure it's in God's time. One of my lifelong battles has been with patience. Not my strong suit.
Both my parents were impatient. I am a hybrid of impatience. :o)
ROFL!!!!!
LOL! I honestly think that God purposefully makes me wait. LOL. I try to be patient, the more I try the quicker the answer. We call God Father for a reason. :)
Chanting has always been a key part of meditation.
This is as old as the Indian mediation techniques that pre date Christianity by thousands of years.
Prayer at least for me and from what I have been taught is multidimensional. Three major expressions of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplative prayer. They all are good. Sometimes when you have no words it is enough.
Whatever works is good.
I dont mean that in a condescending way either.
Everyone have to find their way. I am happy you found yours. Mine is walking. With noise cancelling headphones. I will probably get run over some day, but I am willing to take that chance.
LOL! Well I hope you do not get run over. Whatever works is good, I agree. There are days that I don’t feel like doing one kind of prayer. Sometimes laying in the grass staring at the sky can be form a prayer.
You might be interested in a little book published about fifty years ago, still in print, called “A Scriptural Rosary.”
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