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So doing it 400 times or more is playing it forward?

Yeah. I guess it's like "money in the bank." So I wonder if you can pay ahead with the 50-cent candles, too. I guess saints paid ahead, right? It takes time to be a saint.

So what about your question re. 400 repetitions? I was wondering about that because when you do the "Rosary" (use a capital "R" because a lowercase "r" refers to just one bead of the Rosary). I digress.

When you do the Rosary, how many "Hail Marys" do you knock out? The answer is apparently 53 (fifty three). [Let's keep up the legal nature of the subject.]

Here's the rub: If you pray 2 (two) Rosaries, then you gotta knock out 153 (one hundred fifty three) of those bad boys. Wait! What?

Don't ask me, I don't make the rules!

Anyway, 2 (two) Rosaries cost me 16.9575 minutes of my valuable time. That's JUST the HAIL MARYS - for "goodness" sake! What time does BINGO start??

Anyway, Here's an easy-to-understand guide to Vain Repetitions:

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY The rosary is divided into five groups of ten beads called decades. As we pray the rosary we meditate on the events of Our Lord's life and Passion, which are called Mysteries. The repetition of the prayers assists in this prayerful meditation. The rosary, in essence, is a compendium of the Gospel and leads us, through the intercession of Our Lady, to contemplate Jesus Christ. Find all the prayers of the rosary here. Begin by praying the Sign of the Cross. 1. On the crucifix pray the Apostles Creed. The rosary begins with 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, and love: 2. On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father. 3. On each of the next three beads pray the Hail Mary. After the last Hail Mary, pray the Glory Be & the Fatima prayer. Next you will pray 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys for each rosary mystery. You can find the 5 rosary mysteries here. 4. Announce the first mystery, and then pray the Our Father. (Ex: â€œThe first Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation.â€) 5. Pray 10 Hail Marys. After the last Hail Mary pray the Glory Be and the Fatima prayer. 6. Announce the second mystery, and then pray the Our Father. (Ex: â€œThe second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation.â€) 7. Pray 10 Hail Marys. After the last Hail Mary pray the Glory Be and the Fatima prayer. 8. Continue to pray 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys three more times, announcing the third, fourth, and fifth mysteries before each decade. After the last Hail Mary pray the Glory Be and the Fatima prayer. Lastly, pray the Hail Holy Queen and the concluding prayer. The rosary takes fifteen to twenty minutes to pray. The rosary is a means of grace and has many spiritual benefits. Many saints have encouraged praying the rosary daily. It helps you to grow in virtue, helps you overcome life's problems, and works as a spiritual weapon. Read the 15 promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary to those who pray the rosary.

The following quote is modified from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to fifty three, no more, no less. Fifty three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be fifty three. Fifty four shalt thou not count, neither count thou fifty two, excepting that thou then proceed to fifty three. Fifty five is right out. Once the number fifty three, being the fifty third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.

The rosary is much more than a vain repetition of Hail Marys. I have greatly benefited from reflecting on Scripture while praying the rosary.

Here is the introduction from a website that explains how to meditate on Scripture while praying the rosary:

The meditations on the rosary that accompany each mystery are the soul of the Rosary. They are what give the Rosary it’s life, purpose and power.

The Rosary isn’t simply reciting prayers from memory. It is so much more. It is one of the most beneficial ways of praying for it unites both vocal and mental prayer.
Contemplating these mysteries in the life of Jesus and Mary will excite in you a deep love and reverence for God.

This relationship with God will sustain you throughout your life.

Here you will get a glimpse of the deep meaning behind each event recounted in the Rosary mysteries.

http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/meditations-on-the-rosary.html