Pray the Rosary.
Pray without ceasing.
Posted on 04/24/2010 5:08:36 PM PDT by stfassisi
Among things Catholic the Holy Rosary is one of the most misunderstood by our Protestant brethren. Many perceive the devotion to Mary as an overshadowing of Jesus, of giving too much importance to her. Extreme fundamentalist sects accuse it as worship to a Catholic goddess using pagan beads. Others cite the admonition of Jesus against praying like pagans in vain and repetitive babbling.
How sadly mistaken they are. Mary is the Mother of Jesus from whom He took flesh and we honor her because of this singular maternal privilege Adoration is reserved for God alone. Angels gathered around God's throne worship Him unceasingly in repetitious adoration saying "Holy, holy, holy…” (Rev 4:8). Our Lord did not condemn repetitive prayer; what He was against was pagan-like babbling (Mat 6:7) Any prayer that is not from the heart is a form of babbling; it becomes vain repetition when a babbler thinks his absent-minded mechanical praying is meritorious.
Unlike pagan prayer that is rooted in superstition and myth, the Holy Rosary is a Christ-centered, Scripture-based prayer with our Blessed Mother Mary as prayer partner. We emulate the heavenly host - not babbling pagans - as we meditate on the mysteries. Meditation is the soul of the Rosary, minus which we miss out on its power and efficacy. ''To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ," says John Paul the Great.
Mary pondered in her heart and we too focus on Jesus in the Rosary the way she did by viewing Gospel events in sweeping panorama of Salvation History: seeing the Old Testament foreshadowing events and prophecies fulfilled in Christ; contemplating the mysteries in His person and personages associated with Him as we identify ourselves with the Biblical cast who did or rebelled against God's will. Each bead in a progression along the time-line of Redemption, plumbing the depths of the mysteries with the aid of the Holy Spirit Who reveals marvelous insights in the meditations. Holy RosaryJesus is in the Holy Rosary for "where two or three or more are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them'' (Mt. 18:20). The Queen Mother of Heaven links us like beads with the angels and saints in their perpetual adoration. We the Church Militant commune with the Church Triumphant for the Church Suffering, interceding for souls in a Communion of Saints participating in Jesus' sole mediation in this power- house prayer.
We bless ourselves in the Trinity at the Sign of the Cross, profess our Faith in the Creed, address our Father in the prayer that Jesus Himself taught us, repeat the scriptural salutations of the Incarnation, implore and intercede for Jesus' mercy and forgiveness at the Fatima prayer, and glorify the One Triune God with Mary in the perpetual angelic song of praise - the Gloria. We ask for her motherly mediation and invoke God 55 times; Father 15; Son 9; Holy Spirit 10; Jesus 60; Christ once; and Lord 54 times.
A complete Holy Rosary comprised by all four mysteries - Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious - quadruples our invocations of these Most Sacred Names that render Satan and his legions completely powerless, frozen in Hell at each reverential utterance. It is the heavy chain with which the angel binds Satan (cf Rev 20:1-2). With this child- like prayer our Mother crushes the serpent dragon's head.
The Hail Mary is formed of two parts: the first is taken from Archangel Gabriel's greeting - "Hail, full of grace the Lord is with thee'' - and Elizabeth's - "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb". The second comes from a chant following the condemnation of heresy of Nestorianism that Jesus possessed two separate persons and natures, Mary being Mother of His human nature only. At the Council of Ephesus (AD 431) the heresy was condemned and the Marian Dogma Teotokos - God bearer or Mother of God - was proclaimed. On hearing the news the faithful joyously paraded about the city crying, "Holy Mary Mother of God'' Jesus HeadTowards the end of the twelfth and at the start of the thirteenth centuries, St. Dominic received from the Blessed Mother the inspiration for the Holy Rosary to counter another erroneous belief emanating from France and spreading throughout Christendom - Albingensianism, the heresy of dualism of good and evil; a revived form of Manichaeanism that thrived during the third century. Our Blessed Mother has endorsed her Holy Rosary in all her apparitions as the remedy for every false doctrine.
Today, the most insidious heresy is New Age Christianity which has taken on many forms through the syncretistic adulteration of Christian tenets and assimilated beliefs from other religions and secular attitudes. Heterodox-leaning theologians and clergy infected by modernist humanism are compromising the "hard teachings of Christ'' in the Gospels to a relativist outlook. God is not glorified, replaced by the gods of money, power, pleasure, and ego, which have brought about wars, famine, pestilence and death. Abortions have exceeded 100 million deaths annually. Evil thrives. Worst, it is glorified in media.
The spirit of the antichrist John wrote about in his Epistles (1 and 2 John) is upon us, ushering the Great Apostasy. Thus it is all the more imperative now for the faithful to heed our Mother's urging to "Pray, pray, pray, the Rosary". To be fortified and protected by this simple yet potent deterrent against evil. To be a formed Christian in this sublime childlike devotion where she acquaints all her children with her first born and instructs, ''Do whatever He tells you," (Jn 2:5) - an echo of the Father's command, ''Listen to Him'' (Mt 17:5). The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen articulated it best: "As she formed Jesus in her body, so she forms Jesus in our souls."
Battle lines are drawn for the looming apocalyptic confrontation: the prophesied Woman of Genesis 3:15 - present at Cana in Calvary at the foot of the Cross, and in Revelation 12:1 - versus the ancient serpent dragon. Armed with what St. Padre Pio called ''that terrible weapon," we enter the fray in daily spiritual combat, praying to Mary and with Mary for the conversion of sinners and the attainment of world peace, the peace only Jesus can give - a peace where the Holy Spirit is present in every facet of life.
The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]
I’m not going to go through and get everyone’s names, but I encourage them to take a look at these mysteries. Nearly all are straight out of the Bible.
Oh, but the life of Christ on which we meditate while saying the Rosary IS in the Bible.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2499879/posts?page=59#59
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2499879/posts?page=60#60
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2499879/posts?page=61#61
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2499879/posts?page=62#62
The Rosary, a powerful weapon against the devil
History of The Scriptural Rosary [Ecumenical]
The Lord Is with Thee
Rosary of Our Lady's Tears(Catholic Prayer Thread)
The Fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary
The Family Rosary [Try it for Lent!] (Catholic Caucus)
History of the Scriptural Rosary - Meditating on The Word
Rosary Resurgence [Ecumenical]
Beginning Catholic: How to Pray the Rosary: Contemplating Christ With Mary [Ecumenical]
[Oregon] Rosary Bowl focuses on links between prayer, evangelization
Rosary Is a School of Mary, Says Pope: Encourages Recitation [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Rosary and the Republic
Protestants and the rosary
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
The Rosary and Orthodoxy
Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary
THE HOLY ROSARY
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
The Power of the Rosary - A Weapon Against Terrorism
Rosary May Contribute to Unity Says Protestant Theologian
Papal Address on the Rosary as a Weapon of Peace
Very simple guide to praying/learning the Rosary
October: Month of the Holy Rosary
I am not questioning the sincerity or devotion of the church fathers, just pointing out that their writings do not rise to the level of being God’s word.
Apart from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (in their writings) they are falible like you and I, so I test their writings by the word of God (whose authors, though fallible, WERE inspired), as I do yours...and you should mine.
Also, I am grateful to those who contributed to preserving the Scriptures, as I am to those who made it readily available to the public — as it was intended to be.
I note you didn’t comment on the historical role of the Catholic Church trying to keep the Scriptures out of the comfort of people’s homes, where God intended it to be (among other places), even to the point of killing those who risked their lived to bring God’s word to people, like John Hus.
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
The Catholic Church also persecuted John Wycliffe, and actually dug up his bones decades after his death to burn them to try and diminish/eradicate his influence.
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/john-wycliffe-faq.htm
“Regarding your contention that Mary was the “ark of God” the Bible teached that EVERY believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and not just for a season, but for eternity.”
It’s pointed out because its before he was crucified, died, and rose again before all believers had the Holy Spirit, she was still in the old testament system remember before the curtain in the temple was to be torn by the Angel of the Lord and change into the New Covenant times. She had to be specially preserved to be his Mother and have him in the womb for 9 months because of his Holy character. Thus the comparison to the Ark of the old covenant and his Holy character. “Your comment that “You must remember that the way of speech and interpretations in Jesus’ day is far different then the way we imply today.” is a nice smokescreen for Catholic dogma.” Yeah did you know that the English language is so much different from the 700 ad time than today’s English. When he points out that anybody can be in his family he is Not Dissing his MOTHER or the Honor due her. Because as the articles point out He has to obey the commandments period or he is not the Savior. He is not saying or taking way of the fact that she is his real Mother. He also said to cut your hand off and take your eye out if you sin- are you a one eyed and one handed person now.
“”I, so I test their writings by the word of God “”
Actually,You test the word of God by how you interpret it and have nothing to measure your interpretations when it lacks consistency with historical consistent writings,thus you elevate your interpretations above very Holy people who lived Christlike lives
“”I note you didn’t comment on the historical role of the Catholic Church trying to keep the Scriptures out of the comfort of people’s homes””
It’s getting late,dear friend, but you need to understand that Wycliff’s Bible had many, many errors in translation and other things,so there was good reason to keep it out of the hands of people. The KJV is also mess of errors along with the NIV as well
Good night.
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Good night to you as well ,dear friend.
Another thing you might not be aware of is that Wycliff said that God ought to obey the devil-this should concern you
I wish you a Blessed Evening
I assure you that I still have two eyes and two hands. It remains to be seen whether or not I will perish with my “whole” body.
Did you care to address my response to your contention that Mary is the woman in Revelation 12, or are you going to skip that one?
Yes Its Mary and the mother Church as whole in sequence.
I am always confused by Protestants confusion over the Rosary. It tells the entire story of Christ’s life and repeats the prayer he taught us over and over. What’s so bad about that?
My favorite way to pray it is the Scriptural Rosary that highlights a Bible verse related to that mystery. It’s a wonderful Bible meditation tool. Of course, it has to be said thoughtfully.
OK. That makes no sense to me, but I guess it does to you.
Revelation 12:6 And the “Mary and the mother Church as a whole in sequence” fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (johngrace Version)
It’s the book of revelation theres lot of symbolism none of our views can be absolutely iron clad on every instance. Execept that Christ and the saints win at the end of the age. Praise Jesus. But we are blessed to read.
Here’s a view from a Catholic site. But when it comes to this last book of the bible {Revelation} I don’t think there’s an absolute interpretation from our side of eternity. “The woman also serves as a collective symbol for both Israel and the Church. She is Israel, the Daughter of Zion, the nation from whom the Messiah comes, the community of faith and obedience that awaits the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 66:7). In Hebrew a country is expressed in the feminine tense, as mother of her inhabitants. The symbol clearly refers to the Church, for Jesus at the Cross gives his Mother Mary to his disciple (John 19:26-27). The Church are the faithful disciples of Christ, whom the dragon in Revelation 12:17 went “to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.”
—It’s the book of revelation theres lot of symbolism none of our views can be absolutely iron clad on every instance. Execept that Christ and the saints win at the end of the age. Praise Jesus. But we are blessed to read.—
True enough.
But if you want to insert Mary for the woman in some of those verses you have to insert her for the woman in all the verses or you have no hermeneutic principle other than picking and choosing isolated verses that seem to say what “you” want to say and using them to prove that God sees things “your” way while ignoring verses that contradict what “you” want to see/say.
You lost me.
Is the “woman” of Revelation 12
1) literal, physical Israel,
2) the Israel of faith,
3) the church,
4) Mary,
5) all of the above, or
6) whichever of the above, or any combination of the above, that seems to fit the particular verse in order to maintain a pre-existing view.
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