The Rosary

Stay Catholic.com ^ | Sebastian R. Fama

[Scupoli]

The Rosary consists of the Apostle's Creed, which is a statement of Christian belief, the Lord's prayer, which was uttered by Jesus in Luke 11:2-4, the Glory Be, which is a prayer that glorifies the Trinity, the Hail Mary, and the Mysteries.

The Hail Mary and the Mysteries are probably the two parts that are the most misunderstood by non-Catholics. However, they are both very scriptural. In Psalm 143:5 we read, "I remember the days of old, I meditate on all that thou hast done, I muse on what thy hands have wrought." Thirteen of the fifteen Mysteries are meditations on the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ.

As for the Hail Mary, we begin by recognizing the uniqueness of Mary: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." In doing this we are not exaggerating, as we use the words of God as spoken by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:28. Next we utter the first recorded words of praise for Jesus in the New Testament. They come from Luke 1:42. Mary has gone to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth proclaims, "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Jesus). Finally we ask Mary's intercession. In short, we address Mary as God does, we praise Jesus, and we ask Mary to pray for and with us.

That those in heaven are connected to us is illustrated in 1 Corinthians 12:26: "If one member suffers, all suffer together; If one member is honored, all rejoice together." And in Romans 12:5: "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Does Jesus have one body in heaven and one body on earth? Of course not, and that is why 1 Timothy 2:1 applies to all members of the body, "That supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men."

Consider Revelation 5:8 where heavenly intercession is spoken of: "The four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." The word "saints" refers to believers. In Revelation 8:3-4 we see the same thing, "Another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God." So the prayers of the saints are identified as incense, and an angel is adding incense (his prayers) to that which the saints have offered and then he offers it all up to God.

In 2 Maccabees 4:34 Onias the High Priest is murdered. Later, in 15:11-16, we are told that he appeared in a vision to Judas Maccabeus along with the prophet Jeremiah, who had died centuries earlier. In verse 14 we learn that the saints in heaven can and do pray for those of us still on earth. "And Onias spoke, saying, 'This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah the prophet of God.'"

Because the Rosary is repetitious, Matthew 6:7 is often used in an attempt to refute it. The KJV words it this way: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Jesus did not condemn repetition-He condemned vain repetition. "Praise God" or "Amen" can be vain repetition if not said from the heart. Was Paul wrong in telling the Ephesians to "Address one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (5:19)? Are we to believe that psalms can only be recited once and that songs can only be sung once? Did God violate his own principals in Psalm 150, when in a short span of six verses we read "praise the Lord," "praise God" or "praise him" thirteen times (150:1-6)? Of course not! Look at verses 5-6 of Matthew 6. Here Jesus seems to be condemning praying aloud in public. However, a close examination reveals that He is not condemning public prayer but hypocritical public prayer. Likewise, in verse 7, He does not condemn repetitious prayer but hypocritical repetitious prayer.

[RobbyS]

"Effective ammunition?" They would find as much to mock in clerical garb or our churches, simply because they were different from their own. They were equally offended by, say, the Way of the Cross, which is about as Christocentric as any ritual one could devise. They were in fact offended by everything that distinguishes Catholicism from their faith and even despise what we hold in common. Do we read the Scripture in Church? Well,even that is wrong, because we do not treat the Scriptures as they do. I am talking about those Protestants we take the Scriptures seriously. Those that do not, you can placate by copying their modes of worship.

[D-fendr]

Let's look at "magic and superstition."

They are a stage in both the individual's growth and a culture's religious growth. For example, children are more prone to magical thinking: their thoughts/actions control God/nature. Say the magic words, it rains; if I wish it hard enough it will come true…

Magical thinking is somewhat true, but partial. Our prayers affect us and those around us for a quick example. What happens inside our small self does affect what happens outside.

thanks for your post…

Anyway, magical thinking and superstition are not denominational. Think of prayer cloths and Bennie Hinn, pick any religion or denomination - or none - and you will find it at some stage, among many folks; certainly if you look, it is there in your church now.

However, while they can involve magical thinking for some, prayer and meditation are valuable spiritual exercises. And, we would be very careful and gentle in allowing growth from this into fuller, more truthful religious development. Think, again, of a child growing in knowledge and experience.

So, I would look at the church's teaching, with this in mind.

I am a convert to Catholocism and can speak of the protestant teaching of my youth in a corollary way to your past, critically and resentfully. However, if we are both honest, we could see that the best religious teachers offer us help for growth at all stages - and take us as we are at each.

[Onelifetogive]

...as any ritual one could devise.

Here lies the great gulf between Catholicism and Christianity. Christ came to earth and opposed religion, ritualism, etc. The tradition-based, ritualistic religious leaders, with their prominent positions, great temples and elaborate clerical garb were the people who rejected and execute Christ.

Catholicism is the home today of the Pharisees and Saducees of Christ's day.

[Cleburne]

I understand your sentiment: Christ certainly opposed the wrongly construed usage of ritual and tradition, as it was practised in Judaism. However, He also founded the Church, and we see in Scripture- very early in the history of the church- an emphasis on holding to the traditions passed on. Tradition in itself is not evil- wrong tradition is. Ritual is not evil- but vain and empty ritual is wrong. We do not go back to the ritual Christ opposed, because we are outside of the camp now, outside of Judaism. But to reject all tradition and ritual (such as Communion) would be to reject important parts of Christianity, and to weaken the Church our Lord established. Now, I say these things, not to imply that I consider all Catholic practises good- I certainly don't- but do desire to imply that we as Protestants too often trample on good things instituted far back in the infancy of the Church, and in doing so, rob ourselves. We also, it would seem, tend to replace the ancient things with kitsch: we replace the vestments and frescoes with broadway productions and eye-catching gimmicks, and not only embrace the things we supposedly devise, but cheat ourselves doubly in it.

[RobbyS]

This is the sillist thing you could say. As if every Protestant service were a human contrivance.

[RobbyS]

As if every Protestant service were not a contrivance, and the way of the Cross anything more than a re-enactment of the Passion of Christ.

[pegleg]

Here lies the great gulf between Catholicism and Christianity.

Catholicism is Christianity my friend. I notice you like to troll Catholic threads and spew your bigotry. Do you have anything constructive to add or is this a drive by?

[dramagirl1341]

Catholicism is Christianity- there shouldn't be a difference. The word Christian has Christ as it's root- meaning, one who believes in Christ, basically. So technically everyone who believes in Christ is Christian. Jesus didnt found Catholicism, he didn't found Protestantism, Methodist, Lutheran, ect. He founded Christianity, the Church, for people to follow His teachings. If He was here today, I don't think He would appreciate the feuding and bickering of Catholics and Christians, and all the different sects.

[Onelifetogive]

I notice you like to troll Catholic threads and spew your bigotry.

This is the "Religion" forum. Not the "Catholic" forum. It is supposed to be open for discussion. You seem to be incapable of tolerating anyone who disagrees with you. That has been a mark of Catholicism over the centuries. You call my stating my views spewing bigotry.

I suppose I am lucky we are past the era (or between eras?) of Catholic Inquisition where you would torture and murder me for disagreeing with the Catholic Church.

[Onelifetogive]

Catholicism is Christianity my friend. I notice you like to troll Catholic threads...

And another thing:

If "Catholicism" is "Christianity", why do Catholics not refer to themselves as Christians?

I will give you one example: YOU

You said, "I notice you like to troll Catholic threads..."

Not, "I notice you like to troll Christian threads."

[Desdemona]

I suppose I am lucky we are past the era (or between eras?) of Catholic Inquisition where you would torture and murder me for disagreeing with the Catholic Church.

Nowadays we just ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you. That seems to be scarier to non-Catholics.

[Onelifetogive]

If He was here today, I don't think He would appreciate the feuding and bickering of Catholics and Christians, and all the different sects.

??????

Can you point out examples in the Bible where Jesus comprimised His standards to get along with the "religious leaders" of His day. I see verses where He kicked over tables, chased them with whips, called them devils, white-washed tombs, etc.

You should spend more time reading about what Jesus actually did and less time imagining what He would have done if He had been YOU.

[pegleg]

This is the "Religion" forum. Not the "Catholic" forum. It is supposed to be open for discussion.

This thread was discussing the scriptural basis of the Rosary. What have you added to the discussion?

You seem to be incapable of tolerating anyone who disagrees with you. That has been a mark of Catholicism over the centuries. You call my stating my views spewing bigotry.

When you make statements like “Here lies the great gulf between Catholicism and Christianity” and Catholicism is the home today of the Pharisees and Saducees of Christ's day. that is bigotry. The fact that you don’t agree with Catholic doctrine doesn’t bother me. However when you post lies about my faith I will call you on it.

I suppose I am lucky we are past the era (or between eras?) of Catholic Inquisition where you would torture and murder me for disagreeing with the Catholic Church.

You know as much about the Inquisition as you do about Catholicism. Which is very little.

[Onelifetogive]

Nowadays we just ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you. That seems to be scarier to non-Catholics.

I am not at all frightened of you performing a little necromancy on my behalf. Go right ahead.

[Desdemona]

I am not at all frightened of you performing a little necromancy on my behalf.

If you truly believe Christ's message and follow Him, there is no death, only Eternal Life. He said it Himself. Therefore, the Blessed Mother isn't dead.

[pegleg]

Not, "I notice you like to troll Christian threads."

Take your blinders off and it might be easier to see.

[pegleg]

I am not at all frightened of you performing a little necromancy on my behalf

Yet another misconception. Do you think it's wise to criticize something you don't understand?

[conservonator]

If "Catholicism" is "Christianity", why do Catholics not refer to themselves as Christians?

When I refer to my self as an Iowan, dose exclude recognizing me as an American?

[dramagirl1341]

I said, I dont think He would appreciate the different sects of Christianity (including Catholicism) fighting over who is wrong and who is right. He founded Christianity, not any of the sects of it.

And maybe you should spend more time reading my comment- I didnt say what I would have done, I was giving my educated opinion on why I dont think Christ would like different Christian sects telling each other that they are wrong.

"Can you point out examples in the Bible where Jesus comprimised His standards to get along with the "religious leaders" of His day. I see verses where He kicked over tables, chased them with whips, called them devils, white-washed tombs, etc."

what??? I didnt say anything about Jesus getting along with religious leaders of His day. See above...read again what I said. I was talking about Christendom, the Church that he founded- not religious groups of the time. He kicked over tables, and yelled at the people setting up a market on temple grounds because He was frustrated with them selling things on holy ground, not because of their religion, but for their intolerance and lack of respect for religion.