Some people believe that the Rosary is an “old-fashioned” prayer, long and difficult (if not impossible) to fit into daily life, a monotonous and boring repetition of formulas… in short, a “devotion for little old ladies!”
But is that really the case? Or are we the ones praying it incorrectly?
Let us therefore set aside some prejudices and discover that, in reality, very little is needed to change our approach to this beautiful prayer, making it lively and full of inspiration, and to discover that the Rosary is a truly ingenious form of prayer… for many reasons!
Does the Rosary belong to the past?
Let us say right away that the Rosary is a prayer deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, but that does not make it outdated or old-fashioned. On the contrary, through it we prolong, personally or as a group, our communion with the Lord through meditation and contemplation of the individual mysteries of the lives of Christ and Mary, from the Annunciation to the Coronation of the Virgin Mother. Praying it in this way, that is, from the perspective of an authentic contemplation of Jesus’ life through Mary’s eyes, is the best way not to regard it as a mere repetition of prepackaged and boring formulas, but as a true dialogue with Jesus at the school of his Mother.
Is the Rosary a boring practice?
It used to be normal to pray it as a family, a custom that unfortunately, for many reasons, seems to have been forgotten and is considered by many to be a boring practice. To understand the Rosary today, we must begin by understanding the meaning of the word repetition. In fact, it expresses that love which never tires of addressing the beloved with outpourings that, although they are the same, are always new because of the feeling they convey. To understand the Rosary, then, we must enter into the dynamic of repetition, which is characteristic of love.
At this point, let us look at three reasons to pray it even today.
The Rosary is a compendium of the entire history of our salvation
This is the first reason why it is important to pray the Rosary. The core of contemplation is offered through the progressive meditation on the mysteries of Christ and Mary: joyful (the Incarnation and childhood), luminous (public life), sorrowful (Passion and death), glorious (the Resurrection and glorification of Christ and Mary). This is the essential core of our faith and the mystery of Christ. Praying the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be gives us the contemplative rhythm needed to assimilate the mysteries, place them in our hearts, and relive them.
When Padre Pio was asked shortly before his death what words he would leave his spiritual children as his testament, he said: «Love the Virgin, make her loved and always pray the Rosary. It is the summary of our faith, the outpouring of our charity, and the support of our hope».
And the great Saint Teresa of Ávila said: «The Rosary is a wholly divine devotion, a source of graces, a remedy for an infinity of evils, a chain that unites Heaven and earth, a rainbow that the Lord, in his mercy, has drawn across the firmament of his Church, and an anchor of salvation for all Christians».
The Rosary is a powerful weapon against evil
Regarding the prayer of the Rosary as a weapon for defeating the devil, here is what happened during an exorcism conducted by the late Passionist Father Candido Amantini, the famous exorcist of Rome and teacher of Father Gabriele Amorth: «We were praying the Rosary when Giovanna, possessed by Satan, snatched the rosary from me and tore it to pieces, hissing: “You and your devotion for little old ladies!”». Father Candido placed a large rosary around Giovanna’s neck, but the woman could not bear it and, gasping furiously, said. «Why are you afraid of the devotion of little old ladies?», Father Candido challenged him. Satan replied, shouting: «It defeats me». The priest pressed him: «Since you dared to insult Mary’s Rosary, you must now praise it. In God’s Name, answer: “Is the Rosary powerful?”». The answer: «It is powerful to the extent that it is prayed well». «How does one pray it well?». «One must know how to contemplate». «What does it mean to contemplate?». «To contemplate is to adore». «But Mary cannot be adored!». «That is true, yes, but she is adorable (?!)». And, gracefully taking one bead of the rosary between his fingers, he said: «Each bead is a light, and it must be said so well that not a single drop of this light is lost».
The Rosary is an effective means of attaining true peace in our hearts
Praying the Rosary means immersing ourselves in contemplation of the mystery of Christ, who «is our peace», having made «the two one people, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility» (Eph 2:14). Therefore, one cannot pray the Rosary without feeling involved in a specific commitment to serving peace. The Rosary contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of every Hail Mary. It enables us, by adding an intention to each mystery, as Saint John XXIII did, to enter into communion with everyone and intercede with Mary for the salvation of all.
The Rosary is simple. It does not require a particular place; we can pray it anywhere, on the street, in the car, on the subway, or while walking. It asks only for a little attention from the mind and heart. The Rosary can also be prayed one decade at a time, and with all the examples mentioned above, we can say that there are plenty of opportunities.
To conclude, here is a precious recommendation from Mother Teresa of Calcutta: «Cling to the Rosary as ivy clings to a tree, because without the Virgin we cannot remain standing».
