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Praying The Rosary.


Spem in alium

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Spem in alium

For almost two months, I've been aiming to pray the Rosary at least once every week. I wanted to ask a question/get some opinions regarding the three Hail Marys said for the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

While I'm saying these prayers, I like to think of how Mary displayed faith, hope and charity and how I can imitate her. I find it quite easy to bring to mind examples of when Mary showed faith and hope, but I struggle a bit with the charity aspect.

I'm sure she DID show charity throughout her life (and she definitely shows it towards me now) but there's no clear Scriptural reference that jumps to mind when I try and relate the two. The closest example I can think of is when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and stayed with her, but I'm not sure if it's the best one.

Is this a good example? Would anyone have other ideas of better instances in Scripture?

Many thanks in advance to anyone who reads or replies. God bless!

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Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

possibly when in the magnificat the holy mother says that the Lord has lifted up the poor and sent the rich away empty, this may show her charity and bias toward the less fortunate. :) i hope that helps, i offer up the start of the holy rosary for the popes intentions,but i do know some whom offer it up for faith,hope and charity, possibly also you could make the 1st our father for the popes intentions and that he may be protected from all evils. :)

Edited by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye
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Strictlyinkblot

I think its probably the most obvious instance of her showing charity. Its not as if she was just popping next door.

I think at the Wedding at Cana she showed charity towards the wedding party. They would've been greatly embarrassed if there had been no more wine. Of course it also demonstrates how she can act as our advocate with her Son and her faith in Jesus even when He told her his time had not yet come.

Also, on the cross when Jesus gave her to his disciple. Of course there are many interpretations of that act but I was meditating on the rosary and I was thinking of how she was being asked to give up her Son and take on another man as her child and then later all the apostles, knowing they had run away when her Son was taken. That is a great act of charity

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Spem in alium

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1336376139' post='2427978']
I think its probably the most obvious instance of her showing charity. Its not as if she was just popping next door.

I think at the Wedding at Cana she showed charity towards the wedding party. They would've been greatly embarrassed if there had been no more wine. Of course it also demonstrates how she can act as our advocate with her Son and her faith in Jesus even when He told her his time had not yet come.

Also, on the cross when Jesus gave her to his disciple. Of course there are many interpretations of that act but I was meditating on the rosary and I was thinking of how she was being asked to give up her Son and take on another man as her child and then later all the apostles, knowing they had run away when her Son was taken. That is a great act of charity
[/quote]

Yeah. Visiting Elizabeth really stood out for me. And it's probably a good example for all three of the virtues (besides Mary showing charity in visiting her cousin, she also showed faith and hope in accepting God's will and in glorifying Him).

Thank you for your other suggestions, I hadn't really considered them especially. It's funny how we can think about things and not see the answers until they're suggested to us :) The Wedding at Cana is probably a great example for all three as well :)

And I definitely agree about the scene at the Cross. It's a very beautiful moment. It would have taken a lot of courage from Mary.
What always gets me is that Mary is [u]standing[/u] at the foot of the Cross. Even after watching her innocent son be convicted, tortured and killed, she still has the strength to stand. Just blows me away.:o

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Spem in alium

[quote name='Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye' timestamp='1336376138' post='2427977']
possibly when in the magnificat the holy mother says that the Lord has lifted up the poor and sent the rich away empty, this may show her charity and bias toward the less fortunate. :) i hope that helps, i offer up the start of the holy rosary for the popes intentions,but i do know some whom offer it up for faith,hope and charity, possibly also you could make the 1st our father for the popes intentions and that he may be protected from all evils. :)
[/quote]

Yeah, that's a very good one :) Thanks for your help! I usually devote the entire Rosary to a particular intention or direct each decade to a different cause. I will keep the Pope's intentions in mind.

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If you think of charity as [i]love, [/i]there are so many directions you can go in. That's what I do. I think of charity as loving kindness.

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Spem in alium

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1336500928' post='2428720']
If you think of charity as [i]love, [/i]there are so many directions you can go in. That's what I do. I think of charity as loving kindness.
[/quote]

Thank you, that is a helpful way of thinking. I already do it, but I guess I just haven't expanded it enough in my mind =)

[i]Agape![/i]

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OnlySunshine

I love the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. In fact, if I had to choose one Scripture verse that didn't include Jesus' words, that would be it. Every single time I read that story, I get tears in my eyes from what Elizabeth said to Mary. I read it in my Bible Study group last Tuesday and started crying again. It's the perfect message of love, charity, and total trust in the Lord. :)

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Spem in alium

I just read it again. It's such a beautiful story! :) The part that really got me is when Elizabeth's child leaps in her womb, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit :) So profound.

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OnlySunshine

[quote name='Spem in alium' timestamp='1336512248' post='2428842']
I just read it again. It's such a beautiful story! :) The part that really got me is when Elizabeth's child leaps in her womb, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit :) So profound.
[/quote]

Amen! I just love that story! I especially love that St. Elizabeth's words were transformed in to the most beautiful Marian prayer! It's a combo of her words and the Archangel Gabriel's words. :love:

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Spem in alium

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1336512742' post='2428846']
Amen! I just love that story! I especially love that St. Elizabeth's words were transformed in to the most beautiful Marian prayer! It's a combo of her words and the Archangel Gabriel's words. :love:
[/quote]

It is a combination! :o Thanks for that, I actually never noticed it before! Oh wow... :) :)

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OnlySunshine

[quote name='Spem in alium' timestamp='1336513265' post='2428848']
It is a combination! :o Thanks for that, I actually never noticed it before! Oh wow... :) :)
[/quote]

Yes, yes, yes! I try to think of that whenever I pray the Hail Mary. Beautiful! ;)

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Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

i may be totally wrong but my take on the hail mary is the first part (hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee) is recognising the holy mother is above the angels and that they even hail her and so should we,this part is also the proper greeting to the holy mother. And the second part (blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus.), this part is recognising her place as co-redeemer and giving her that credit as well as her title as being blessed above all people,as well it is part of the proper greeting. The third part is intercessory where we ask for her intercession,(holy mary mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.) Pretty much what i mean when i do a hail mary i'm not praying to the holy mother i am saluting her authority as being above all creation,angels inclusive and than asking for her intercession. And when participating in the holy rosary i meditate on the mysteries,and offer to her my intentions and/or others and ask for her intercession at the beggining of the rosary after the sign of the cross. And i hear some people offer intentions at the beggining of every mystery which is good too. When i am meditating on the mysteries i am entering into the life of christ with the holy mother that i may have access to the holy spirit that he may counsel me in all things. Oh also somone gave me a form also that has the fruits of each mystery that can be meditated on as well, i didn't do so well at remembering all those on top of the gospels,but it did get me as to thinking what fruits are available to me in the holy rosary and i kind of make up my own stuff sometimes now and just have a quick thought about it before each mystery. Anyhow thats all just my experience of the holy rosary.

'O god whose only beggotten son by his life death and resurection has purchased us the rewards of eternal life, grant we beseech thee that by [u]meditating on the mysteries of the holy rosary[/u] we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through the same christ our lord. Amen'

Onward christian souls
JESUS is LORD
GOd is good , God is love, God saves.

JC "seek and you shall find." "knock and the door will be opened."

Edited by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye
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AveMariaPurissima

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1336376139' post='2427978']
I think its probably the most obvious instance of her showing charity. Its not as if she was just popping next door.

I think at the Wedding at Cana she showed charity towards the wedding party. They would've been greatly embarrassed if there had been no more wine. Of course it also demonstrates how she can act as our advocate with her Son and her faith in Jesus even when He told her his time had not yet come.

Also, on the cross when Jesus gave her to his disciple. Of course there are many interpretations of that act but I was meditating on the rosary and I was thinking of how she was being asked to give up her Son and take on another man as her child and then later all the apostles, knowing they had run away when her Son was taken. That is a great act of charity
[/quote]
I was going to use those examples!

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there are some great reflections in an old prayer book of my mom's. i could post a few if you'd like?

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