Some questions about The Rosary

[BarbTherese]

that I find interesting and wonder why.

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http://www.catholichousehold.com/censoring-st-therese-5-things-didnt-know-little-flower/

"St. Thérèse struggled with her prayers and devotions.

One aspect of St. Thérèse’s life that was expunged from the initial publication of her autobiography was details of the difficulties she faced in applying herself to prayer. One passage in particular mentions this struggle as regards the rosary. The details should serve as no small consolation to those who struggle with the daily recitation of the rosary or other pious observances:

“I feel then that the fervor of my Sisters makes up for my lack of fervor; but when alone (I am ashamed to admit it) the recitation of the rosary is more difficult for me than the wearing of an instrument of penance. I feel I have said this so poorly! I force myself in vain to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary; I don’t succeed in fixing my mind on them.

For a long time I was desolate about this lack of devotion which astonished me, for I love the Blessed Virgin so much that it should be easy for me to recite in her honor prayers which are so pleasing to her. Now I am less desolate; I think that the Queen of heaven, since she is my mother, must see my good will and she is satisfied with it. Sometimes when my mind is in such aridity that it is impossible to draw forth one single thought to unite me with God, I very slowly recite an “Our Father” and then the “Hail Mary”; then these prayers give me great delight; they nourish my soul much more than if I had recited them precipitately a hundred times.”

Edited April 8, 2015 by BarbaraTherese

[superblue]

wow ty for posting that B.T / that really hit home for me on some things that have been rattling round in my ole kidney bean.

[BarbTherese]

I do love a spirituality, SB, that can 'sing and dance' - be playful!  Thank you for sharing. 

Some do put down the spirituality of St Therese, but I think that they are failing to insight the theology behind what is to us today perhaps very flowery language - but 'flowery language' in spirituality was common, quite common, in the times of St Therese. It was simply the way they expressed themselves then.  It has never been my cuppa tea and initially almost turned me off St Therese.  Thank The Lord that it did not!

[BarbTherese]

I think that Thomas Merton might have been into St Therese - he is the one that is most often quoted re our desires and good will rather than any sort of success being pleasing to The Lord.  Very easy to write..........another matter to live out.  We live in an almost success-crazy culture and sometimes it cannot help but rub off and have an affect.

Edited April 8, 2015 by BarbaraTherese

[Catlick]

many traditional catholics say everyone should pray one or two rosaries a day, and everyone is called to do this, and if you dont like the rosary or feel you aren't called to pray it, it is a sign of deamons. many traditional priests are scandalised by people who do not pray chaplets or rosaries and think you are a very bad catholic.

​For clarity's sake, who are the 'many traditional priests' you're talking about? Does this group include several nationalities, several congregations? Does it include those who are usually called 'conservatives' like Opus Dei priests, or just priests who celebrate the Tridentine Mass only? Does it include the very Marial priests and the priests more sceptical of Mary-as-Mediatrix? 

I ask this because I've never encountered a priest who calls Catholics bad if they don't pray a daily rosary. Even very Marial priests from FSSPX. 

[puellapaschalis]

Chiming in with another traditional anecdote: none of the traditional priests I know have instructed me to pray the Rosary every day, let alone more than one. I've heard it as a recommendation from the pulpit, but it was within the context of ardent love for Our Lady and always within the echo reverb of "Pray as you can and not as you can't." My once-director (FSSP), when I asked him if I should pray a daily Rosary, instead told me to undertake the Angelus once each day (twice or thrice if I could manage it), although my tendency to scruples could have coloured that instruction and he equally may well have given it to someone else.

[oremus1]

 

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No I am not associated with FSSPX, Opus Dei or SSPX

Priests include: FSSP, FFI (Franciscan Friar Immaculate), some bi-ritual priests who celebrate both Tridentine and non Tridentine, and orthodox consevative novus ordo priests - including some who say the NO in Latin. I know at least one bishop who would be scandalised if someone approached him for a vocation and did not say the rosary daily. Also, VERY MANY laypeople, and all the pro-Fatima and traditional catholics who are scandalised if one does not say rosary.

The priests didn't say it was bad not to, but said it was necessary especially If one wants to enter consecrated life, and to avoid sin, and seemed to think the prayer life was deficient without it.

But I will add, I have taken the advice of the FFI priest who said to me, the only bad rosary is the one you do not say (he quoted some pre VII pope). he says the rosary all the time while doing other things. so I have started saying the rosary a lot of the time as background noise as well when doing other things and it is actually very helpful to avoid sinful thoughts, to help with sins arising from impatience, etc. it also helps to cultivate marian devotion.

the FFI priest also told me that if you do not like the rosary you should say it anyway and ask Our Lady to help you to love the rosary. Now I am not sure if it is a case of not being called to the rosary devotion, OR if it is a case of demons/laziness/lack of discipline etc not to like to say  rosary. also the FSSP priest said we cannot like everything, and would do well to say the rosary every day even if we do not like it because of devotion and discipline. I also had direction from the FSSP and the FFI

 EDIT: sorry this is responding to the person who asked which priests, congregations  etc

Edited April 8, 2015 by oremus1

[oremus1]

Chiming in with another traditional anecdote: none of the traditional priests I know have instructed me to pray the Rosary every day, let alone more than one. I've heard it as a recommendation from the pulpit, but it was within the context of ardent love for Our Lady and always within the echo reverb of "Pray as you can and not as you can't." My once-director (FSSP), when I asked him if I should pray a daily Rosary, instead told me to undertake the Angelus once each day (twice or thrice if I could manage it), although my tendency to scruples could have coloured that instruction and he equally may well have given it to someone else.

​I am not sure if they told me different because I was candidate for becoming a CV.
 

[puellapaschalis]

​I am not sure if they told me different because I was candidate for becoming a CV. 

​Ah, perhaps. I know very little about CVs and how that discernment/formation process goes.

[oremus1]

​Ah, perhaps. I know very little about CVs and how that discernment/formation process goes.

​Neither do many people hence why many trads and trad priests expect that I follow a monastic horarium at the same time as working and doing normal chores etc lol

[oremus1]

I just wanted to say, since the FFI priest told me, the only bad rosary is the one you don't say, I have been saying the rosary all the time, waiting in queues, walking in the road, eating lunch, I have a finger ring one. and it really helped me to develop marian devotion. I think the more you say it the more you like it perhaps. I only do one decade at a time if I am doing other stuff. I suggest people who find it hard try this method.

[Catlick]

Traditionalist/'conservative' priests generally have high standards when it comes to the religious life. They have a good view of the heavy responsibilities that come with living as a religious. So I can imagine them setting some standard for you when you're discerning a vocation to enter the monastery. This is as logical as when a professional athlete advices you to train alot when you ask him how to follow in his footsteps. 

[oremus1]

Traditionalist/'conservative' priests generally have high standards when it comes to the religious life. They have a good view of the heavy responsibilities that come with living as a religious. So I can imagine them setting some standard for you when you're discerning a vocation to enter the monastery. This is as logical as when a professional athlete advices you to train alot when you ask him how to follow in his footsteps.

​Yes but you do realise that someone could pray a lot, but just not pray the rosary. what if they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet instead? or the time they could have spent praying the rosary, they spent in lectio divina?

Edited April 13, 2015 by oremus1

[Catlick]

​Yes but you do realise that someone could pray a lot, but just not pray the rosary. what if they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet instead? or the time they could have spent praying the rosary, they spent in lectio divina?

​What if you put cheese on your breakfast bread instead of ham? Would anyone care? 

[puellapaschalis]

I think that ideally a parishioner who starts discernment is already known to the priests in some way, and that they already have at least some idea of who they are. Then when a chat comes about religious life or the priesthood, that a person prays this chaplet or the other rather than the Rosary is either already known or isn't going to come as some big 'shock'.