Born-again Christians have criticized us for using repetitive prayers like saying numerous Hail Marys every time we recite the rosary. Is it true that this practice is pagan-like?
Absolutely not! The rosary has been an established devotion for ages and involves meditation of the 20 mysteries in the life of Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother and vocal prayers. If this is pagan-like why would the Virgin Mary give it to St Dominic? We must remember that Mary is our model if we want to become better Christians. “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) is her best exhortation to us. Why would St Dominic and his men promote this devotion if it were unchristian? And why would the popes encourage people to pray it? The late Pope John Paul II once said “The rosary is my favourite devotion.”
The use of numerous Hail Marys (as well as Our Fathers, Glorys, and Oh My Jesus) is not a means for devotees to become makulit (pestering) in the eyes of God. We must never think that by storming heaven with these prayers the Lord will simply give in to our requests. Rather, we say these prayers to keep ourselves attuned to what the mysteries of the rosary are teaching us.
It’s like being and staying in love. Whenever I think of my wife, how she captured my heart, and how she has supported me through and through, I am deeply affected. Saying “I love you” to her as often as I can gives her an assurance of my commitment to her. (Of course, there are still other ways of giving assurance like putting into action what I am saying to her.) If I stopped saying these words (or any similar ones like “Take care”, etc) she will never be sure that I care for her.
In the same vein, as we reflect on, let’s say the Birth of Jesus (Third Joyful Mystery), our hearts become touched on how God became like one of us and how Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. If we are touched we become in love with God and with Our Lady. Naturally our feelings have to find a way of expressing itself. How do we do it? We say the Our Father. We recite the Hail Mary – as though congratulating her for giving birth to the Saviour. We recite the Glory and the Oh my Jesus.
If we maintain this correct mindset in saying the rosary, we will be transformed from simply being in love to staying in love. If we stayed in love, we will find praying the rosary as part of our Christian living – not only in October, but every month in the year.
Absolutely not! The rosary has been an established devotion for ages and involves meditation of the 20 mysteries in the life of Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother and vocal prayers. If this is pagan-like why would the Virgin Mary give it to St Dominic? We must remember that Mary is our model if we want to become better Christians. “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) is her best exhortation to us. Why would St Dominic and his men promote this devotion if it were unchristian? And why would the popes encourage people to pray it? The late Pope John Paul II once said “The rosary is my favourite devotion.”
The use of numerous Hail Marys (as well as Our Fathers, Glorys, and Oh My Jesus) is not a means for devotees to become makulit (pestering) in the eyes of God. We must never think that by storming heaven with these prayers the Lord will simply give in to our requests. Rather, we say these prayers to keep ourselves attuned to what the mysteries of the rosary are teaching us.
It’s like being and staying in love. Whenever I think of my wife, how she captured my heart, and how she has supported me through and through, I am deeply affected. Saying “I love you” to her as often as I can gives her an assurance of my commitment to her. (Of course, there are still other ways of giving assurance like putting into action what I am saying to her.) If I stopped saying these words (or any similar ones like “Take care”, etc) she will never be sure that I care for her.
In the same vein, as we reflect on, let’s say the Birth of Jesus (Third Joyful Mystery), our hearts become touched on how God became like one of us and how Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. If we are touched we become in love with God and with Our Lady. Naturally our feelings have to find a way of expressing itself. How do we do it? We say the Our Father. We recite the Hail Mary – as though congratulating her for giving birth to the Saviour. We recite the Glory and the Oh my Jesus.
If we maintain this correct mindset in saying the rosary, we will be transformed from simply being in love to staying in love. If we stayed in love, we will find praying the rosary as part of our Christian living – not only in October, but every month in the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment