Mumbling and more mumbling, this is all I heard every morning and every night. As my ear became familiar with the repetition coming out of my Grandma’s lips, I realized she was praying el Santo Rosario. She not only gave me the gift of Faith through Catholicism, but she also taught me the power of the Rosary when recited with devotion and not just repeat the same prayer over and over. What exactly is the Rosary? What does it represent? How did it become devotional?
What are prayer beads? The concept of crafting ornaments out of natural material like the ostrich shell beads found in Africa dated 10,000 BC gives us an idea that we humans have sought to create a ritual that helps us connect with a Higher Force. The mere word bead comes from Old English bede which in modern English would mean prayer.
In Hinduism, beads have been used since the 17th Century BC for prayer and meditation. Later in 15 Century BC, Buddhism adopted this system of repetition. Then Islam added their prayer beads in the 7th Century AC. For us Christian Catholics, we were given the Rosary in the 1200’s. Here is just a quick reference on prayer beads used in major religions around the world:
Religion Name Beads
Islam Misbaha 100 (99 in 3’s + 1)
Buddhism Japa Mala 108
Hinduism Sikh Mala 108
Western Christianity Pater Noster Cord 150 (for each of the Psalms)
Roman Catholicism Rosary 59 (10 in 5’s + 4 + 5)
The beads’ purpose is to help keep count of how many prayers have been recited. At least this was the concept behind as intended. But for the purpose of our Faith, let’s focus on the Rosary. From the Latin rosarium, the Rosary is a crown of roses presented to the Virgin Mary. Traditionally, Blessed Virgin Mary (later known as Our Lady of the Rosary) appeared to St. Dominic of Osma in 1208 and handed him a 15-decade Rosary saying to him “This is the precious gift which I leave you.” St. Dominic then taught how to say it and the devotion and fervor of the Rosary grew to thousands of people who began praying the 150 Ave Maria’s. Since then, the Church declared it a sacramental*.
It is said that the Mysteries of the Rosary, however, were later introduced in the XVI Century by Pope Pius V. He gave us the first 15 mysteries. Then, St. John Paul II introduced to the world the Luminous Mysteries in 2002 thus adding 5 more decades. Each of the mysteries depicts a moment in the public life of Jesus from his Annunciation of his Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension into Heaven, and his promise of sending the Holy Spirit.
The only two mysteries not found in the Bible, but are adopted in the Church as dogmas are the Assumption of Mary and the Coronation of Mary, part of the Glorious Mysteries. Our Catechism teaches us that “The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things [and that…] in the Mystery of the Assumption, Mary experiences… a body resurrection like Christ’s own.” The Assumption and therefore the Coronation of Mary have been beliefs until declared an official Church Dogma in 1950 under Pope Pius XII.
Many have argued if the Rosary should be worn or not. Some will suggest that it is an offense to Our Lady to wear it because it should be prayed instead. But Mariologist, St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort encouraged us in his book The Secret of the Rosary to wear the Rosary because it can help us, “none of your enemies will ever be able to harm you again,” he says in his book. He also suggests that wearing the Rosary eases the desire to commit sin considerably. He further discusses how the devil himself is terrified with each Ave Maria. A woman has delivered the savior and she has also escaped mortal death. Of course, who wouldn’t be scared? But, if you’re new or want to learn more on Marian Devotion, Grignion de Montfort is your best reading material.
Even though as a child, I grew up with devotions of the Faith, as I grew older I stopped most, if not all, for many years. Lately though, some of them are coming back to me in full circle and the Rosary is one of them. I find myself now mumbling the same prayer I heard as a child and I can’t help but feel each Ave Maria fill my heart with hope, pride, love, joy, peace, reassurance, confidence, and trust in God. Maybe it is time to re-discover ways in which reciting the prayers feel less dull and almost boring. Perhaps we should try to find meaning when we repeat, not the prayer, but the life of Jesus and the love of God for each of us every time we say the Rosary.
I challenge you to say the Rosary on your next walk, or your next drive. Don’t repeat. Ask for a blessing upon each member of your family with each bead, or perhaps a need you may have. Whatever your heart desires, just say 1 Rosary this week. Write to us or comment below to share your experience.
OCTOBER 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. If you would like to learn a method of praying the Rosary that suits you, visit our shop. We have different Novenas, prayer books that you can use and incorporate with your devotion and sacramental. We also carry a large variety of rosaries to choose from.
<3lessings,
TSJ
*Sacramental: any object that is blessed and/or helps us in our actions and praying practices to remind us of Christ’s presence with us and his unconditional love for us. For this to happen, the Catholic Church must declare it a sacramental (example of many: holy water, crucifixes, statues, rosaries, holy cards, etc.)