“We can’t conjure a powerful prayer experience; God is in charge of that. But we can make ourselves available for one.”–Karen Edmisten
Because October is the month of the Holy Rosary—and today its special feast day!—I am re-reading my copy of The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary.
What a treasure this book has been for me.
I have given away copies of this book before, once right before Anthony was born and again at our Minnesota Mommy Bloggers’ Tea. If I could, I would give away 1000 copies—a million copies, even more.
And this is not just because the author is my friend.
Karen Edmisten is one of the best writers that the Catholic Church has today. As a former atheist and a convert to the faith, she understands both sides of the coin in a way that many of us cradle Catholics cannot.
She has insight.
She has wit.
Best of all, she has conviction. This is also known as great faith, by the way. Karen has tremendous faith, and she shares this faith almost effortlessly—how does she do this?—in what is possibly the best book on the Rosary I have read.
And there are many, many books on the Rosary.
Why then, should you read this one? Because you absolutely should, you know. You should read it and learn from it and then pass it on if you can bear to part from it. (I could never part from my copy, but I can see myself giving it away as I have done in the past—again and again and yet again.)
Okay, the Spirit is moving me. I am going to give away yet another copy of The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary.
Most importantly, are there graces you have received because of your devotion to this devotion?
Comments will be left open until this Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
Have a blessed feast. ☺
*Updated to Add: Comments are now closed. I will announce the winners tomorrow (Feast of the Maternity of Mary).
I try to pray the rosary during the week in the car on the way to work. Although, I would like to pray it at home, so that I could concentrate on the mysteries better. I always pray it by myself. I really feel this devotion has helped me in many ways. Namely, trusting in Jesus and Mary. When I do not pray it, it is out of laziness. I would juts love to read this book. It sounds wonderful. Have a great day!
Great topic. I am so grateful that our Church has so many devotions that we can choose from or be drawn to as we need them.
The Divine Office is, or if I were more faithful would be, my daily bread; I pray the Rosary pretty rarely, and I am not sure why, because I always get a lot out of it when I do (but then, maybe it's because I turn to it rarely that I always get such a big boost from it). I tend to pray it seasonally — such as daily during Lent.
Lately I have been trying to remember to turn to the Rosary when I forget my breviary, or when I can't "fit" the office into my day very well for some reason. For example, I spend a lot of time in my car on Tuesdays, so I often pray a rosary on that day instead of morning prayer because I can do it in my car. I just can't get into Liturgy of the Hours podcasts 🙂
And I occasionally offer a rosary for someone's special intention, because oddly enough it is a real sacrifice for me to start one (compared to the Divine Office, which I turn to thirstily). I find I'm always very slow to pick the rosary up and have a great resistance to starting — I expect to be bored or for my mind to wander. But I am always rewarded. And yet I continue to have this resistance to it that keeps me from picking it up again.
Happy Feast Day, friend. Don't put me in the drawing, I just wanted to celebrate with you!
do I pray the rosary…? Best intentions…sometimes fall asleep. One in the car…do not finish. Rosary on tape…say it without "praying" it.
would like to try this devotional.
TinaH
I go in spurts when it comes to praying the Rosary. When I was working, I would listen to a Rosary tape in the car. I was able to fit in two decades each way. I was always amazed at the calmness I would feel throughout those few hours at work & I noticed a difference if didn't pray.
Sometimes, when I have trouble sleeping, I'll pray the Rosary to relax my mind.
I've heard great things about this book & would love a copy!
This school year, we added the rosary in again. 2 decades in the morn and 3 decades at night. It's been a goal for years, but we've never found the right time – it sounds lame, but we've never been able to keep it up. So far, so good.
I'm not sure I have this book…
I pray the rosary daily to fulfill the promises of the Brown Scapular. On an ideal day I'll pray it early in the morning during my walk. On an average day I'll pray it in the car on my drive home from a day of teaching.
I find it to be the most difficult devotion to pray, which also makes me wonder whether it is the devotion through which the most graces flow. But for me praying the rosary seems like an act of faithfulness that yields zero graces. I pray that in Heaven the Lord will allow me to see what He was really doing when it felt like nothing. I think that sometimes He still likes to hide in His Mother's womb.
Well,if I don't win, I'm going to buy it, so…don't put me in the drawing, I'm going to buy it!!
Great job promoting this wonderful devotion Margaret!
I love the rosary. I long to pray it every day like I used to before kiddos! Whenever I get in the van, I put on the rosary CD, I try to pray decades here and there, while nursing, (thanks Barbara, I'd forgotten from the last babe) while waiting in line,in bed,while walking, etc…
It's all me though. We, as a family have only prayed it a couple times. We will today. The kiddos like to do a decade. I'm not that good at setting that time aside to do so. I need to.
I really like Suzie's idea of 2 decades in the morning and 3 at night, great idea, I will have to try that with the kiddos.
Graces received from this devotion? Probably too many to even know. My rosary turned gold in Medjegorje. Just the peace and grace I think that comes every time I pray is amazing enough, it calms me when I'm anxious, etc…
My parents were told they could never have children, my grandma prayed rosaries and I came along. More recently my brother and his wife were told it was unlikely they would be able to have children. My Russian SIL who doesn't have any beliefs asked me to pray, so I prayed rosaries and now I have a 4 year old niece and Godchild. (Not that I believe that the rosary should be treated like "magic." It is a wonderful way to participate in God's saving grace and maercy.) I should pray the rosary daily, but I do it more in spurts.
Since my kids get dropped off at 7:30, I get to pray the Rosary each weekday before Mass in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The days I don't get to do that…weekends or sick kids…I still pray the Rosary. But it's funny–those other days I don't start the day with the same feeling of peace as on the days I pray at church. The stress of getting out the door in the morning seems to just float away, and I am calm and resting with the Lord.
So much is outside our control, the Rosary helps me turn it all over to Jesus thru Mary. Driving kids to our Catholic school, walking around the lake, waiting for medical appts. We keep plastic rosaries all over the house/ car, or just the 10 fingers…anytime, anywhere.
I struggle with the rosary. I feel this deep deep desire to pray it, like I am being prodded to, but I find I peter out. I'll get charged up and pray it and then after a time I stop. I am trying to find a way as to how I can be disciplined to pray it regularly? And find the chunk of time to do so. I didn't know that it was acceptable to pray it throughout the day-a decade here and another one there, two more later. I'll have to try that method. I really want to pray it everyday! Not sure what the blockage is.
I bought this book after you gave it away the first time here, and I LOVE it. It's definitely going to be Christmas gifts for people! I just lent it to a woman who serve on my Parish Council with me. She had been saying that it was so hard for her to find time for prayer, what with two little boys and daily life obligations. I thought the book would be perfect for her. She just returned it, and LOVED it! She's also buying it for Christmas.
Really a FANTASTIC book. I can't thank you enough for recommending it, Margaret. 🙂
OK, I ordered it! Can't wait for it to come!
Would love to have cocoa together with rosary marshmallows, we can in spirit!
I don't pray the rosary as often as I would like. My goal is to have a family prayer time in the evenings, after dinner. Right now I mostly prayer the rosary during long(ish) car rides and when I am up late with the baby – puts him right to sleep!
I used to be a regular rosary pray-er, but life has gotten the best of me lately. I have to say though that I really feel the Blessed Mother calling me back to it recently. I would love to win that book!
I wish I could get into the Rosary, but when I think about it, I'm taken back to 7th grade when we had to say a decade each morning. Some of the boys in the class would make faces at the teacher and it inevitably turned into a suppressed laugh fest. I know that's a very immature reason not to embrace it. That said, my father loved the Rosary and he had a quick and painless death. I think that's one of the graces. I'm going to try and start saying the Rosary, maybe instead of listening to talk radio while I walk my dog, I'll say a decade.
Last year, I was praying the rosary every morning on a walk before the kids were awake. I miss that. We just moved to a new house and I need to put my morning walk back into the routine now that the boxes are unpacked. I always ask Ben to pray the 3rd mystery with me since he was my 3rd child. I always feel a great peace after praying the rosary, so tell me why I don't pray it more often!
I've fallen off the wagon on daily rosary. I do it in spurts, too. It's a love/hate relationship. I love the Luminous mysteries, and JPII's encyclical on the rosary really helped me with meditation.
I'd love to win the book. I agree, Karen is such a good writer.
I not only pray it daily (some times I forget or get too busy, but I redouble my efforts then), but I make them as well.
I used to be a Lutheran. I married, had two kids, and finally converted for convenience sake. I lived in an area where there were many non-Catholics and some were downright hostile about Catholics once they got me under their wings.
I loathed the rosary and threw the ones we had away.
My husband went overseas on a year long deployment and the kids and I went to a non-denominational church. When he returned and we moved to MD, we recommitted to being a family and going to Mass as a family (our attendance had always been spotty at best). I met some wonderful gals who lovingly dealt with my ignorance of Mary, "who is just a person not unlike any of us". Hmmmm. Well, well. She is unlike any of us, but she loves us and leads us to Christ. I read Scott Hahn's book and he wrote about breaking his grandmother's rosary in his ignorance. I could so relate!
I cannot in mere words describe what Mary means to me and the joy I am allowed to experience when praying the rosary, and the peace that fills my heart when I make them. Some times I just cry while I make the rosaries. It isn't from sadness any more, but from a great JOY.
I will be honest and say that I have a "complicated relationship" with the rosary. I am a recent convert (2007)and have been overwhelmed (in a good way) by all of the rich traditions and devotions that are integral to the Catholic church. It seems so complex sometimes, like piecing together a quilt I don't have a pattern for, and I won't know if it's right until I finish it.
I especially feel that way about the rosary. I try to pray it regularly, but I don't know that I'm seeing the "whole pattern" just yet. And I'm terrible at memorization so I still have to use my rosary guide each time to make sure I do things in the right order.
I'm the only Catholic in my family the idea of having a Mother to pray to is completely foreign to me. But it has also always been a huge draw to me and was part of my decision to convert.
I've heard so many wonderful testaments from people who have prayed the rosary regularly and hope to add my own someday.
Hi Margaret,
I had never really been in any habit of praying the Rosary, it was just a very occasional prayer for me, until this May when I decided it was important enough to pray daily. So I started out praying it all at once, usually when the baby was napping. Then it became more of a decade at a time event throughout the course of the day, and then degenerated into maybe just one decade a day. Now I'm back to nothing… So I could use the encouragement of this book!
My devotion to Mary seems to increase as I grow older (I mean, in my faith). My goal is to one day pray the Rosary everyday, but I'm not there yet. We have just.started praying the rosary once/week as a family. It has been indescribably beautiful! I know this little step in our family's devotion to Mary is because she is guiding us and nudging us along. This book is on my "wish list" at Amazon, but before I order it, I'll see if I win it here first. =) Thanks, Margaret!
Hello,
I am a cradle Catholic, but I have always had a difficult time with the Rosary; even if I think about praying it, it seems like a burdensome prayer. I have been trying to be more open to the Blessed Mother; I did not grow up with any particular devotion to Her, and I struggle with my lack of relationship with Her. It seems to me that so many people who have a relationship with Her are much happier because of it.
I have decided to take baby steps, and this month I am trying to say one "Hail Mary" each day. I think and hope that Mary will understand that this child of Hers requires a lot of time for God's grace to penetrate her heart. I hope that one day I will truly love Mary and discover how She truly loves me.
E.
Before my husband and I were together (he was a seminarian) we were friends and we would go on rosary walks together. That is what started it all. Now with little kids and earlier bedtimes and living in MN, rosary walks have become a part of the past (which I would love to do again) but what a great way that we started our relationship together that has thus far brought 4 beautiful children into the world. 🙂
Hello Margaret…
Our family participates in the Living Rosary in our little parish, St. Mary's in Meadowlands, MN. We've been doing this since our two littlest girls were 6 and 7 – each having her own mystery from the beginning. Ideally, we pray our Living Rosary each evening during our family prayers…. but when the days became longer and warmer a few months back, we somehow neglected this wonderful practice. (Hubby or I would then do all four decades.) We must stop being so lazy and get back into the routine of each praying our own mystery.
Graces? Too many to mention, I'm sure!
BTW, I'd love to win your wonderfully generous give-away. God bless you.
Since having children, I have struggled with saying the rosary daily. And recently I've had a lot of morning sickness, so I am certainly in dry spell right now. I've tried to just pray here and there…when I'm waiting in line, cleaning up dinner, or driving. But I have lots of room to grow. I long for the prayer life I had prior to children. I haven't figured out a good system yet in the 3 years I've been a mommy.
The rosary was my constant companion in college and I prayed way more than daily. I still LOVE the rosary and try to pray on my own, often when exercising or falling asleep, or- should I say this one- when my husband is driving to give me the grace to not complain. But, it's no longer daily, and sometimes not even weekly, just because of the craziness of being busy with kids.
The big thing is in raising my children. When they start to be cranky, snappy, and generally unkind I know it's been too long since they've prayed the rosary. We generally aim for one family rosary per week. We also do Divine Mercy chaplets and other devotionals (Scriptures, lives of saints, etc.)but NOTHING gets those kids back on track like the rosary!
I purposely do not have the kids do a daily rosary at this point, mainly because I do not want it to be this dreaded chore to check off each day. And most families when they pray it every day (in my limited experience) tend to say it so fast and just seem to rush through it. I'd rather we do it less frequently and make it beautiful and reverent, then feel we have to rush through it just to get it done for that day. But maybe when my kids get older we will go to a daily family rosary. Right now the preschoolers pretty much make that an impossibility for our family.
In fact, as they are all going crazy now, I think it's time to go pray the rosary! We love Pius V and reding about the Battle of Lepanto! Happy Feast Day!
-Laura
This is such a timely post for me. My husband and I have just been talking about getting our kids started on the Rosary (again). We have tried in the past, but they were reluctant and wiggly and our patience was short. I think that this time around will be better. The kids are older and they did really well with the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena earlier this year.
I love Mary and the Rosary. There have been times when even just holding the Rosary in my hand helps. Today I read that Mother Teresa did this too and said that she was holding hands with Mary. I love that sentiment.
Margaret – Thank you for starting this discussion. It has been reassuring to see that I am not the only one struggling to commit to a daily Rosary. (Also, please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!)
Margaret (and all), Thanks for your too-kind words! What a treat to stop by today and see that you're giving away a copy of the book!
So many beautiful comments here and so many things and ideas to talk about — the beauty of the prayer, the struggle, how often to pray it or not pray it with young children … so much to talk about and so little time! 🙂 But, I need to come back, or do a post or something ….
And, btw, don't enter me in the drawing. 😉
I do not pray the Rosary but am very curious about it. Please include me in the drawing and consider me in need of encouragement and information. Thank for this opportunity to learn more about something that you feel so passionately about.
Dear Margaret…I love your blog. I have tried to coax my husband into moving to Minnesota, just so I can meet you in person for coffee!
Anyway, to your question…We have eight children 13yrs-2yrs. We try to pray the rosary daily, as I know it is my lifeline to sanity :o). We do well most days with the little ones coloring (usually holy pics, but let's face it a princess picture will do if it keeps them in one place).
I wish our rosary could be more peaceful, but I once heard that the only bad rosary is the one not said, so…I keep putting one foot in front of the other, or one bead as it may be and asking Mary to fill in the gaps for us.
I keep waiting for the day when all the children will want to say the rosary, but I am content to know that I am helping them form the habit of prayer.
My mother died when I was young and I am a convert. The rosary, and the Blessed mother in general have been a great comfort to me.
I have no miraculous, levitating, moments of prayer while praying the rosary…It is still more of a discipline. I hope this changes and I (and the children) will develop a greater love for it.
God bless you Margaret, and your sweet family!
(btw, we have a Felicity too!)
I'm back … I just wanted to add a quick comment about praying the Rosary with kids. I have never wanted my kids to find it to be something they remember as "forced" or "dull" or dreaded. Just to offer a note of encouragement: even though we have always done VERY abbreviated Rosaries with our kids (decades here and there) I have been finding that, as they get older, they are beginning to adopt it as their own, and to choose to pray it and pray longer versions of it. My oldest daughter prays the Rosary if she has trouble sleeping, or will often pray a Rosary on a Friday.
For our family, gentle introductions, encouragement, fun/related activities, sharing of our own positive experiences and continually inviting them to join us, or to "try praying the Rosary" in times of trouble or doubt have been so helpful.
It all counts!
I try to pray the rosary everyday, usually in bed before going to sleep. As a family, it seems like we always do very good with saying a family rosary everyday during advent and lent, but then it seems to "get away from us". I have resolved to try and get back into this habit, especially during October, the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Also, many nights, while struggling with anxiety and depression, I have found myself clinging to my rosary all night long–the graces of the rosary have gotten be through many awful nights, I am sure of that.
I like to pray the rosary on long car trips. Today, two others and I prayed the Glorious and Sorrowful mysteries as we walked around Regions Hospital in St. Paul as a part of the 40 Days for Life campaign. Who better to intercede for moms and babies than Mary, our Mother?
I would love to have a copy of the book. I find Karen's words to be very inspirational. Thank you for your generosity and God bless. Happy Feast of the Holy Rosary!!
Holly Schwartz
110 Andrea Court
Bardstown, Kentucky 40004
Oh, how I'd love to own a copy of this book! I love LOVE the rosary. I've pretty much given up listening to the radio in the car – I pray the rosary instead. I'm finding that the more I do it, the better I am able to concentrate on the mysteries and am loving it! I would like to pray it more often, but as it is, I'm only in the car about 3x a week. :>)
I just recently learned to attach my prayer intentions to the first three beads and while those prayers haven't yet been answered, I know that God is giving me the peace to be patient and let things happen on His time in accordance with His plan.
Thanks so much for the chance!
I'd actually been hoping to land a copy of this sometime in the near future. My mother taught me the Rosary during some troubling times growing up. It has been a prayer of comfort to me. But I don't pray it nearly as often as I have the desire to. I'm hoping this book will offer new insights that will compel me even further in the direction of acting on my desires, and helping me find ways to work it into my life more frequently. I did pray the Rosary diligently during my reversion period, and asked God during that time to open my husband's and my hearts to new life. We found out we were pregnant with our first child (of five) shortly thereafter. I really thought that I might have problems conceiving a child. Mary took care of that worry. 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
Hi Margaret,
In the past month I have started praying the rosary every day and it has made a tremendous difference in my life. I have a rosary group with my friends on Monday evenings and we usually end up getting together more often during the week to pray the rosary together. Tonight we took a break from our studying in the library to go to the chapel and say the rosary and divine mercy chaplet as a group in honour of today's feast. I want to try and spread how wonderful praying the rosary is to as many people as I can!
my father was totally devoted to the rosary, and my oldest sister says it when falling asleep, she says the nuns told her that the angels will finish it for you if you fall asleep.
At my mother's funeral rosary, the deacon led a scriptural rosary. The non Catholics were moved by the biblical nature, it was a blessing
I use to pray the Rosary daily, but recently I have fallen out of the practice. Lately, it has only been 3 or 4 times a week in the car. I want to renew my good habit of doing it daily with the family.
Wow, lots of comments.
Lately (as in, the last 2 weeks or so) I've been praying the rosary almost daily. God's been trying push me back there for about two years, but I always thought, "Look, I don't have a free half-hour!"
No, I don't, but I do have a free 5 minutes here and there. Most of my rosaries consist of decades rattled off while waiting for a class to start. Not the way I'd choose to pray a rosary–I'd rather have a nice leisurely half-hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, of course–but I figure Mary's as pleased by my little offering as any earthly mama would be by some rather squished dandelions offered by a toddler. In other words, I figure it's better than nothing.
Graces? From the rosary? Mary's my mama. What graces haven't I gotten from her?
I go in spurts, but would really love to be more disciplined about it. My very favorite thing that my daughter and I do sometimes is say a decade together before bed. Before each Hail Mary we would also think of someone to pray for. It is precious moments with her.
I do not pray the rosary daily, but want to. We go through good stretches where we pray our rosary as a family after dinner, but then there's inevitably the interuption in routine and the rosary falls to the wayside. But whenever there is great need, the rosary seems to be the first prayer we turn to.
There have been times in my life where I prayed all three mysteries a day and times where months would go in between recitations. The ebb and flow of life, vocation, and (not gonna lie) sloth. Lately I have come back to this devotion with such a joy in my heart. Karen's book looks lovely and I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you, Margaret for your joy, wit, and honesty:)
I do pray the rosary daily. As I was growing up, my family prayed it together.
Each of my children has a rosary, and I will pray it in the car.
The book looks lovely, and the devotion is of tremendous help as I go about my domestic and motherly duties.
Have a blessed day!
I am trying to learn the rosary; I have a cd which I play in the car alone. My dh is lutheran and does not want me to convert to Catholicism, but I am very interested in doing so… I need all the help I can get! I find that I pray most often late at night, or early mornings: most especially if I am lying awake and can't sleep. Gill.
Now that I have a Google Account I am writing again and hoping to be in the drawing. My last entry simply said Anonymous. Enough of that!
My husband and I are starting RCIA in a couple of weeks and I have been reading about how to pray the rosary. We've used prayer beads to pray the Jesus prayer before but are just starting to get comfortable praying to Mary (we're converting from Protestantism). I'd love to read and understand more about praying with the Blessed Virgin so that we can begin this devotion in our family.
My story of what happened with me and the Rosary is too long, so I'll just post the link to my blog:
http://chezouiz.blogspot.com/2009/05/mary-miracle.html
5 months later, and still no fear. That is a huge, huge miracle.
I'm in the process of coming into the church. I learned parts of the rosary as a mental experiment. I haven't adopted it as a regular devotion, and I know I have a lot more to learn (like the mysteries–I still don't really get how it's supposed to work).
I love the Rosary, and yet I don't pray it nearly often enough. When I do it is usually in the evening in bed, and I often fall asleep before I finish. My two older kids, miraculously, have developed a devotion to the Rosary, which is beautiful since they are 8 and 5. They love to pray it and sometimes ask me to pray it with them. To be honest, I don't know how this happened, since I haven't been the best example to them in this area. They don't see me at night with my rosary in bed. I would love to read this book and deepen my time with this greatest of devotions.
I have just recently started praying the rosary. I just now began announcing the mysteries and it transformed the experience for me. I now see how to unite my heart to Jesus' by meditating on how she did so. It's been amazing…
The rosary has been integral in my life since my freshman year of high school. While on retreat, one of the leaders (now a priest) challenged us to pray the rosary for 30 days. He promised we would never be the same. He was right. I would love to read this book!
Aimee
I try to say the rosary in the evening when the baby is falling asleep nursing, and then I will add decades while I am going to bed and at any point when I'm awake at night with the kids. This is a good reminder to try and add more decades to my day.
As a convert, I still sometimes struggle with these things. I think I could benefit from a book like this.
OK, I'll be honest. I am only posting to enter the contest-looks like I"m not the only one . I'm hoping the old adage, "its not what you know but who you know" might help. On Karen's blog, she has a friend Jack. Jack is a mutual friend of Karen's and mine, in that Jack is also one of my daughters Godfather. I have never met Karen but have heard oodles about her from Jack and his family(who are another amazing Catholic family themselves but that is a whole other blog in itself). I don't have any amazing rosary stories. Our family struggles praying this devotion and we pray it in spurts. Wait, I do have a unique rosary story that I just remembered(my memory continues to grow sluggish in my 40's even though kids are leaving home). For Christmas last year my husband gave me a slip of paper that had these words printed on it in his handwriting, "I will pray 365 rosaries for you this year". Admittedly, he says he has prayed them all but that he has had to play catch up a few times. Needless to say, I cried when I read it.
Finally, I enjoy your blog immensely! Hope the Holy Spirit keeps inspiring your thoughts and writing.
I came into the Church last Easter, but I've been praying the rosary for a long time. I've always been fascinated by it, and used to pester my Catholic friends and (then) boyfriend about how to pray it properly. Interestingly, since I've made an effort to incorporate the rosary into my daily life my husband, a cradle Catholic (who used to be the boyfriend I pestered 🙂 ) has completely changed his opinion of the rosary. He used to think it was pointless and old fashioned, but now he really enjoys praying it with me, going to pray it on First Saturdays, and teaching the kids in our CCD class how to say the rosary.
I try to say a daily rosary. One thing that has really helped me accomplish was to obtain a single decade rosary that I could carry around in my (very small) purse.
For me, learning the different Mysteries has been a challenge, but a good one- because I had to work so hard to remember them, I ended up putting a lot of thought into why they are grouped together as they are and why they are prayed when they are.
I receive such a feeling of calm from it. When I'm stressed out, anxious, etc, I like to pray a decade or two, and am always amazed how much calmer I feel.
This is a devotion I feel Our Lady calling me to, but I am ever so stubborn! I tend to get so distracted, which bothers me. I have to say that the most beauty I've had with the rosary has been in praying it with my dear girlfriends in Christ… most recently a rosary novena for our husbands (wherever they are!)
You're wonderful, Margaret. I do so enjoy you!
I'm a convert (3 years) and still haven't gotten the hang of the rosary. This book sounds like it would be great!
Please enter me in to win 😉
I love the rosary… but do not get around to doing all 5 decades at once. I try to get to them throughout the day-in the car, pushing my son in the stroller, outside while the kids play etc..
thanks for offering us this book!!! God bless, Mary @ CHeerios
I used to travel to see my husband before we were married. This gave me time to say a FULL rosary. Much like most moms I found this habbit more difficult with the addition of each child. When our kids were having dificulty napping I would put on a CD of the rosary. I guess I figured that they would nap or at least be quiet and pray. We pray a weekly rosary at night. It has worked pretty well for our family. When we get busy and we feel it slipping we actually write it on the calander as an event. We have been blessed to have family and friends who have visited and prayed along with us. My favorite story is a phone call we received on evening while praying the rosary. It never fails that we forget to turn our phone off and the answering machine is LOUD. It was kind of a joke that my husband's best friend always ended up calling during the rosary. One night we were two decades into the prayer when the phone rang. It was a Priest from a seminary in our state. He was calling to talk to a certain young man who wanted to decern the priesthood. We had never heard of this young man and still do not know who he is. This was an amazing call to prayer. All of these years later I still think and pray for this young man (Priest?)especially when the phone rings during our rosary. I am always amazed how God calls us to pray for someone we do not know!
I pray it daily with my husband as part of my obligation for the brown scapular. I have gone through dry spells, but I have also had amazing times when they rosary has become for me an absolute lifeline. Now we have begun including our children (two 3yos and a baby), and it is such a joy to see them attend the "school of Mary" with all the precious piety toddlers can muster.
I would love to grow in love and devotion to the blessed Virgin and the Rosary. As an adult convert, I haven't really learned to love the Rosary as much as I know I could, so I would love to read this book. Thanks for the contest Margaret!
I would love to win a copy of this book, because I need some new inspiration. I pray the Rosary off and on. The children and I have tried to pray a decade to start school each day. There was a time we prayed a decade as a family in the evenings, but then Dad started working late, a lot. For a long time, I was praying it on the way to Mass on Sundays, but I haven't been able to do that in a while. Sometimes, when I make it to Adoration, I pray it, because I'm not sure what else to do, but a pastor once cautioned me against that. For a while, I would say a decade at each meal prep, including snacks, so I got it done throughout one day. But, it becomes so much like something to "get done" that I don't want to say it like that. So, like I said, I think I need some new motivation and inspiration to get back into saying the Rosary daily with the right attitude and the right timing. Thanks for offering this contest.
I'll chime in too! Ah, the Rosary… we are daily Rosarians – 2 decades with our morning prayers, 2 after lunch with the Angelus, and the last decade at bedtime. There was a time when I wondered "where would I find this time for this in addition to everything else??" But I found that was just an excuse for me after a while. 2 decades at a crack only takes 10 minutes. I can find 10 minutes here and there for Our Lord and Our Lady through whom every grace is given! (And believe me, I need the graces!!)
Dr. Scott Hahn told us that if we didn't have time for prayer/Mass, it was a sign that our priorities were out of whack. A life too busy for quiet time with God is an empty one!
Feeling sorry for myself today and need a pick-me-up. All 3 kinder home with H1N1. Sniff.
I'd love to win one! I'm just learning the Rosary actually. So this would be a great resource to me. I became Catholic 3 years ago and just now am trying to learn how to pray the Rosary. I really hope I win so I can learn more about it! 🙂
Although I am a cradle Catholic, my faith formation was weak. I was surrounded by cultural Catholics and cafeteria Catholics. I attended CCD from 1st thru 8th grade but never learned to pray the Rosary. As an adult, I've become a Catholic revert. I love reconnecting with my faith and finding all these little nuggets of gold hidden here and there. The Rosary is still something that I am struggling to make a part of my everyday life, though admittedly it brings me so much peace. When I lost my baby, I prayed the Rosary in the ER and then in the OR as I was going under general anesthesia. It brought me peace and I didn't feel so alone. Please enter me in the contest as I would love to learn more about the Rosary and find more things to ponder on. Thank you!
I'm a convert and I'm working to say the rosary everyday for my children and family members. I have to do it in spurts. Sometimes I can say parts of it in the car, other times with my ipod (if I'm so lucky to get a few quiet "stolen" minutes). It has given me such surprising insights on scriptures. I love the rosary.
There are times when I routinely say the rosary every day – mostly during my walk. Then I have days when it doesn't get said at all (neither does the walk). I've been know to pray all 5 mysteries during the drive to my parents' home. We especially try to pray the rosary as a family during the months of May, October, Advent and Lent. Sometimes it's just a decade or two, but as the children are now older, we can do the whole thing. I'm always guaranteed a rosary during my weekly Adoration time.
The graces are the calm and reassurance I feel, which I tend to think carries over to my family. I trust completely in this devotion! I always offer intentions with each decade and it just makes me feel like I'm having a conversation with my mother and she knows all of my concerns and celebrations. As I say the rosary, I'm also reminded of my grandmother, my parents, and all the times we said the rosary as a family growing up! A family that prays together, stays together!
Thanks for the chance to obtain this wonderful sounding book!
I'd love a chance to win Karen's book. I've been wanting to read it since it came out.
Thanks for this opportunity!
God bless!
Me again – sorry, I meant the 4 mysteries (versus 5) – Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious! It is a wonderful way to reflect on Jesus' life and to pray when I can. I also feel safer spending my time with Jesus versus listening to what was on the radio.
I've read some of the other comments and for those who struggle with it or the time, my advise is just to start. Don't even plan on doing the whole rosary. Try just the introductory prayers or just try a decade – especially those of you who are feeling called to this devotion! You may be surprised once you start!
God takes us where we are at – the main thing is to pray! God Bless!
Our Blessed Mother has been such a cource of strength for me through the years, especially during times of suffering. I hope it's ok that a post a link. I wanted to share about the rosary I was blessed with after my husband passed away last year.
http://sweetmercies-kristina.blogspot.com/2008/10/cherished-treasure.html
This rosary is such a treasure to me. Every time I hold it in my hand I am reminded with the love we had for one another, the faith we shared, and the family we created together. I find much comfort in the arms of my Mother.
Hi Margaret! Our family used to be devoted to saying our evening rosary together. Lately, I don't know what has happened. It makes me very sad that we haven't made it as big of a priority as we should. I need to get us on the right track. I also say the rosary when I wake up during the night and I can't fall back to sleep. I take comfort in knowing that my guardian angel finishes it for me, if I fall asleep. I would love to read this book!
I have a private journey involving the Blessed Virgin and the rosary; but I will share that while on that journey, one of my children was born on October 7. I believe that was not a coincidence.
The busyness of life can make it hard to pray the rosary in full, but the Sign of the Cross and the "Hail Mary" is said often in our busy household! JMJ
I actually collect different rosary beads whenever I see them. I have homemade ones, blessed ones, old ones, new ones… but, I never seem to praying the rosary regularly. I would love the book to grow more.
A story… a friend of mine with 4 small children lights a family candle at night and prayers the rosary as a family. While the little kids end up walking around the living room playing with their rosary beads, the rest of the family continues to show by example. While I was staying with them, they still kept with this pratice and just invited me to pray too. It was beautiful to see this as a family.
I pray my first Rosary of the day around 5:45AM before the hustle and bustle of my six children (plus one inside)begin to stir. That one is for me, in the quiet of our bedroom, with a couple of candles lit; sweet husband delivers my first cup of coffee around about the 2nd mystery.
And my second rosary of the day is sometimes blessed by a few minutes of peace in the afternoon, but sometimes not..and is recited as I go about my afternoon tasks. With seven children, I've designated one day/week for each child's needs. I lift up that child in prayer on his/her day and offer all my little sacrifices of the day for whatever it is that child needs.
We pray a family rosary each Sunday afternoon. It's a ritual we cannot skip or our week simply isn't the same.
I would love a copy of this book…oh how I hope it's my number! Thank you Margaret, and Karen!
My husband and I pray the rosary together daily. The kids (little) often join us, but many days we don't have time until they're in bed. My husband, however, fondly remembers hearing his parents pray the rosary together after he'd gone to bed, so I'm sure my kids are listening even when they're not with us. : )
When my husbands grandmother was dying, all 15 of her children were in the hallway of the hospital, on their knees, praying the rosary out loud. I was not a Catholic at the time and was moved to tears from hearing them pray and seeing how much they believed in it. Later, when we were able to see his grandmother, my husband and his uncle began to pray the Rosary and so I said it along with them as much as I could. The only part I knew was, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death." His grandmother (who wasn't able to speak) watched me the whole time with a big smile on her face. A couple days later, she passed away. Pamphlets on how to pray the rosary were passed out at her funeral. I took one and began praying it everyday. Lo and behold, I became a Catholic and received the Sacraments in January 2006. What a blessing it is to be part of the one true faith!
I would love to win this book. please enter me in the drawing. Thank you for your generosity and God bless you!
My loveliest memories involve praying the Rosary as a little girl with my grandmother who shared her love for Mary with me. It was in the dark silence of our overnight visits that awakened in me a deep love of the Rosary. Listening to my grandmother's soft loving voice I knew Mary loved hearing us talk to her. To this day I LOVE praying the Rosary, and find it sometimes the easiest way to calm my heart.
These days my Rosaries are best prayed in the darkness of my daughters' bedroom as they settle down for the night. The same soothing repetition with which I fell in love thanks to my grandmother I pass along to my own girls.
OH I do wish I meditated on it more, though! Great giveaway, Margaret, thanks for sharing your joy with us!
I have to be honest that I've never been good at saying the rosary. It was not something I saw growing up. My mom was devout and active in our parish but didn't have a devotion to the rosary, and my Dad isn't Catholic. I don't know if that's why the only regular family prayer time was grace.
I'd really love to understand the rosary better and to make it a more vital part of of my — and my family's — prayer life.
Thank you for all you do Margaret! I love your blog — your honesty (in big and little things both ood and bad) and your inspiration!
I have found that I pray the Rosary more now than I ever have. I try for 4-5 days a week. The kids and I stay after daily Mass once and a while a pray together. It has been made easier by the fact that I have all the mysteries and prayers memorized, and I let go of having a "physical" rosary to pray on. I use my fingers, sign language number-style (I don't have to remember them, and they are not going to get dropped, pulled on, twisted around a toddler, etc). Lately, I was inspired to begin praying the Rosary aloud as I settle my little guy in at night. I think the prayers calm him. Last night, he slept longer than he ever has.
Margaret, I enjoy you blog. You are an inspiration and a joy to read. Thank you!
Blessings,
Karen
+AMDG+
Ugh…I really dislike typos! Of course, I meant "I enjoy YOUR blog."
We try to pray the rosary every day and I've been trying to say it more than 1 x a day….
I have failed miserably at developing any sort of devotion to the rosary, for a variety of reasons.
I have done the true devotion to Mary consecration, but have never been able to get through a rosary in bed or while driving without nodding off. Not good – especially that driving one!!
Over the past several years have found myself turning to it as the one, fail-safe centering prayer in time of need. Like when we were running out of gas, praying incessant Hail Marys with the kids. Or when we lost our last (4th) baby this summer, I sat and prayed the rosary over and over and over desperate for calm, for the grace to walk again.
But that's just it, I really have only ever prayed it in time of need.
Then on Sunday, we arrived at Mass (gasp!) 25 minutes early!!! So we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood of the church and pray a rosary with the kids. We have NEVER prayed a family rosary together.
We walked hand in hand, he and I, praying and growing in grace.. I felt it. The kids only a skip or two ahead prayed with us as they balanced on railway ties, held hands with one another, stopped to explore a colony of ants. Their little voice waxed and waned with the beauty of a childlike faith that was nearly breathtaking. Each time I caught a faint sound of smallish mouths garbling the words of the Oh My Jesus, or the purgatory prayer, my heart simply soared.
This we have decided is going to be a weekly practice. We will pray this lovely, centering prayer as a family as we stroll before mass.
The book sounds lovely, and if I don't win, I will likely order it. Thanks for sharing.
Now I am going to go read all those comments for some inspiration!
We pray the rosary weekly as a family. I know I could use more reflection on it.
I used to pray the rosary with my mom every day when I was younger. These are some of my favorite memories. As I've gotten older I consider it a 'luxury' to take the time for this devotion. Something I need to do more often. I've very recently included my children in this devotion and it is wonderful to share something with them that has meant so much in my life.
Thank you and your reader for this wonderful opportunity.
We usually pray the rosary together as a family every sunday night. At the moment my 1-year-old cries a lot during the night. So I say the rosary in decades after midnight… It helps to get calmer and be more patient.I have always experienced the rosary to be a very very strong and helpful prayer.
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book!
I stopped back in to read the comments on others' experience with the Rosary … how beautiful and how inspiring! I love it all — from the doubts and struggles to the daily devotion, to the gifts and surprising graces. Every story shares in common one thing: the desire to grow closer to Jesus.
Thank you again, Margaret, for doing this and for drawing out so many inspirational stories.
My mom taught me to say the Rosary (among other times) at night when I couldn’t calm down to go to sleep. In college, I said it in the morning while I got ready for class. Now, with two little ones to tire me out and keep me up late, I use it to get to sleep again, but I don’t usually get very far! It’s a connection now that I’d like to re-establish in a stronger way, I just have to make the time to do it!
The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary is particularly near and dear to our hearts. About six years ago my husband had just finished up law school, we were moving cross country back to our home, I was 34 weeks pregnant with #3, he had no job offers and no prospects… It was Oct. and he had been out of school for six months…had studyied for the bar, had taken the bar (though hadn't gotten the results), and was working as a part-time clerk in a law firm. We were on WIC, food stamps, and Medicaid with barely two pennies to rub together. It was a trying time, but yet a good time. It was the day before the Feast Day of our Lady of the Rosary and we were up at our local Catholic college enjoying treats at the Capp Bar. We ran into a friend who was organizing a perpetual rosary in the chapel for the feast day the next day. She had gotten a late start on the organization of the project so there were many spaces left to be filled. My husband and I decided to claim as many spaces as we could and to plead to our lady to intercede on our behalf for a job for my husband. We delighted in our assignment, taking turns going up to the chapel, spending time with our Lady and our Lord- morning to night. The day after began the same as always, but ended much differently. That day my husband's boss took him out to lunch and offered him a full time position as an attorney in the law firm! That was six years ago. He is still at the same firm, working for the same boss who is a wonderful Catholic family man. He feels blessed everyday to have the job that he does and we owe it all to Our Lady of the Rosary!
Rachel
Everything I read seems to be telling me to pray the rosary… Guess I'd better get off the computer and get on with it!
I have loved the rosary since I converted to Catholicism 22 years ago. I try to recite at least part of it everyday. Unfortunately, I allow my "life" to get in the way of my commitment to the rosary. I would love a copy of this book to jumpstart me into a more consistent devotion.
After all, in every apparition (Lourdes, Fatima, Medugorjge, etc.), Our Blessed MOther has asked us to pray the rosary daily. Now, the Mother of God is personally asking us to do this…do I think she is kidding??
Unfortunatley, I let many days slip by without anchoring it by spending time with my mother. It occured to me one day, that if love really is an act of the will, and not just emotion, then to say that I love Mary would mean that I would make the act of my will to spend this time with her every day. I know that I have been blessed with an inner peace when I have kept the devotion faitfully, and I really need to get back to that place again!
My grandmother gave me my first rosary when I was 14 years old. I never knew people prayed it, as I grew up in a non-practicing Catholic home. Even though it took me about another 10 years to come into the fullness of the Faith, I know that it was this introduction to the rosary, to our Lady, that brought me home. Our Lady also helped repair the relationship between my father and I, through the Rosary. … sooo much more to say, but I'll stop here! 🙂
Renee G.
Hi!
I love this book.
I've bought 4 copies. 3 were gifted and one I read and am lending out.
I would love to win one to keep at home! 🙂
My boyfriend taught me to pray the rosary.
I always knew the gist of it, but not the all the mysteries or the prayers like the "Hail, Holy Queen". And I never prayed it regularly or understood the full breath of its meaning.
Together, we would always pray it before Mass on Sundays. From his example, slowly but surely I began to pray it everyday.
Now that I have gone off to Graduate school, a few hours away from my boyfriend, when I pray the rosary, I am reminded of him.
The rosary gives me nourishment for what seems like a rough road sometimes. It keeps me close to Our Lord, Mary and the Saints.
I feel a void on the days I don't pray it. I feel Mary tugging at my heart!
-Cecilia
P.S. I've collected quite a few little rosary prayer booklets from when I was learning it. I wouldn't mind adding another!
I know someone who is in dire need of this book and I think that if they received it as a gift, they might return to the Catholic faith. This person is an an avid reader.
I go in phases where I pray the rosary every day and where I only pray the rosary once in a while. I am ashamed to admit that I don't enjoy praying it very much, even though I know it is very good for my soul to do so. I know I really need to get back in the habit again…
I've bought 4 copies of this book already, but I've given them all away. I'd like one for my own (although likely I'd end up giving that away too since there are still some other people I know whom I'd like to see read this one…).
My relationship with the Rosary is off again on again. Sometimes I pray it daily, more often I pray it irregularly. I think the best advice that Karen gives is to not think we have to pray it perfectly.
As a convert, the whole Marian thing remains complicated for me.I'm currently attempting to read The Echo of God (Father Lance Harlow's commentary on St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary) because it was chosen by our book group for our November meeting (Father Harlow is a former parochial vicar at our parish). I find Father Harlow's commentary easier than De Montfort's text, but only barely. Karen's book on the other hand makes Marian devotion much more accessible for the average person. I feel when I read Karen's book that it's ok to still be a beginner at this, it's ok to be like a little child approaching their mother. Thanks again, Karen, for a marvelous little book, and thank you, Margaret for giving copies away.
Liz
I have fallen off the rosary wagon and have been searching for some inspiration to get back on. So, here's hoping I win!