"Pray the rosary." What does this mean?

As a Christian who does "pray the rosary," I hope I can give you an accurate answer.

The rosary is a type of prayer called a meditative prayer, yet it also involves worshipful prayer and intercessory prayer as well. The main point is to meditate on certain mysteries of Christ's life. I'll explain these further.

The first set of mysteries is called the Joyful Mysteries. They are 1) the Annunciation, whereby we think about the angel coming to tell Mary she'll bear the Savior; 2) the Visitation, whereby we dwell on Mary's visit to Elizabeth, the mother of John the baptists, and how the Holy Spirit influenced that meeting; 3) the Nativity gets us thinking about the birth of Jesus; 4) the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple reminds us of the Jewish Laws and about Simeon and Anna; & 5) the Finding of Jesus at the Temple shows us that Jesus was always about His Father's business.

The second set is called the Luminous Mysteries and focus on Jesus' ministry. They are as follows: 1) Jesus' Baptism, 2) the Wedding Feast at Cana (Jesus' 1st miracle), 3) Jesus' Proclaiming the Kingdom during His earthly ministry, 4) the Transfiguration on the mount, & 5) the Establishment of the Eucharist, or Communion Supper.

The third set, the Sorrowful Mysteries, deals with the Crucifixion: 1) The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, 2) the Scourging at the Pillar, 3) Jesus is Crowned with Thorns and Mocked, 4) Jesus carries His own Cross, & 5) Jesus dies on the Cross.

The final set celebrates the Glorious Mysteries and Jesus' triumph over sin & death: 1) The Resurrection, 2) the Ascension, 3) the Manifestation of the Holy Spirit, 4) the Assumption of Mary's Body, & 5) Mary Crowned Queen of Heaven. [Please note that these last two are not of Protestant doctrine, but they may be replaced with 4) The Rapture, & 5) The Second Coming of Jesus instead.]

The formula for the rosary prayer is this: begin with the crucifix and recite the Apostles Creed. On the next single bead, pray the Lord's Prayer, or Our Father. On the next trio of beads, pray a Hail Mary or, if so inclined, the Jesus Prayer [Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.] On the bead before the Y, say the name of the first mystery of the set you're contemplating and follow it with a Lord's Prayer. Then skip the intersection and move to the first bead on the left to begin the first "decade" of either Hail Marys or Jesus Prayers. After all 10, say the Glory Be [Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.] and the Fatima Prayer [Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.] Move to the next single bead to name the 2nd mystery, recite the Lord's Prayer, and repeat for all five mysteries. Once you reach the end (the Y intersection), finish with the Hail Holy Queen. Again, if you're not comfortable with this, recite Psalm 23 instead.

As you can see, the rosary is not a prayer to Mary, about Mary, or anything like that. It is a contemplative prayer meant to keep the life and teachings of Jesus "hidden away in our hearts" so that we might draw closer to Him. It's a little difficult to learn something new, yes, and we must be very careful not to let the repetition become meaningless ramblings; we must mean everything we say when praying. I would encourage you to at least think about the mysteries of the rosary, for they truly contain the whole of the Gospel in a brief format, even if you decide not to become involved in praying the whole rosary.

If you do decide, the normal schedule for the mysteries is this: Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday (crucifixion day), Joyful on Saturday, Glorious on Sunday (resurrection day), Joyful again on Monday, Sorrowful again on Tuesday, Glorious again on Wednesday, and Luminous on Thursday. However, in private you may use a more chronological sequence.

A rosary is like a necklace and everytimje a certain prayer is said, the person adds another bead to the rosary as a kind of bragging, look how many times I prayed. The practice is not scriptural.

I don't pray the rosary, so I don't know aside from the facts that there are at leasr 54 stations to complete the " pray the rosary ".

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RE:

"Pray the rosary." What does this mean?

it's when you say a catholic mantra for each bead of the rosary string ( ya know the beads with the cross that Madonna used to wear) usually if not always it's for penance after confessing your sins. so you confess that you lied or whatever and then the priest gives you a punishment like you have to say 20 hail Mary's

Buddhist have pray beads too. but the use it for meditation , not punishment.

Don't pray the rosary, but pray in Jesus name according to scripture.

John 14:13

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

http://www.familyrosary.org/en/TheRosary/HowToPray...

or

http://oswc.org/RosaryTutorial/

There are Fifteen Promises of the Virgin Mary to those who recite the Rosary (Revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan):

1) Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2) I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3) The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4) It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5) The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6) Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying themselves to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise them in His justice, they shall not perish by an unprovided death; if they be just, they shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7) Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8) Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.

9) I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10) The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11) You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12) All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13) I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14) All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.

15) Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

all these promises are true and can be counted on

peace

Pray the Rosary ....transform your life

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Dear Member of the Roman Catholic Church,

The Roman Catholic Church says it never changes; yet, it invents new doctrines which are contrary to the Bible, and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken bodily from paganism. Some scholar has found that 75% of the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Church are of pagan origin.

The Sign of the Cross, the use of wax candles, incense and holy water, praying to angels and deceased saints, the false doctrine of purgatory (established by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century) and praying for the dead are all rooted in paganism and were adopted into the R.C. Church centuries after the death of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly tells us that souls who have passed on go either to eternal paradise or to eternal torment (Matthew 25:46), so praying for the dead does not help them.

The Papacy is of pagan origin and the title of “pope” which means “father” is given to the bishop of Rome who is the leader of the worldwide R.C. Church. In Matthew 23:9, the Lord Jesus Christ warns that giving the title of “father” to human spiritual teachers is a sin because we are to look only to our Heavenly Father for ultimate truth and power.

Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any such notion. (Read Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians 3:11). There is no mention in Scripture or history that Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that "there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome."

The kissing of the Pope's feet was adopted in the 8th century. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).

Canonization of dead saints was first established by Pope John XV in 993. Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible. (Read Romans 1:7; 1st Colossians 1:2).

In the 11th century, Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII was the first pope in centuries to rigorously enforce the Roman Church’s ancient policy of celibacy of the priesthood. Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the contrary, St. Peter was a married man, and St. Paul says that bishops were to have wife and children. (Read 1st Timothy 3:2, 5, and 12; Matthew 8:14-15).

In the 13th century, the adoration of the wafer (Host) was decreed by Pope Honorius. So the Roman Church worships a God made by human hands. This is plain idolatry and absolutely contrary to the spirit of the Gospel. (Read John 4:24).

A few years later, the Bible was forbidden to laymen and placed in the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia. Jesus commanded that the Scriptures should be read by all. (Read John 5:39; 1st Timothy 3:15-17).

In the 15th century the Roman Catholic Church forbade also the cup to the laity. The Bible commands us to celebrate the Lord's Supper with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. (Read Matthew 26:27; 1st Corinthians 11:26-29).

The Creed of Pope Pius IV was imposed as the official creed 1560 years after Christ and the apostles. True Christians retain the Holy Scriptures as their creed – which is 1500 years older than the creed of Roman Catholics. (Read Galatians 1:8).

In the year 1870 after Christ, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of PAPAL INFALLIBILITY. This is a blasphemy and the sign of the apostasy and of the Antichrist predicted by St. Paul. (Read 2nd Thessalonians 2:2-12; Revelation 17:1-9; 13:5-8, 18). Many Bible scholars see the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), 666 in the Roman letters of the Pope's title: "VICARIVS FILII DEI."

In the 19th century, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX. The Bible states that all men, with the sole exception of Christ, are sinners. Mary herself had need of a Savior. (Read Romans 3:23; 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Luke 1:30, 46, 47).

In the year 1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Centuries ago, titles used for Isis (the pagan deity of darkness, witchcraft and chaos) by her devotees such as “Mother of God”, “Queen of Heaven” and “Ocean Star” were given to Mary, and Isis and Horus temples were converted to Mary and Jesus temples.

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:18-19).

The Queen of Heaven is mentioned four times in Jeremiah 44 and this chapter tells us that God’s wrath and punishment fell on the Israelites because they were worshipping the Queen of Heaven as well as other gods.

“Queen of Heaven”, “Ocean Star”, “Mother of God” and “Star of the Sea” are titles given to the demon Isis by her devotees. “Mediatrix of All Graces”, “Queen of Peace” and “Queen of the Rosary” are also false titles for Mary and if you call her by these titles you will upset her and provoke God.

As for the entity who appeared to the visionaries in Medjugorje and claimed to be a protector and mediator between persons and God, and requested Feast Days to be held in her honour and the daily chanting of the Rosary, it could have never been Mary the humble and blessed servant of God who birthed our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that evil spirits can appear as benevolent beings.

The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090. This has been copied from Hindus and Mohammedans. The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13). Also, Mary is not the mediator between people and God. The Lord Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity is the true mediator between human beings and God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The following verses show that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:46-50).

In the above verses we see that although Mary wanted to see Jesus, He didn't go to her right away but continued preaching. It is plain to see that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary. Also, Lord Jesus who is the second person of the Godhead (the Holy Trinity) points out that He has several mothers, sisters and brothers. Lord Jesus is related to all those who do the will of God. So, are you part of God’s family or are you incurring God’s wrath through false beliefs and sinful practices?

HERESIES are those doctrines and practices which are contrary to the Bible. They are also called "human traditions" or "doctrines of men". Both Peter and Paul predicted and warned that in the later times "false teachers" would rise within the Church and bring in "damnable heresies" and "doctrines of devils". (Read 2nd Peter 2:1-3, and 1st Timothy 3:2-5). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, for they transgressed the commandments of God by keeping their traditions. “in vain,” He said, "they worship me by keeping for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9).

BRETHREN! The Word of God commands us to get out of Babylon, saying: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4). All true Christians will remain faithful to the religion of Christ as taught in the Bible, and heed the warning of the Apostle Paul, who said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8).

With Love,

Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ