Quote for the Day: Holy Rosary

[Maria Margaret]

I have a question for you guys about the rosary: When you pray it, do you let the crucifix dangle, or do you hold it in your hand (or place it in your lap?) I was taught to never let the crucifix dangle, because it is very disrespectful, but then when I see others pray it, they let it dangle. Even the Pope does! So I was wondering, because I'm always so worried about letting it dangle, but if it's alright, then I won't worry! 

Hehe, sorry about such a silly question, but I wanted to know if anybody else was taught this!

Oh, and a meditation on the Annunciation: I was thinking about Mary's very first response to the angel, her very first question. She asked how; not why, or when, but how. She didn't ask why, because she knew that she was God's, and he could do what he liked with her; she didn't ask, and it was a perfect display of acceptance of His will, of humility and obedience. She didn't ask when because the Lord works in His own time, not ours. She only asked how. Now, why she asked how, I don't really have an explanation-but I loved thinking about the why and when!

Blessed Virgin, ora pro nobis!

[Brigid]

I have a question for you guys about the rosary: When you pray it, do you let the crucifix dangle, or do you hold it in your hand (or place it in your lap?) I was taught to never let the crucifix dangle, because it is very disrespectful, but then when I see others pray it, they let it dangle. Even the Pope does! So I was wondering, because I'm always so worried about letting it dangle, but if it's alright, then I won't worry!  

Hehe, sorry about such a silly question, but I wanted to know if anybody else was taught this!

Oh, and a meditation on the Annunciation: I was thinking about Mary's very first response to the angel, her very first question. She asked how; not why, or when, but how. She didn't ask why, because she knew that she was God's, and he could do what he liked with her; she didn't ask, and it was a perfect display of acceptance of His will, of humility and obedience. She didn't ask when because the Lord works in His own time, not ours. She only asked how. Now, why she asked how, I don't really have an explanation-but I loved thinking about the why and when!

Blessed Virgin, ora pro nobis!

As far as your question - I usually let it dangle. In none of the apparitions of Mary of which I'm familiar does she state this and I question whether letting it dangle is disrespectful. I know that when religious pray the Rosary, that I've seen, they let it dangle also.

I love your explanation of your meditation of the First Mystery. It is one of the mysteries that really show the humility that we should learn.

[Maria Margaret]

Ah, thank you, Brigid! That's what I figured. It must just be a 'thing' around here then, to not let it dangle. The Catechists here always love to say- "Don't let it dangle!" But in every other culture, it's the norm to do so. Hm, strange.

[martin]

I notice too Maria Margaret that in all the depictions of Our Lady of Lourdes the crucifix on her beads is dangling. I never heard of that custom of clutching the cross while praying the rosary but I do find myself doing that on occasions.

[Patricia]

I like saying the 5 decade Rosary with my children every evening. To calm them down I light candles and turn off the lights and we sit before the altar. We take turns leading with the decades so that no one goes off to sleep and Lilo sits with us too!!    Only one absent is my teenager so we offer the Rosary for her . Buster is absent too because he is too disruptive and can't sit still like Lilo.    I offer this forum family's intentions  during that time. 

[Brigid]

 

[BrotherPaulMary]

Keep up the good work.

I really wish I could help putting up rosary meditations. Father Z's forum has a list of
meditations for the various mysteries.

God Bless

[Patricia]

My son was complaining that he couldn't contemplate on Mysteries while saying the Rosary. So before each decade I ask them for a fact about each Mystery and add my own.  For example for the last Sorrowful Mystery yesterday, my son said that He was crucified between two crosses of thieves so that He was regarded as no different from a criminal. My daughter remembered that he was buried in a borrowed tomb, that there was an ( thunderstorm? ) earthquake when Jesus died etc. 

I found this very helpful for them with at least beginning with meditation on the Mysteries.

[Patricia]

"One who says the Rosary alone one gains the merit of one Rosary, but if he says it together with thirty other people he gains the merit of thirty Rosaries. This is the law of common prayer. How profitable, how advantageous!"

~~ St. Louis de Montfort

"When the Rosary is said in common, it is far more frightening to the devil than one said privately, because it constitutes an army that is attacking him."

~~ St. Louis de Montfort

[Patricia]

"The Daily Rosary has had so many enemies that I regard the grace of persevering in it until death as one of the greatest favors God can give us."

~~St. Louis de Montfort

[Patricia]

Patricia, you were curious what I meditate on for the Fifth Mystery - since I'm a convert and didn't have Jesus in the Tabernacle or in the Eucharist before, I meditate on finding Him in the Church/church.

Thanks Brigid. This has been useful to me to meditate on finding Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the fifth Joyful Mystery. 

[martin]

“Look, Father, the Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Holy Rosary.  She has given this efficacy to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the religious communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations that cannot be solved by the Rosary.  There is no problem I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.  With the Holy Rosary, we will save ourselves.  We will sanctify ourselves.  We will console Our Lord and obtain the salvation of many souls.”

Sister Lucia of Fatima:

I came across this quote in a little rosary booklet and thought I'd share it. 
 

 

[Patricia]

Joyfulmother, found this thread on the Holy Rosary. We could add to this thread this month of May and encourage each other in praying the Rosary. 

[Shin]

'Just as the Angelic Salutation gave glory to the Blessed Trinity, it is also the very highest praise that we can give to Mary.'

St. Louis Marie de Montfort

[George]

If you look diligently at Mary, there is nothing of virtue, nothing of beauty, nothing of splendor or glory which does not shine in her.
St. Jerome

Woman of silence, given to listening;
docile in the hands of the Father.
BL. Pope John Paul II

[Shin]

'"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee!" No creature has ever said anything that was more pleasing to me, nor will anyone ever be able to find or say to me anything that pleases me more.'

Our Lady to St. Mechtilde