Rosary
by Rev. Albert Rung
E-15 ROSARY
Another prayer, which might be practiced by many daily, is the rosary. The rosary is the universal prayer, the prayer of the rich and the prayer of the poor, the prayer of the learned and the prayer of the unlettered, the prayer of the just and that of the sinner, all find help and solace in Mary's distinctive prayer. To the uninitiated, the rosary may seem monotonous with its ever recurring Pater and Ave, but to those who have prayed the rosary often, there is no monotony, but a prayer ever old and ever new. The rosary were perhaps tedious if only a vocal prayer, but it is more, it is a combination of vocal prayer and meditation. The sets of mysteries and the change of mystery for each decade offer a source of thought which allows no place for weariness. Each time the rosary is said new reflections and lights fill the soul, making Mary's chaplet a veritable storehouse of spiritual delight, instruction and consolation. Those who have the habit of saying it daily seldom give it up. As the years pass on, the rosary becomes ever dearer and dearer to them. The time spent in saying the rosary becomes a real pleasure for them, and they would no more think of missing the rosary than missing a meal. So the practice becomes entwined in their lives. And the result? The longer the habit has been in vogue, the greater security they feel in gaining their salvation, for who can imagine that Mary will desert those in death who have repeated so often and confidingly: "Pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen." Surely all the Fathers of the Church and the many saints devoted to Mary must be wrong if those who devotedly pray the rosary daily shall be lost. Either the habit will be discontinued, or, if continued, the person will be saved. What an incentive daily to pray the rosary! Were the offer made that for spending one quarter of an hour each day in a pleasant task, a reward would be given which would last forever, who would not seize the opportunity, and consider himself fortunate to gain so great a reward for so little labor. The offer is virtually made, for it has always been accepted as a truth in the Church, that those who honor Mary in life will not be deserted by her at death's call. A habit again which to acquire must be consistently practiced daily and soon it will be found to be not at all burdensome nor wearisome.
The
first rule of life of the Catholic, then, is to pray regularly and constantly.
"Live the life of prayer; earn to bring everything, to change everything into
prayer; pains and trials and temptations of all kinds."
"Pray in the calm; pray in the storm;
Pray on awakening; pray during
daytime;
Going and coming, pray;
Tired out and distracted, ;ray;
Whatsoever your repugnance may be, pray;
Pray that you may learn to pray."
"Teach us, O Lord, how to pray."