“There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the holy rosary.”
- Sister Lucia of Fatima
After a long-overdue confession, the priest gave me a rather longer-than-expected penance, “say a rosary for the souls in purgatory.” My not gracious and holy heart even after receiving the sacrament of confession (aka free Catholic counseling), immediately grumbled, “Really an ENTIRE rosary, not just a decade or even the shorter Divine Mercy Chaplet? (Divine Mercy Chaplet | USCCB).” Although I obviously needed to wait another forty-five minutes for confess again, I instead started an audio of the “Joyful Mysteries” (A Rosary for Life: The Joyful Mysteries | USCCB) rosary while driving home. Later I clumsily finished the third, fourth and fifth mysteries whilst driving with my toddler and baby to a friend’s house. In my distracted and half-hearted attempt, I often lost count of the ten “Hail Mary’s”, my mind frequently wondered away from reflecting on the mysteries (bible and tradition moments such as “the Nativity of the Christ child”) and I frankly don’t prioritize such a ritualistic, monotonous and honestly boring prayer that takes at least twenty minutes to complete.
The Catholic Church explains why the rosary, which pleads for Mary Mother of God’s intercession:
Mary gave her consent in faith at the Annunciation and maintained it without hesitation at the foot of the Cross. Ever since, her motherhood has extended to the brothers and sisters of her Son "who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties." Jesus, the only mediator, is the way of our prayer; Mary, his mother and ours, is wholly transparent to him: she "shows the way" (hodigitria), and is herself "the Sign" of the way, according to the traditional iconography of East and West.”
“Beginning with Mary's unique cooperation with the working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to the holy Mother of God, centering it on the person of Christ manifested in his mysteries. In countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer, two movements usually alternate with one another: the first "magnifies" the Lord for the "great things" he did for his lowly servant and through her for all human beings the second entrusts the supplications and praises of the children of God to the Mother of Jesus, because she now knows the humanity which, in her, the Son of God espoused.”
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 2674, 2675
In mass, as my mind wandered yet again (a frequent condition since popping out two young amazing distractions…), I mediated on my lack of enthusiasm towards the sacred gift of the rosary prayer. As a convert from the Presbyterian church, the whole scripted prayer and Mother Mary relationship bulks against my Protestant foundation. So, as I wondered why even prayer the rosary with my lack of zeal, a revelation washed over me like Holy Water flung from my three-year old’s figures as he crosses himself (light and sudden): “The rosary is a spiritual EXERCISE.”
Why do I exercise? I regularly run, lift weights, and stretch to care for my body. I find such physical effort difficult to start, monotonous, time-consuming and not pleasurable. However, as I embed exercise into my daily routine, I derive some satisfaction during the practice (runners-high is real if you push through). Although, the real reason I regularly exercise: the positive after-effects. Exercise gives my body energy, keeps me in shape, and healthy. Likewise, I find the rosary difficult to start, monotonous, and time-consuming and not-pleasurable. However, I derive some satisfaction during the prayer (the repetition gives a calming soothing effect). Although, the real reason I desire to regularly say the rosary: the positive after-affects. The rosary revives my spirit with grace, keeps me grounded in love, and peace.
So, as I strengthen my body physically, I must use the same discipline to pray the rosary, not as a want but a need that with practice grows into a want. So may we Catholics become spiritually jacked-up with the soul-stretching and strengthening effects of the rosary!
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