The Rosary: Shortcut to Our Lord Jesus
Arthur Policarpio
Many non-Catholics are surprised and even frustrated that Catholics place so much emphasis on praying the rosary.
Why recite the rosary when you can pray straight to Christ? Why pray the Catholic rosary to a mere human person when you can go straight to God? The Catholic Church teaches many reasons why we should value the rosary and recite it diligently every day. As a point of fact, next to the Holy Mass, the rosary, the prayer of predilection of the Virgin Mary is the most powerful Catholic prayer.
The rosary is the prayer specifically requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this "era of Mary" highlighted by hundreds of reported apparitions all throughout the world, there is a common thread in the messages: her invitation that we recite the rosary on a daily basis. Our Mother moreso emphasizes that we pray it every day with the family.
Our Mother has pledged to Saint Dominic that she will grant all requests we make through the rosary. Among the Fifteen Promises of Our Mother to those who say the Rosary, the Virgin promised that she will answer all our petitions made through the rosary - of course, under the assumption that our petition is in conformity with God's will.
The rosary is a meditative prayer, and as such, helps us mentally, physically and emotionally calm down. Science has shown that people who make prayer a regular part of their daily lives actually enjoy the benefits of a longer life - a fact that has been demonstrated in various scientific analyses, results of which have appeared in many mainstream publications. Perhaps the explanation for this is that prayer, particularly meditative prayers such as the holy rosary, helps us to reduce our stress and experience interior peace and calm. The rosary not just a verbal prayer; it is more than just saying the Hail Mary's. The holy rosary in essence is reflection on the very life of Jesus - as contained in the twenty mysteries.
The rosary is the best way to bring us to Jesus. The rosary is very much a a prayer centered on the Person of Jesus. In fact, meditation on the rosary is in reality meditation on Jesus' entire life, contained in the 20 mysteries. Together with reading the bible, praying the rosary on a regular basis will help us penetrate the Person of Christ better, every single day.
The Mother wants nothing less than to bring us to her Son. More than that, the Mother wants to mould us into the image and likeness of her Son - what better way to become more and more like Jesus, than to reflect and meditate on His life, through the rosary?
About the Author
Mr. Arthur Policarpio is a Catholic writer and Editor of a Catholic Website on the Blessed Virgin Mary
Arthur Policarpio may be contacted at http://www.all-about-the-virgin-mary.com.
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