Meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 11 Sept 2010)

Last week’s sharing was an introduction to our series of sharings about the Rosary. Today we begin with the beautiful way of praying the Rosary which perhaps some of you are not aware of, which is meditating on the mysteries as reminded to us by St Ignatius of Loyola. This is compiled from an article by Fr Albert Shamon and other sources.

One of the greatest objections to the Rosary is because it is all about thinking. Some will say, “I don’t like to think.” Or “I can’t concentrate on the mysteries.” “My mind will wander off whenever I pray the Rosary, that’s why I quit saying the Rosary.”
 

The trouble here may be that too often, we try to intellectualise the mysteries. We peer into them to extract lessons from them. Rather, St Ignatius said that we should just look at the mysteries of the Rosary imagining we are looking at the scenes of Our Lord’s life, like watching a movie.

 

For example, when you watch a movie, you just look and normally don’t think of how the story applies to you. Later, a friend may ask how you liked it. As you gave your answer, you were unconsciously analysing the picture, without even being aware of it. You were able to draw conclusions about the movie just by looking at it.

So too in the Rosary, just look at the scenes of Our Lord’s life with Our lady for the length of 10 Hail Marys. Like a movie, they will begin to say something to you without your having to do anything but look. While you are looking at the scenes, God is working in your heart.

Let us take an example. Let us meditate on the 5^th Joyful Mystery: the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple…

Are you ready? Ok, we begin: Hail Mary full of grace…. (say as if the Hail Mary is being recited in the background)

The first thought that comes to my mind is the scene of the Child Jesus, 12 years old, walking with Mary and Joseph to the temple in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

Jesus, too, prayed. He said His life was all for His Heavenly Father.

After the Feast was over, everyone returned to their homes, but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. He was discussing with the doctors of the Law, who wondered at His wisdom.

Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph went on their journey home separately. To their horror, they realised that Jesus was not with either of them at the end of the first day.

They went looking for him among relatives and friends but to no avail. Finally, they went back to the temple and were so relieved to find Him there.

Mary approached Jesus and asked Him why He did this. When Jesus replied that He must be about His Father’s business, she didn’t understand, but kept it in her heart.

Wow! Before we can go on to finish the story, we have finished the 10 Hail Marys.

If you just look, almost leisurely, at the scenes of Our Lord’s life, you will reap fruit you never expected. For our sights, God will give us insight.

The 10 Hail Marys are like background music while you are watching Our Lord’s life. Background music helps us when reading or working. We don’t pay much attention to the music, but it helps us. So in praying the Hail Marys, you don’t pay much attention to them; they are the background music to help us contemplate the mysteries of Our Lord’s life.

Having understood or refreshed with this Ignatian method of praying the Rosary, I’m sure you will look forward to next week, when you will hear about how this prayer came about.