We prayed a rosary as a family every night for many years as well, but I’m heartbroken to admit it wasn’t like what you describe here. Too often it was a source of tension and conflict for us. It’s left a deep wound in my relationship with the rosary. It’s made it difficult for me to embrace the worth of praying the rosary even when I can’t do it perfectly. But for my younger siblings, I think that experience has tinged the rosary with an ugly color that nothing short of immense grace can wash clean.
At the same time, there was such deep dysfunction is my family that I can’t help but wonder how much worse it would have been without that lifeline to Our Lady. Even though we prayed the rosary badly, I think that somehow through the mysterious workings of grace, it has still blessed my family.
I don’t know how God’s Grace works. But I do know that Mary loves us so much and does everything she can to keep us close to her Son.
I’m still working out how to recover praying the rosary in my own adult life. Reading this post gives me hope and insight into how my husband and I can implement it into our family life. As always, beautiful words and thank you again for sharing!
I am so glad this was an encouragement to you, Mary-Rita! Like you, I've also had negative experiences with praying the rosary with others--just not in my family or extended family. But I think the insights you shared are valid, and I would encourage you to push through the thorns to get to the roses. Your own family is different, and your experience as a parent and spouse will be different. Trust Our Lady!
This may be the best piece of writing I've ever read on the rosary. It feels convicting too, in light of my own stubborn resistance.
Especially I liked "It can fruitfully occupy the mind drawn to dangerous resentments or depression," as I've experienced myself in lesser bouts with the blues. Turns out a single decade will do the job if you're having trouble falling asleep.
I liked also "The rosary is the perfect 'spinal column' to any family prayer." There's your way with words again!
And I loved the three children's drawings you included. I used to let younger kids color and draw in my own teaching days, and it worked like a charm in keeping most of them engaged through the ebb and flow of class discussions.
Three cheers for your husband winning that argument long ago!
We prayed a rosary as a family every night for many years as well, but I’m heartbroken to admit it wasn’t like what you describe here. Too often it was a source of tension and conflict for us. It’s left a deep wound in my relationship with the rosary. It’s made it difficult for me to embrace the worth of praying the rosary even when I can’t do it perfectly. But for my younger siblings, I think that experience has tinged the rosary with an ugly color that nothing short of immense grace can wash clean.
At the same time, there was such deep dysfunction is my family that I can’t help but wonder how much worse it would have been without that lifeline to Our Lady. Even though we prayed the rosary badly, I think that somehow through the mysterious workings of grace, it has still blessed my family.
I don’t know how God’s Grace works. But I do know that Mary loves us so much and does everything she can to keep us close to her Son.
I’m still working out how to recover praying the rosary in my own adult life. Reading this post gives me hope and insight into how my husband and I can implement it into our family life. As always, beautiful words and thank you again for sharing!
What an honest reply, Mary-Rita! And in its way an encouragement to one like me with mixed feelings and a short attention span.
I am so glad this was an encouragement to you, Mary-Rita! Like you, I've also had negative experiences with praying the rosary with others--just not in my family or extended family. But I think the insights you shared are valid, and I would encourage you to push through the thorns to get to the roses. Your own family is different, and your experience as a parent and spouse will be different. Trust Our Lady!
Wow.
Just wow.
This may be the best piece of writing I've ever read on the rosary. It feels convicting too, in light of my own stubborn resistance.
Especially I liked "It can fruitfully occupy the mind drawn to dangerous resentments or depression," as I've experienced myself in lesser bouts with the blues. Turns out a single decade will do the job if you're having trouble falling asleep.
I liked also "The rosary is the perfect 'spinal column' to any family prayer." There's your way with words again!
And I loved the three children's drawings you included. I used to let younger kids color and draw in my own teaching days, and it worked like a charm in keeping most of them engaged through the ebb and flow of class discussions.
Three cheers for your husband winning that argument long ago!