Meditating on the Mysteries
Why and How
Some persons find praying the Rosary difficult, because they do not understand the manner in which the vocal and mental prayer of the Rosary is to be combined. The vocal prayers are sometimes called the BODY of the Rosary, while the mental prayer (meditation) is its SOUL. While the lips are uttering the words of the Hail Marys, the mind should dwell on some aspect of the mystery being considered. For example, for the first sorrowful mystery, while the lips are uttering the Hail Marys, the mind dwells on our Lord’s agony in the garden of Gethsemani. We are not meant to focus our attention on the Hail Marys. The ten Hail Marys are a measuring device to determine the length of time to reflect on this incident in the passion of Jesus.
Others have difficulty in keeping their mind on the mystery of the Rosary they are praying. The mind tends to wander, and distracting thoughts enter in. To help solve that problem is the precise purpose of our booklet "Praying the Rosary Without Distrations", which this app is based on. For each of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary there are ten brief points of reflection, to help keep one’s attention focused on the mystery in question, in addition to the colorful picture of each mystery. It is not necessary to dwell on all ten points of reflection, but one may choose to do so. One may feel free to dwell on as many or as few as is found helpful. For example, one could spend the whole decade on two, or three, or four points of reflection (or all 10), depending on how his devotion leads him. Of course there are countless other points of reflection that could be used for each mystery.
The question is sometimes asked, why, of all the incidents in our Lord’s life, the Rosary considers only these particular twenty. The mysteries of the Rosary are based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgy. There is a parallel between the main feasts honoring our Lord and His Mother in the liturgical year, and the twenty mysteries of the Rosary. Consequently, one who recites the twenty mysteries of the Rosary in one day, reflects on the whole liturgical cycle that the Church commemorates during the course of each year. That is why some of the popes have referred to the Rosary as a compendium of the Gospel.