I love praying the rosary. We became praying pals, the rosary and I, when I was a new mom. I had a challenging transition to motherhood (thankfully nothing too serious) involving a NICU stay, an at-home biliblanket, a fussier-than-normal baby, and a dose of postpartum depression. When Bear was baptized, our parish gave us a basket that was filled with items such as a baby blanket, pacifier, socks, a snack bucket, rosary and a Mother’s Manual. My mom had taught me how to pray the rosary when I was preparing to receive my First Holy Communion, but we never prayed it as a family and I hadn’t really ever prayed it since then. But I was a new mom who was struggling, wishing for a manual. And then one appeared! I simply read the prayers in the book – consecrating myself and my baby to Mary, even though I didn’t really know what that meant. I started praying the rosary with the mysteries for the first time and struggled to keep them all straight. To help me remember the order and what days went with what, I attached petitions to them. Whether new or comfortable with the rosary, I hope sharing a piece of how I pray helps you to fall more in love with Mary and Jesus!
Here is an example of what I do while praying the Luminous Mysteries:
- The Baptism of the Lord: I pray for all my children and godchildren by name on each bead. Bear, Katie, Olivia, Pepper, Nora, Anthony, Marley, Eddie, Imogen. My 10th bead is a double: Ike and Liam, for the two godchildren my husband has but I have no spiritual authority over.
If you don’t have children or godchildren you could pray for families/people preparing for baptism. You could pray with the line from Scripture, “This is my Son, with Him I am well pleased” and ask for God’s help to take action in things pleasing to Him today. - The Wedding Feast at Cana: I pray for all couples preparing for marriage, or coming up on an anniversary. You can also pray for a special couple by name.
Sometimes, I will pray with the line, “I have no wine” and I ask the Lord for miracles. Other times, I will contemplate Mary’s fierce friendship with the wedding hosts and ask for help for a friend, or help being a friend.
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom: I pray for all priests, that they may have the courage to preach the Gospel boldly and lovingly. I will pray for priests by name and specifically for our archdiocese. I also pray for my mom. I am not sure how she got this decade, but it’s a joy to pray for her.
This could also be a decade where you pray a bead per beatitude, and the last two beads asking the Lord to draw out those that He wants you to dwell on. - The Transfiguration: I ask the Lord to transform my heart to be like His. In this decade, I pray for myself. It is the only one I allow to be just for me and my journey to heaven. Our love with Jesus is personal, and I don’t feel bad about not praying for anyone or anything else during these 10 Hail Marys!
This could be a decade to invite your favorite saint or your guardian angel to pray with you. Moses and Elijah were with Jesus on the mountain top and they were conversing. Those in Heaven are fully alive!! Pray with them! - The Institution of the Eucharist: I pray for those preparing for the sacrament of First Holy Communion. I might also pray by name for someone who has asked me to pray for them that our Eucharistic Lord would heal and comfort them. I have a special devotion to the souls in purgatory and will pray for them during this decade sometimes, too. However, this could be another time to pray for our priests, who are the only ones able to give us the Eucharist. Pray specifically for more holy priests dedicated to the Eucharist.