Rosary — Repetition vs Meditation

In the early days of the Catholic Church, there was a dilemma. The majority of the faithful were uneducated peasants. They could not read the Scriptures. They could not study theology. They were immersed in violence and confusion, in debates on heresies that were a mystery to them. They did not need the complex intellectualization of theologians and philosophers or the strict rules of monasteries.

But their biggest asset was — they could pray. Faith was based on the simplicity of prayers. The Virgin chose peasants, mostly children, to be the visionaries of the Church who would announce to the world her prophecies and messages, not the intellectual, educated cardinals and bishops, who were often paradoxically the hindrance to the Virgin’s goal of reaching out. This was true in Fatima with the three children visionaries, in Guadalupe with the peasant farmer, and many other Marian apparitions through the centuries.

The rosary was the perfect solution to the dilemma of peasant prayer. The intellectuals and the educated objected, saying the rosary was boring and the repetition made them prone to distraction from the tasks of the day and the problems of life. But not for the uneducated. They were somehow focused on the Virgin, praying for food on the table, healing for their children by simply praying the rosary. There was no need to articulate one’s prayer.

This was how the power of the rosary evolved — until finally it was embraced by the rich and educated.

In school as children, we were proud to wear the blue rosary medal during October, the month of the rosary. We were taught to always carry a rosary in our pocket as a form of protection from accidents and sickness. To this day, I, a septuagenarian, carry a rosary in my pocket.

By the 12th century A.D., Marian devotion had spread rapidly across Europe. The Angel’s greeting, “Hail Mary, full of grace” (Luke 1:28), and Elizabeth’s blessing, “Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:42), were slowly combined into a single prayer. The Hail Mary was born.

Slowly, the rosary evolved into not just repetition, but reflection. As the words linger in your mind, you meditate. It is a form of conversation with the Virgin, especially for the uneducated. The monks may prefer to intimately talk straight to Jesus and Mary. That is good for them. But the simplicity of true faith understands that repetition is mediation.

A Story on the Power of the Rosary

GRAMPS: What’s up, guys?

LINDA: I prayed for Jeffrey, the bully who always harassed me. When I bumped into him, I clutched my rosary in my pocket. You know what? He smiled at me, and I gave him a high five. Now we are friends.

GRAMPS: The rosary works wonders.

LEILA: Gramps, I need another rosary. I gave mine to Liz because her mother had terminal cancer. You know what? After we prayed a decade for her during the break, when she got home her mother said all her pain had vanished.

GRAMPS: Wow. How nice.