The rosary was popularized by Saint Dominic (1170-1221) who is said
to have received it from the Blessed Virgin in opposition of the Albigensian
heresy.
The monks during medieval times had adopted the practice of daily
praying the 150 Psalms,[2] being
divided into three sets of 50 each. On a consideration that several lay
brothers of these orders [3] were
illiterate and could not read the psalms, the practice of reciting the Our Father 50 times had been the
practice. This turned to be the "poor man's breviary."[4] which had been propagated to the laity, and as
time went on other easily remembered prayers were added.
The Holy Rosary was developed into its present form which
consists of the Apostle's Creed, the Our Father,
the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
The rosary is not just a Catholic prayer; many members of other
denominations (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam)[5] also
pray this meditative prayer.[6] (Catechism
of the Catholic Church CCC 2708; 2708)
The Rosary beads and the significance of ten Hail Mary's per
decade:
The word "bead" is taken from the Middle English
"bede" which formerly meant "prayer." The beads of the rosary
are employed to keep track of the prayers.
During the ancient times, beads were simply pebbles which were
transferred from one pocket to another.
As organized, the Our Father is prayed on the
solitary beads that separate the groups of ten beads (the decades), the Hail
Mary is prayed on each of the ten beads of the decade, then the Glory
Be is prayed on the solitary bead separating the decades; the whole
process is then repeated. A set of fifty Hail Mary's with the Our
Father's and Glory Be's, makes up one circuit of the beads
on most rosary sets today. As each decade (ten Hail Mary's) is recited, the
person
contemplates one of the events of Jesus' and Mary's life; so that upon
finishing one circuit of the beads, five events have been meditated and fifty
psalms (represented by the Hail Mary's) have been honored.
Although Hail Mary is addressed to Mary, the prayer’s
concentration is to God and therefore a God’s command as the significance of
praying is taught in the Scriptures: "Hail (Mary), full of
grace, the Lord is with you" is the greeting of the angel
Gabriel at the annunciation (Luke
1:28). "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb (Jesus)" is Elizabeth's greeting to
Mary at the visitation (Luke
1:42). "Holy Mary, Mother of God" (Luke 1:43) addresses the person to
whom we are speaking using the title accorded her during the 5th century (Theotokos
- Mother of God).[7]. "Pray
for us" is a request for prayer to God; similar from asking a
neighbor to pray for us except that Mary is already in heaven. (Mark
12:18-27, Matthew
22:23-33). "Sinners now, and at the time of our
death" is recognition of our sinful status and the times when
the prayer to God are appealed in our behalf (1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16). The two most significant times in our
lives: Now, because of acknowledging sinful nature and
yearning for God's help to transform it; At the time of our death,
because subsequently we will be judged and will be most needful of His mercy.
In conclusion, any wife never limits her husband to just say “I
love you” three times making an excuse that her ears are irritated of repeated
articulation, the same with God who does not limit His creations to limit our attachment
in prayers as He says, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
The key in praying are the words that come from the heart but not
its frequency. The Holy Rosary is not about "wearisome repetition" so
that God will hear us but to be sure of concentration while contemplating on
the most important mysteries of the Faith. These prayers are either from
Scripture, or from the greatest minds and souls who have ever walked the earth
who have gone before us, which are theologically correct and spiritually rich.
Everybody should be aware the real possibility against danger on mindlessly
repeating the Rosary or other devotions. However, falling a prey to “vain
repetition” in prayer does not derive from “saying the same words” repeatedly
in prayer as the Lord prayed the same thing (Mark
14:39) but because of not praying from the heart and truly
entering into the great devotions that the Holy Mother
Church provides, an important role in the spiritually nourished life.
References:
[1] Do Catholics Pray "Vain Repetitions?" Tim
Staples http://www.catholic.com/blog/tim-staples/do-catholics-pray-vain-repetitions
[2] Books of the Bible in Canonical Order, http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm#Psalms)
[3] What
are the Differences Between Religious Orders?)http://www.religious-vocation.com/differences_religious_orders.html
[4] Liturgy
of the Hours / Divine Office / Breviary https://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWGILH.HTM
[5] Bible
questions and answers http://www.neverthirsty.org/pp/corner/read1/r00411.html
[6] Catechism
of the Catholic Church CCC 2678 ; 2708 http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
[7] Mary, Our Mother in the Order of Grace http://www.catholicfaithandreason.org/mary-our-mother-in-the-order-of-grace.html
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