The World of Grandpa Don

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The Rosary

I have often said, "I'm not a Rosary person". Something happened recently, or rather, as very often happens, a series of things happened recently that may change that.

I have recently become an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) catechist and we meet at my home each Tuesday evening. Prompted by the Pope's announcement of the addition of another set of mysteries to the Rosary, a candidate said he knew nothing about the Rosary and asked for information. So I did some research and had a little information ready for him for the next meeting. The day before the meeting I received an email from a friend who mentioned that she had renewed interest in the Rosary and that there was an excellent computer program called The Virtual Rosary.

I, of course, looked it up, downloaded it, and became aware of things I had never understood. (Another situation in which I didn't understand every thing I knew about a subject).

I must have been introduced to the Rosary in grade school but I don't remember. All I knew was that it was complicated because you had to memorize these "Mysteries". Then you thought of one of them and repeated a series of prayers while fingering the "magical" beads and of course forgot the "Mystery" about which you should be thinking. To top it off, all this took a long time. I had a picture in my mind of old ladies in black fingering their beads while their lips moved in rapid repetition of their prayers. I never understood how mindless repetition of a prayer got anyone to heaven or accomplished anything. Some of these misconceptions have disappeared over the years and I know that to those who have taken the time to learn, the practice of saying the Rosary can bring them closer to God. So, for them, it was good.

As soon as I viewed the Virtual Rosary I understood. The developer of the program is to be commended for presenting it in all of it's beautiful simplicity. To start, the day of the week is selected and the program chooses the Mystery subject for the day. A window appears which includes a button, the name of the mystery and the decade number. (Decade - a series of ten meditations) Below that is a space for the current prayer to be said. Below that is a space for the part of the mystery, from the Gospel, for that particular bead of the Rosary. A representation of the Rosary is displayed with the particular bead highlighted. A brief instruction is also displayed as necessary.

The 'fore mentioned button "Begin" is pressed and the first prayer and mystery is displayed. The button changes to Amen and pressing it takes you on to the next bead. Now for the great part ... At each "Hail Mary" a different Gospel verse is there on which to meditate. All this time, you have the option of listening to beautiful music.

The Rosary is, in fact, a beautiful way to meditate on the life of Christ and the Gospel. At each bead, you take as long as needed to let the word of God sink in and then follow it with a Hail Mary, which in itself is a beautiful prayer and reflection. There is nothing "magical" about the beads, they are only a way to keep tract of where you are. 

The Virtual Rosary program is a great way to learn about this great prayer. It can be found at www.virtualrosary.org

And about the big objection of my younger days, ... at this time of my life, I am not as miserly with the time I spend being close to God. I will have to get one of several Rosaries that are in the house and use it along with the Virtual Rosary, then maybe I may become a "Rosary person".

Don Plefka
10/21/02

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