The Rosary – It Is Like Carrying the Gospel in Your Hands!

Religious Life and the Rosary – The Carthusian Way

Mary is considered principal Patron of the Carthusian Order.

Over the past several months I have been doing some in-depth study into religious life and the life of the Church. Many of the devotions and customs in the Catholic faith come from religious communities of monks and nuns who devote their entire life to prayer in service of the Lord. The standard rosary was handed down from Saint Dominic and the Dominican order. The Franciscan, Servite and Brigittine orders developed other versions of the rosary. There are shorter “chaplets” that concentrate specifically on the Passion of our Lord contributed by the Camaldolese (a Benedictine order). A chaplet that has expanded beyond the beads is the Way of the Cross. This devotion is illustrated in all Catholic Churches and some Protestant denominations as the Stations of Cross and incorporates prayers, readings and meditations for each scene of the Crucifixion.

One version of the rosary fascinated me and has expanded my personal devotion to Christ and His blessed Mother. This devotion is called, ‘The Life of Christ Rosary,’ also known as the Carthusian Rosary. The Carthusian religious order is one of the strictest observing religious orders in the world. The order has remained almost the same in their religious observance for the past 900 years. The rosary that is associated with this order is attributed to Saint Dominic of Prussia (not to be confused with Saint Dominic of the Dominicans). “The primary difference between the Life of Christ Rosary and the Dominican . . . are the structure of the mysteries. The Dominican has 20 mysteries, divided into four sets of five.” The Life of Christ Rosary consists of 50 mysteries prayed along with 50 Hail Mary prayers. It is prayed on the same 5-decade rosary. Each mystery is inserted into the Hail Mary prayer. For example, the first prayer would go as follows;

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed in the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, conceived in you by the Holy Spirit during the annunciation of the angel. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

Each bead has its own mystery. Every decade is a meditation on the events of the life, passion and resurrection of our Lord.

First Decade (His birth)

Second Decade (His youth and public ministry)

Third Decade (His passion)

Fourth Decade (His crucifixion)

Fifth Decade (His resurrection)

This rosary takes longer than one might think. There are, of course, the prayers that proceed and follow the decades. This version of the rosary is like carrying the gospel in your hands.

I will go into greater detail in a future post. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free. I hope you all have had a happy Thanksgiving. Have a blessed Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ave Maria!

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, protect and save the unborn!

Reference: Frattarelli, Daniel, 2012, The Life of Christ Rosary (also known as the Carthusian Rosary). 

Addendum: The following is a link to a webpage with a list of meditations for the Life of Christ Rosary.

More Reflections on the "Our Father" Prayer: Part Two

The Lord’s Prayer “is truly the summary of the whole gospel” (CCC 2761). This quote from an early Church Father gives us a grand perspective to one of our most beloved prayers. If you were to read through and pray the psalms on a regular basis, you would notice the themes of the Old Testament coming up time and again. In the midst of those psalms is the proclamation of the gospel in the New Testament as well.

Give us this day our daily bread . . .

English is a funny language. It is no wonder so many seminarians prepare for their ministry by studying Hebrew and Greek. This simple phrase seems to repeat itself. The best way to explain this is to let the Church give the answer:

“Daily” (epiousios) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Taken in a temporal sense, this word is a pedagogical repetition of “this day,” to confirm us in trust “without reservation.”

Taken in the qualitative sense, it signifies what is necessary for life, and more broadly every good thing sufficient for subsistence.

Taken literally (epi-ousios: “super-essential”), it refers directly to the Bread of Life, The Body of Christ, the “medicine of immortality,” without which we have no life within us.

Finally in this connection, its heavenly meaning is evident: “this day” is the Day of the Lord, the day of the feast of the kingdom, anticipated in the Eucharist that is already the foretaste of the kingdom to come. (CCC 2837 emphasis mine)

John’s gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish prepares us for one of the most dynamic sections in the whole New Testament. Jesus does NOT command rocks to become bread. He commands bread to multiply (John 6:1-14). Jesus asks the people, “Did you seek me because you saw the signs I did or because you ate your fill of the loaves”? (v. 26) He mentions physical food that parishes and food that endures to eternal life. There is a difference and that difference is Jesus.

Now comes the most simple, yet misunderstood passage of the New Testament. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he (the Father) has sent” (6:29). It sounds simple, but once again, those that asked Jesus about a sign where looking at physical manifestations. For example, they bring up their fathers in the wilderness when God gave them bread from heaven. Jesus proclaims, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world” (v. 33).

Lord, give us this bread always!

This is the reply of the people who sought Jesus. Does this sound familiar? This is why the sacrament of the Eucharist is so very special. Bread is commanded to become the Body of Christ and it is by this that we truly abide in Christ.

“I am the bread of life” (v.48).

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (v. 51).

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (v. 56ff).

As you can see, there is more to the Lord’s Prayer than meets the eye. Read the Prayer again in light of this information and you will see how indeed it is a summary of the gospel.

Ave Maria!

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, protect and save the unborn!

Coming into the Presence of God: Reflections on the Our Father Prayer - Part One

It has been a few months since I posted anything on The Rosary Board. This summer has been one of much change and hope for me personally. I have investigated a few more versions of the Rosary. Stay tuned for that. It is amazing the heritage of our Faith.

I hope your times at prayer have been fruitful. They certainly have been for me, even at times when God says nothing. There is a story of an old farmer that came to the church where St. John Vianney was. Fr. Vianney observed the farmer sitting quietly before the Tabernacle. He asked him, “What do you see?” The farmer replied, “I look at Him, and He looks at me.” 

Coming into God’s presence isn’t always easy. The more distractions life throws at us, the more we can get weighed down with the cares of this life.

Our Father Who Art in Heaven . . .

The reaction of that humble farmer is one of a lover for their beloved. Humility, which is the opposite of pride, will attract God’s full attention. It is in this state that God’s grace can have it’s full affect. We cannot be demanding our own way. The other day I was reflecting on the life of prayer and why we need to always be filled with God’s love. It is easy to get all wrapped up in “doing good," feeding the poor and doing many different things on behalf of the church and community. These are important. Yet the apostle Paul states that, “If I give away all I have, and if  I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3 RSV througout). That is why diligence is required. A relationship with Jesus Christ is more than just “accepting Him as your personal Savior.” It is abiding in Him (John 15:4). Abiding in the love of Jesus glorifies the Father (v. 8-9). Think about this the next time you say, Our Father who art in heaven . . .

Hallowed be Thy Name

Another reaction that occurs when one comes into God’s presence is unworthiness. On the lake of Gennesaret, Jesus preached from Simon Peter’s boat (Luke 5:1-3). Right after that Jesus told him to set out onto the lake and cast their nets. Simon Peter, reluctantly agreed to obey Jesus, even after explaining their previous efforts at fishing for the day (v. 4-5). They cast their nets and caught such a great amount of fish that the nets began to break. After the struggle to bring in the nets, Simon Peter’s response tells us a lot about our own condition. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord (v. 8). Truly coming face to face with Christ causes a deep examination of conscience. Jesus knows all and sees all. He knows the heart. The apostle John had a face to face encounter with the glorified Jesus according to Revelation 1:17. The prophet Isaiah was practically reduced to a puddle on the floor when he came into God’s presence (Isa. 6:4-5). Imagine one of the seraphim at God’s throne saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isa. 6:3). The reactions of Peter, John and Isaiah give a glimpse into the statement, “Hallowed (holy) be Thy Name.”

Many years later one of those angels Isaiah encountered came to a young virgin. He said to her, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you (Luke 1:28). He had appeared earlier to Zechariah. The angel said that his name was Gabriel and who stands in the presence of God (v. 19). Gabriel was sent on a mission regarding the salvation of world. The grace that was in Mary is reflected in her response; "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (v. 38).

Approaching Jesus in prayer may seem easy enough. But, if we have views that are contrary to the Truth, we have a problem with Christ or we do not see His holiness. When we abide in Christ and bear much fruit, we can ask God for what we really need (John 15). Pray for an increase of faith, hope and love. It is by this we ascend to God. So what remains? (Hint: 1 Cor. 13:13).

I am looking forward to sharing with you some of the new things I have learned about the Rosary this summer. I am even considering a podcast presenting these rosaries. If you have any suggestions regarding these reflections or have ideas for a podcast presentation, I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you

Ave Maria!

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, Protect and Save the Unborn!

Life is a Vocation - Part III (b)

A New Look at the Beatitudes 

This is the conclusion of our exploration of the beatitudes.

Hunger and Thirst

Many times we equate hungering and thirsting with being poor. There is a deeper hunger and thirst that affects all those who are truly poor (Matt. 5:6). Righteousness or justice is what they ask for. Throughout the Old Testament, God told His people to always make provision for the poor (Lev. 19:10). Why would Jesus humble Himself and become poor to ransom a fallen world? He said that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

Jesus gives us Himself in the Most Holy Eucharist to feed us and to come to the realization of His love for us (John 6:53).

Give us this day our daily bread

The Merciful

Blessed and happy are the merciful, for indeed, God has shown great mercy to us (Matt. 5:7). Whoever has been forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:43). God has given us something we do not deserve.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

The Pure in Heart

Blessed and happy are the pure in heart because only those with a pure heart will be able to see God (Matt. 5:8). Jesus says that the greatest commandment in the law is to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our might (22:37). Not 50% of one, 70% of another and 98% of the other. There is no middle ground here. He adds to this love of our neighbor as ourselves (22:39). Christ is present in the poorest among us (25:31-40; Luke 16:19-31).

And lead us not into temptation, . . .

The Peacemakers

We are to be peacemakers because we are the servants of the Prince of Peace. He calls us the children of God (Matt. 5:9). The peace that Jesus gives is not what the world gives (John 14:27).
                                 

The Persecuted

And we are not done yet. Like our King and Savior we will be persecuted for the very sake of righteousness (Matt. 5:10). Jesus brings us back to what it truly is to be poor in spirit. Our kingdom is not of this world. 

The more our faith grows, the more we hope for what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). The purer our heart becomes, the more God’s love flows through us. This love overflows to our neighbor.

Why is this LOVE crucified? He was poor. He humbled Himself to death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-8). He endured the agony in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36ff). He fasted forty days in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11). On the cross He said, “I thirst.” (John 19:28) With the thrust of a lance, the last drop of His life was poured out from His Sacred Heart.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

As the Douey Rheims translation states, “the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. . .”

Jesus said we would be persecuted. This is not an easy way. The way to life is narrow and hard (Matt. 7:13-14). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). How much do we want heaven? As the apostle Paul stated, I am crucified with Christ . . .” (Gal. 2:19-20). The beatitudes reveal what this truly means. We bear our cross and ultimately our cross will bear us if we live as Jesus asks us.

. . . but deliver us from evil.

With the passages that have been gleaned from Sacred Scripture, the Church describes this so beautifully.

The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity.

• They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection;

• they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life;

• they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations;

• they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ's disciples;

• they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints. (CCC 1717)

So the Catechism ties all this together most beautifully. This is what we are called to. It is not easy and demands effort on our part. How much do we want heaven? The beatitudes are of heavenly value and conform us to His image.

Ave Maria!

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, Protect and Save the Unborn!


Bible quotes for the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, retrieved from  http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P5I.HTM

Life is a Vocation - Part III (a)

A New Look at the Beatitudes

Beatitude means happiness. Beatitude is when one is truly blessed. This is part of the Christian life. Jesus speaks of this in the Sermon on the Mount. These are not characteristics of eight different individuals. You cannot have one without the other.  

Jesus says the poor in spirit are happy (Matt. 5:3). They are detached from things of this world (6:24). The poor have the Gospel preached to them (11:5). Their kingdom is not of this world (theirs is the kingdom of heaven). True riches are stored up for them in heaven (6:19-21). Material goods are means, not ends in themselves. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church introduces this subject in the following way.

The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. the Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven (CCC 1716).

 Our Father Who art in heaven,

The meek are those who are humble (Matt. 5:5). There is something they hope for because Jesus says that they shall possess it. The Christian does not grasp for things of this life and yet God gives us all we need (6:25-33). Jesus was born poor and died poor.

How can someone be happy or blessed by mourning (Matt. 5:5)? The man that would not so much as look up to heaven but beat his breast saying, “Have mercy on me a sinner!” Jesus promises comfort (Luke 18:13). They mourn for their sins, their unworthiness. They mourn for the sins of the world. In their helplessness God’s grace is revealed.

Hallowed (Holy) be Thy Name.

Many times we equate hungering and thirsting with being poor. There is a deeper hunger and thirst that affects all those who are truly poor (Matt. 5:6). Righteousness or justice is what they ask for. Throughout the Old Testament, God told His people to always make provision for the poor (Lev. 19:10). Why would Jesus humble Himself and become poor to ransom a fallen world? He said that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven.

To be continued . . .

Ave Maria!

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, Protect and Save the Unborn!

Bible quotes for the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, retrieved from  http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P5I.HTM