The Rosary as a Family Affair
Posted by Sarah Reinhard in Faith on Thursday, October 07, 2010 12:00 PM
I always feel a little sheepish admitting to people that my family doesn’t pray the family rosary. It’s like admitting that I’m not cheering for the sports team all my friends are playing on.
It first came up in a Faith & Family podcast last year. And when I admitted it, I found myself immediately surrounded by people sighing in relief.
You mean there’s comfort in knowing that?
Good.
But, all that said, I have big plans, or rather, big prayers. I want my family to pray the rosary together. I want my children holding on to Mary’s hand and turning to Jesus’ life as their model. I want us to spend that time together in what Pope John Paul II called “the School of Mary.” I dream of the spiritual growth that could happen because of it.
I have to be realistic, though. First, in my family (and in many other families I know), this has to come from my husband. He has to lead it. And I have to let him. Now, mind you, I’m a rampant Type A Leader Type. I could take over, force the charge, lead the way.
But we would lose something if I did. Out of respect for that something, which I can’t quite define, I have offered, instead of an aggressive marketing campaign, my own daily prayers for this intention.
In the last few months, I have found out about my husband’s devotion to the rosary, which I did not know even existed. In fact, when I downloaded the iRosary app to his iPod Touch, he mentioned that it was really cool and that, some days, it took him the whole day just to get through the rosary.
“He’s praying the rosary?!?” I thought. I don’t know if I was more overcome with shock or elation.
It is far better, in my mind, for my husband to know that I am in loud favor of a family rosary, that I support him whenever he’s ready to roll it out, than for me to storm through and have him resenting my enthusiasm.
I want it all, you see. I want to continue to foster the mutual respect my husband and I have in our marriage and I want to share the rosary as a family.
I know the message for my children, when Daddy steps forward, will be undeniable. And I have no doubt that he will step forward.
So, now that I’ve put myself out there (knowing that I’m among friends), I ask you: what tips do you have for praying the rosary as a family? What has worked (or has not worked) for you?
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