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Hi Ross,
Thanks for the question.
You said:
There is no Catholic doctrine that requires
one to pray the Rosary.
While the Rosary is highly recommended by the Church, you are correct; there is no dogma
or doctrine that says Catholics have to pray the Rosary. A Catholic could live his
whole life without saying the Rosary and still merit many graces by living a regular
sacramental life in the Church.
The reason why the Church highly recommends this prayer is because:
Let me share a recent conversation I heard:
Charlie Catholic:
Hi, Peter —
Peter Protestant:
Of course not; you nutty Catholics do that, not us!
Charlie Catholic:
- Why not?
- Do you have something against
the Gospel?
The Rosary is the Good News — a Scriptural prayer. We pray as
Our Lord Jesus tells us to in Matthew 6:9-13, and meditate on God becoming truly Man like us, in all things but sin, for our salvation. Read Luke 1:28 and Luke 1:42!
Peter Protestant:
Wow, I never thought about it from
that point of view.
- How can I get a Rosary and learn more?
Charlie Catholic:
These days, you can Google for one. Various non-profits and religious organizations will send you a Rosary. for free!!!
Peter Protestant:
Thanks, I will!
Charlie Catholic:
Mike told me he would expand this
apostolate to Catholics too, but he is currently retired and can't
support the 1.2 billion members that make up the Church.
Peter Protestant:
Don't worry, I understand. I'll say
a prayer for him and his apostolate.
Peter Protestant:
Wait . . . (pause) . . .
If I prayed for him would I be undermining the sole
mediation of Jesus? . . .
Just joking :-)
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If we look at the history of Rosary, we can gain some very good reasons why everyone around the world should pray the Rosary, even non-Christians!
It was in the year 1214 that the Church received the Rosary in its present
form, according to the method we use today. It was given to the Church
by St. Dominic, who had received it from the Blessed Virgin as a means
of converting the Albigensians and other sinners.
Saint Dominic, seeing
that the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians,
withdrew into a forest near Toulouse, where he prayed continuously for
three days and three nights. During this time, he did nothing but weep and
do harsh penances in order to appease the anger of God. At this point, our
Lady appeared to him, accompanied by three angels, and she said,
"Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants
to use to reform the world?"
"Oh, my Lady," answered Saint Dominic, "you know far
better than I do, because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always
been the chief instrument of our salvation."
Then Our Lady replied,
"I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the principal weapon has always been the Angelic Psalter, which
is the foundation-stone of the New Testament. Therefore, if you want
to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter."
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So he arose, comforted, and burning with zeal for the conversion of the
people in that district, he made straight for the cathedral. At once, unseen
angels rang the bells to gather the people together, and Saint Dominic
began to preach.
Important Side note: The Rosary is a devotional aid (and
a sacramental) which can be used in many different ways. Many Christians
use the Rosary to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet as well.
Check out these pages for more:
Hope this answers your question.
Mike
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