Dear Emeka,
First, let me applaud you for taking up such a powerful spiritual devotion. Any small difficulties you have are due to the evil one trying to discourage you. The same is true for reading the Scriptures.
That said, it's the intention that counts. Ideally, the focus of the Rosary should be on the meditation of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary.
If you find it difficult, try looking for a Scriptural Rosary pamphlet, which has the mysteries and Scriptural meditations you may have not thought about. If that's still a problem, what you suggest is perfectly fine. With time, you may find that your ability to meditate improves.
The goal should be meditating on the Mystery while, with less focus, saying the Rosary prayer in the background.
The goal of the Rosary is remembering the (redemptive/saving) events in the lives of the Holy Family (which include Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) and as well as those of the Apostles and Disciples, who like you and me, make up part of the Body of Christ.
You said:
- Can I just think about the mystery a little before the Our Father then say the ten Hail Marys, meditating on the words themselves and not the Mystery?
- Can I pray the Rosary without meditating on the mysteries — only focusing on the Hail Mary themselves and then read the mysteries later on during Bible Study (meditation I mean)?
- How is it possible to meditate while saying the Hail Mary simultaneously?
Wouldn't one be unstable since he is double-minded and if he focuses on one alone he pays less attention to the other.
Depending on the age of the person praying, the Rosary can initially be difficult to say but the goal again, is to primarily focus on meditating on the mysteries, while keeping the words of the Our Father and Hail Mary in the background, but initially, the way you have suggested is fine.
The most important suggestion I can make is just to pray it!
My colleagues may have more to add.
Mike
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