So how do we pray "better"? For what "should" we pray?

I've come around to the concept of praying for people (that jerk driving the car on my bumper, for instance) and concepts (world peace) without being more specific.

I figure that if God doesn't already know what to do to encourage us in the direction of world peace, He isn't likely to get a really good idea from me.

Who should He help and how? I don't know, and I think I've made a mistake asking Him to "fix" other people and their problems. That's really just a plea to make my life easier.

Now I figure, if you want God to help someone, let Him know who you want to help and then let the Master choose the direction.

"...Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for Joe." instead of "...pray that Joe learns to drive." Maybe his driving skills are much less important than other things I'm not aware of. If you want to help Joe, pray for Joe; not Joe's driving skills.

I tried to get to part 2, but seemed to get stuck in an infinite loop of links and never found the actual article. Am I missing something?

cjmr,

i apologize for the inconvenience. i think that the problem has been addressed.

let me know what you think...

thanks and sorry again,
tom

Hi, Tom.

The rosary was the instrument that God used and continues to use in my ongoing conversion. Everyday is another step toward a fuller and deeper conversion.

Praying the rosary is a very intense experience for me. I think partly because of having come from a Protestant background and having lots of experience with Bible Study and evangelism, the mysteries were in one sense, not so mysterious.

But the more I pray the rosary, the more I come to know how much I don't know. Does that make sense? The deeper I contemplate, the more I realize how much I have yet to learn.

So I content myself in the unknowing. When I was on my way to coming home to Rome, I would pray the rosary sometimes five times a day for guidance...lots of tears were shed that the varnish on my wooden beads wore off. The natural olive scent quickly disappeared.

And then after my reception into the Church, I found that I couldn't pray. I literally shut down. After a year of intense prayer, suddenly I was mute. The rosary was no longer the consolation that it once was.

I learned to pray it in Latin to teach myself a detachment...and after awhile, the dryness dissipated.

Maybe I needed to pass through the emotional stage to get to a deeper appreciation. Anyway, that's where I am now. I alternate between English and Latin.

Hope you're doing well...when's the move or have you already moved?

Argent,

All I can say is wow, and I understand that mute feeling. It's very disconcerting when it happens. Those are the times I just pray to be able to pray.

As for the move, I haven't moved yet, but it is coming very, very soon, and I will post something when it's all started.

Aunt Ren,
I'm impressed you can pray without being specific. I do that when I can, but in all honesty, I'm not consistently there yet. It's an area I've not surrendered yet, and I understand its importance.

By the way, I assume "Joe" is Uncle Joe? I can't wait to tell him you think he's a bad driver. :)

Kidding, kidding...

Tom,

Perhaps I should have used the name "Tom" instead of "Joe" in order to be a bit more ambiguous?

Happy Landings,

Your favorite Aunt

Another good article. I particularly liked how you including the fruits of each mystery in that part. I haven't seen a list in a long time and after reading it, it caused me to reflect on my own view of some of the mysteries.

Tonight I spent a lot of time updating my Rosary blog. I added images, sources from the Bible and the CCC, and clarification to some of my articles in the "Information" section.

I wanted to let you know that I have added a link to this wonderful 3-part series under the "Information" section.

God Bless

Aunt Ren,
You have me officially laughing. (Not sure what unofficial laughing is, so I'll save you the question.)

Moneybags,
Thanks--for all of the compliments, and for adding the series to your awesome Information section.

Everyone,
Check out Moneybags' awesome rosary site. He has some great insights.

Tom

PS--There are several Fruits of the Spirit lists out there on the web. If anybody wants to see the two or three sites I like best for that, just email me at tom@tomreagan.com.

I posted a Fruits of the Spirit list.