Godwin Delali Adadzie
Is the Rosary from paganism? Is Rosary full of repetitious/empty phrases? Is the Rosary all about Mary, the Mother of Jesus apart from Jesus Christ the mediator between God and man? Is the Hail Mary prayer from credible non-contradictory Scriptural sources? Find out in this presentation where facts shall be separated from fiction.
Overtime, the lay brothers who because of illiteracy could not read and therefore recite the psalms with the monks were made to recite the Paternosters (Our Fathers). The modern Rosary consisted of 15 decades of “Hail Mary” said on beads, each decade preceded by an “Our Father” and followed by a Gloria. During the recitation, the mind meditates on the principal mysteries of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel.
Would you be offended if your lover continually on a daily basis repeats the words, “I love you”? Why not? So also, we as Catholic Christians in every moment of our lives love to repeat those sweet words to our first love, Jesus and Mary whenever we say the Angelic Salutation “Hail Mary” and the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” which make up the beautiful prayers of the Rosary. Evangelicals as well love to repeat “Praise God” and “Amen” during worship services without offending Him.
We should note that Jesus Christ over here is focusing on the Gentiles (pagans) who pray to false gods and employ much babble. What sort of babbling did the pagans practice? A look at Elijah’s encounter with the pagan prophets gives up a clearer picture.
A strong proof that demonstrates that Jesus Christ does not condemn repetition in prayer is when he himself prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane “saying the same words.”
The Rosary is more about the life of Jesus Christ than that of Mary. In other words, it is Christos-centric (Christ centered). The Rosary utilizes the 3 major forms of Christian expressions of prayer, i.e. vocal as well as meditation and contemplative forms.
On the vocal and meditation forms of prayer, the Rosary uses the Apostles Creed (Credo), the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster), Hail Mary (Ave Maria) and Glory Be (Gloria).
The Credo or the Apostles Creed comprises of all the major beliefs of the Christian faith as taught by the Holy Apostles of Jesus Christ. It was first used in the second century and the current form was composed around the fifth century.
The Lord’s Prayer was taught by Jesus Christ himself. There are two versions given in the Gospels. The shorter version in Luke 11:2-4 and the longer version which is used in praying the Rosary - Matthew 6:9-13
Kindly watch the whole video for the Biblical proofs for the Rosary below:
“Jesus is your friend. The Friend. With a human heart, like yours. With loving eyes that wept for Lazarus. And he loves you as much as he loved Lazarus.” Saint Josemaría Escrivá -- Godwin Delali Adadzie is a Catholic living in Ghana, West Africa. A former smoker (Fish smoker now a Vegetarian) but still loves to drink a lot (of water). He attempts to blog at the Fair (HubBlogs with GADEL), the Good (Blessed Virgin our Mother Mary Immaculate), the Bad (GADEL Said What?) and the Ugly (Catholic Fiction: Responding to Myths & Half-Truths)
Is the Rosary from paganism?
The word Rosary comes from Latin which means “a garland of roses.” The rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although most people associate the origin of the Rosary to St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans, centuries before him, monks recited the 150 psalms on a regular basis.
Overtime, the lay brothers who because of illiteracy could not read and therefore recite the psalms with the monks were made to recite the Paternosters (Our Fathers). The modern Rosary consisted of 15 decades of “Hail Mary” said on beads, each decade preceded by an “Our Father” and followed by a Gloria. During the recitation, the mind meditates on the principal mysteries of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel.
Is the Rosary a Repetitious prayer?
Some non-Catholic Christians criticize various Catholic forms of prayer which repeat phrases, such as litanies and especially the Rosary. They usually cite Matthew 6 and conclude that Jesus condemns repetitious prayer. This is ironically the same chapter which Jesus Christ teaches the Lord’s Prayer.
Would you be offended if your lover continually on a daily basis repeats the words, “I love you”? Why not? So also, we as Catholic Christians in every moment of our lives love to repeat those sweet words to our first love, Jesus and Mary whenever we say the Angelic Salutation “Hail Mary” and the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” which make up the beautiful prayers of the Rosary. Evangelicals as well love to repeat “Praise God” and “Amen” during worship services without offending Him.
And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:7 RSV)In the majority NT Greek manuscripts, the phrase translated as “do not heap up empty phrases” is "me¯ battologe¯se¯te", the etymology is uncertain but probably means “babble” and NOT “repeat”.
We should note that Jesus Christ over here is focusing on the Gentiles (pagans) who pray to false gods and employ much babble. What sort of babbling did the pagans practice? A look at Elijah’s encounter with the pagan prophets gives up a clearer picture.
And they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Ba'al from morning until noon, saying, "O Ba'al, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped about the altar which they had made. And at noon Eli'jah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice; no one answered, no one heeded. (1 Kings 18:26-29 RSV)Once the pagan prophets had given up, Elijah came forward and called on the God of Israel, and immediately his prayer was answered. Here Jesus’ point becomes clearer. The pagans, “heap up empty phrases” to their empty gods unlike Elijah/Christians who serve a Living God.
A strong proof that demonstrates that Jesus Christ does not condemn repetition in prayer is when he himself prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane “saying the same words.”
So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words (Matthew 26:44 RSV)Interestingly, Psalm 136 which is part of the harmony of the Word of God has the phrase, “for his steadfast love endures for ever” which is more repetitious than any Catholic prayer.
Psalms 136:1-26 RSVIs the Rosary all about Mary and not Jesus?
(1) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
(2) O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
(3) O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(4) to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(5) to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(6) to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(7) to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(8) the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(9) the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(10) to him who smote the first-born of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(11) and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(12) with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(13) to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(14) and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(15) but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(16) to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(17) to him who smote great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(18) and slew famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(19) Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(20) and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(21) and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(22) a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
(23) It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(24) and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
(25) he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
(26) O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
The Rosary is more about the life of Jesus Christ than that of Mary. In other words, it is Christos-centric (Christ centered). The Rosary utilizes the 3 major forms of Christian expressions of prayer, i.e. vocal as well as meditation and contemplative forms.
On the vocal and meditation forms of prayer, the Rosary uses the Apostles Creed (Credo), the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster), Hail Mary (Ave Maria) and Glory Be (Gloria).
The Credo or the Apostles Creed comprises of all the major beliefs of the Christian faith as taught by the Holy Apostles of Jesus Christ. It was first used in the second century and the current form was composed around the fifth century.
The Lord’s Prayer was taught by Jesus Christ himself. There are two versions given in the Gospels. The shorter version in Luke 11:2-4 and the longer version which is used in praying the Rosary - Matthew 6:9-13
Kindly watch the whole video for the Biblical proofs for the Rosary below:
“Jesus is your friend. The Friend. With a human heart, like yours. With loving eyes that wept for Lazarus. And he loves you as much as he loved Lazarus.” Saint Josemaría Escrivá -- Godwin Delali Adadzie is a Catholic living in Ghana, West Africa. A former smoker (Fish smoker now a Vegetarian) but still loves to drink a lot (of water). He attempts to blog at the Fair (HubBlogs with GADEL), the Good (Blessed Virgin our Mother Mary Immaculate), the Bad (GADEL Said What?) and the Ugly (Catholic Fiction: Responding to Myths & Half-Truths)
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