Why pray the rosary? Why not just pray to Jesus?

This week’s bible study was about Our Blessed Mother Mary.  It made me remember about a book I once read a few years ago.  Maybe you have heard of it, Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn.  If you have not read it, you should read it.  It is a great book.  Hahn mentions in his book that some of us seem to be embarrassed of our blessed mother (if I remember correctly).  For example, when a teenage boy gets embarrassed when his mom gives him a kiss in front of his friends.  I think it is a lack of understanding of who Mary is.  Not only is she the mother of our Lord, but she is also the mother of the Church (which is us).  Mary is our blessed mother.  The Lord picked Mary out of all the women in the world to be the mother of our Savior.  

“For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness, behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed” -Luke 1:48 

At that moment, Mary became the first disciple of Jesus.  Blessed indeed she is and blessed are we for Mary saying yes to the Lord.  

Some people question why Catholics pray the rosary.  Why not just pray to God?  Catholics pray to God and we ask our blessed mother to intercede for us.  If you pray the rosary you will see that the mysteries point to Jesus.  We ask our family and friends to pray for us.  Why not Mary? Back in the day (Old Testament) everyone went to the mother of the king to ask for a request (check out: 1 Kings 2:13-20, 2 Kings 24: 12-15 and Jeremiah 13: 18-20).  The king had plenty of wives but only one mother.  

If you remember in the Wedding of Cana, when they ran out of wine (which was a problem), they went to Mary first, not Jesus.  At Mary’s request, Jesus transformed the water into wine which became his first public miracle.  All at the request of our blessed mother Mary.  

If we respect our own biological mother here on earth.  How could we not respect and honor our blessed mother, the mother of our Lord?  

One mother in bible study shared with us that when praying the rosary it is like looking at Mary’s scrapbook of Jesus.  I had never thought of it that way but what a great way to look at it.

We can find so much strength in our blessed mother.  Imagine having to see your child be tortured, humiliated and crucified.  Yet, she was faithful to our Lord.      

I know some of us do not like praying the rosary.  You just repeat, repeat, repeat.  Let me ask you a question.  Do you ever get tired of saying I love you to your loved ones?  

Lent is a great time to pray the rosary and meditate on the sorrowful mysteries through the eyes of our blessed mother.  You can pray the rosary online with others.  There are CDs you can purchase.  You can listen to the CD on your way to work, train or while folding laundry.  Lent is not only about giving up but also about doing something more.