Three Prayers repeated over and over........

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou amongst women and blest is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

That's it right? I've figured out the beads!

But then, we traced the sign of the cross on ourselves at the beginning of the rosary. That's a prayer. Even if we don't utter a word, the sign of the cross is a physicalized prayer. Catholics love the idea of praying with all that we have available to pray with. Our minds, our hearts, our spirits, our bodies. When words fail us, or can no longer be uttered, we can still pray with the simplest of gestures. The ritual movements and postures are imbued with meaning and vibrant life, through repetition and association.

I cross myself and say the words. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A stunning duet of sound and motion. I have reiterated my belief in the Trinity. I have begged for a blessing as I place myself in a sacred space. I have remembered the depth of Love shown to all of creation on a cross long ago. I bring to mind all of the current imagery associated with "bearing one's cross". My contemplation of the the myriad meanings of this simple gesture and utterance makes the duet a trio, which blossoms into a quartet as my soul shakes off the torpor of the too-busy day that has past and eagerly awaits my exercise of free will for the good.

Okay, so there's four prayers.

Hold on there Tex! We also recite the creed before the first Our Father. We take a brief stroll through the garden of what it is that we hold to be true. Take your time. Smell the flowers!

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty,the Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into hell. On the third day He arose again from the dead.He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and life everlasting.Amen. "

Okay, Five Prayers!

Not so fast pardner. Each of the Mysteries, each pause for meditation upon a moment in the life of our Incarnate God is a prayer.

25 Prayers?

Don't forget the Fatima prayer at the end of each decade:

"Oh my Jesus! Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of Hell! Lead ALL souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. "

30?

We close each Chaplet of the rosary with the Salve Regina:

"Hail Holy Queen. Mother of Mercy. Our Life, Our sweetness and our Hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we lift up our mourning and sighs in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy upon us. And, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus.

O Clement! O loving! O Sweet Virgin Mary!

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. "

OK, so it's not just three prayers repeated over and over again. What do YOU call it?

The Rosary.

It's a tool for finding time to be still; to LISTEN for the creator; A sublime method of placing yourself in the presence of God, wherever you may happen to be. I also believe that the prayers we pray, do bring about good for those who are in need of it. This good is manifested as the Holy Spirit sees fit.

(04/19/2005)

The smoke from the Sistine Chapel is WHITE!

Brothers and Sisters, I bring you news of great joy,

HABEMUS PAPAM!

TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.
V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te. R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.

O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee.
To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
the wonderful company of Prophets,
the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:
the Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to believers the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.
V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.
V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yea, forever and ever.
V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to shame.