Family Prayer: Family Rosary

Thank you for taking the Family Prayer Quiz from Catholic Sprouts. It is ESSENTIAL that your family prays – and prays together! But prayer doesn’t just happen. Praying together as a family takes planning, commitment, and a whole lot of grace from God. So, great job on taking this important step!

According to the quiz, your family is ready to pray the Rosary each night. Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry! We have some tools to help you and some ideas for easing into this powerful family prayer.

WHAT IS THE ROSARY?

According to the Family Prayer Quiz, your family might be ready to add a daily Rosary to your prayer routine. That’s great! Many of our greatest spiritual fathers and mothers were devoted to the Rosary. JPll, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, St. Therese, and so many more.

But why? What is so important about this string of beads and prayers?

As Our Blessed Mother said to Blessed Alan de la Roche, “When you say your Rosary, the angels rejoice, the Blessed Trinity delights in it, my Son finds joy in it too, and I myself am happier than you can possibly guess. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is nothing in the Church that I love as much as the Rosary.”

Mary, the great Mediatrix of Graces, the Mother of God, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and Queen of Heaven and Earth, is so pleased when we recite this prayer that she herself brought to the faithful through St. Dominic. She will spill countless blessings on the faithful that cling to their rosaries.

And, it is particularly powerful to pray the Rosary as a family. 

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY THE ROSARY AS A FAMILY?

The Rosary has the power to protect, guide, and perfect your family. Here are 7 reasons why praying the Rosary as a family is so important for all Catholic families.

#1: The Rosary Will Bring Your Family Together

The Rosary is a simple prayer that even young children can recite. As you sit with your family and pray the Rosary, you are all perfectly united for that short time. You speak in unison and reflect on the same stories. This might seem insignificant, but it isn’t. As JPII explains, 

“Individual family members, in turning their eyes towards Jesus, also regain the ability to look one another in the eye, to communicate, to show solidarity, to forgive one another, and to see their covenant of love renewed in the Spirit of God.”

Making a habit of praying the Rosary together WILL transform your family.

#2: Mary Will Send Signal Graces

One of the 15 promises Mary offers to those who pray the Rosary, as communicated through St. Dominic, is that she will send signal graces. A signal grace is a small sign or message that helps us make decisions. 

Should I take this new job? Should I confront this family member? Should we move to a new city? Mary is more than happy to gently guide us through small messages if we faithfully pray the Rosary.

#3: Mary Will Offer Your Family Special Protection

Mary also promises that those who faithfully say the Rosary will receive special protection. She will aid us in providing for our family. She will protect us as we face evil, temptation, or physical danger.

#4: The Rosary Will Draw You Into the Lives of Jesus and Mary

Through the mysteries, the Rosary takes us through the earthly lives of Jesus and Mary. Not only does this offer families an opportunity to learn about Jesus and Mary, but it also places within our minds the most important images of all.

JPII pointed out that all too often, a family only stops to gather around one thing: the television. He explained, “To return to the recitation of the family Rosary means filling daily life with very different images, images of the mystery of salvation: the image of the Redeemer, the image of his most blessed Mother. The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth.”

#5: Mary Will Provide Armor Against Hell

As Mary explained to St. Dominic, those who faithfully recite the Rosary will be covered in armor against hell, which will destroy vice, defeat sin, and silence heresy. Through Mary’s perfect obedience, God sends all grace through her. Therefore, Satan is terrified of Mary. When we remain faithful to the Rosary, Mary is always near, eager to crush the head of the serpent if he dares approach.

#6: Mary Will Be With You In Death

Many of Mary’s 15 promises to those who recite the Rosary involve death. She promises that the faithful will not die in a state of mortal sin, and they will not die without receiving the sacraments of the Church. She also promises that those faithful to the Rosary will be delivered from purgatory and be given a high degree of glory in heaven. Not only this, but Mary promises that if you promote the Rosary, the choir of angels will be your advocate at the time of your death.

#7: You Will Become Brothers and Sisters of Jesus Christ

Finally, if you make a dedicated habit of praying the Rosary, you will live as a child of Mary and a sibling of Jesus Christ. And no one could ask for a better mother or brother!

HOW DO WE PRAY THE ROSARY AS A FAMILY?

Praying the Rosary as a family is possible–even if you are busy, have little kids, or are a beginner with family prayer! Here is a list of suggestions. Try a few, establish a routine, and start reaping the rewards of praying the Rosary as a family!

Starting small

• Start by praying just one decade a night, and slowly build to praying an entire Rosary.

Getting your kids involved

• I suggest investing in a special Rosary for each child. Then, as you pray, allow your children to take turns leading the prayers.

Praying with little kids

• Even the littlest ones can participate in the family Rosary. We have used this board book set with our little ones for years. They especially love marking off the rosary beads with a dry-erase marker as we pray! 

Going deeper with the Rosary

• Our family LOVES this beautiful Rosary Book that shares a reflection from St. Mother Teresa for every decade of the Rosary.

Developing your love of the Rosary

• Dare I say, you should be praying TWO Rosaries each day? The Rosary is such a powerful prayer to pray with your family…but also FOR your family. Consider picking up a Rosary Devotional to show you how you can deepen your love of the Rosary and pray it more fruitfully. 

Keep praying

• Satan does not want your family to pray the Rosary, and he will attempt to derail your efforts. But don’t let him! Even if you miss a day, a week, or a month….pick up your rosaries and start praying again!

OUR GIFT TO YOU

Catholic Sprouts is determined to help you lead your family in prayer. We have created tools to assist you in this work and want to remove all obstacles to prayer in your home. Therefore, for the next five days, you can enjoy 20% OFF any product in our Family Prayer Collection (including our three books that will assist your family in praying the Rosary). This discount code will be sent to you via email following your completion of the Family Prayer Quiz.

Look for that discount code, and head here to stock up on family prayer items.

Once again, thank you for investing in family prayer. God called us to be parents, to raise saints, and to transform our homes into little Domestic Churches. May He bless us in this work and bring us into His glory one day.

In Christ Jesus,

Nancy