I struggle with the Rosary.

Cone of safety. I have always struggled with saying the Rosary. My mind wanders, did I pull out the chicken for dinner? How did I miss that table dusting yesterday? Shoot, I never sent that email! Is “shoot” a swear? God, I am so sorry for kind of swearing during prayer….

I lose count. 14 Hail Mary’s this decade, 7 for the next.

I fall asleep. Dont-wake-up-until-a-kid-is-screaming sleep. Drool-on-yourself sleep. Coffee-is-cold-beside-me sleep.

I’ve wondered why the meaning and peace within this prayer doesn’t keep me focused. I am a bad Catholic. I am bad at prayer. What is wrong with me? …Super healthy mantras, all of them. (Kidding, those aren’t healthy.)

I didn’t want to give up trying. Clearly, there is merit to this prayer—its rhythm, meditation, scripture, power in the face of evil, the fact that Our Lady said to pray it… You know, all the things that make it an important part of a prayer life. But I was at a loss as to how to rest within this prayer in a way that brings me closer to Christ and not self-doubt and aggravation.

How do I keep focus? Well, I remembered a conversation I had with my Nana many years ago. We were discussing books, and she told me that she usually skipped all the “description” parts within. “I just like the dialogue. I don’t need to know what someone is wearing or what the room they are in looks like; I just want the story to move along!” 

I couldn’t believe it. The description is my favorite part! I want to be IN the story. I want to see, smell, taste, and feel what they are experiencing. Complete immersion keeps my attention; I love that in a book.

I considered this when it came to praying the Rosary. As I meditate over each mystery, why don’t I try to fully immerse myself? I do this when I am simply reading scripture. I read a few passages, then close my eyes and picture myself there. What’s the temperature? Where is the sun? What am I smelling? Is it loud? What do I see? How do I feel?… While it sounds similar to lectio divina, an element of holy imagination is necessary. I can’t read about the Assumption of Mary in Scripture because it isn’t recorded there. But I can pray about that moment. I can close my eyes and place myself in the presence of Our Blessed Mother and wonder about it all… 

With all that being said, I’d like to share with you how I do this at a level appropriate for your children and/or students with the Glorious Mysteries. (We picked them first since The Feast of the Assumption and the Queenship of Mary are this month!) Maybe the kiddos in your life are struggling to focus on the Rosary like me. Why not give it a try?!

The 1st Glorious Mystery, The Resurrection of Christ

It is early in the morning. The sun still sits low in the sky, but I can already feel the warmth of the day begin to push aside the cool of the night. The taste of the warm slice of bread my mother gave me this morning as I left the house is still on my lips. I wish I had another.

As I make my way into town, I walk near the place where they buried Jesus; my heart is still so heavy with sorrow after His death on Friday. As I pass, I hear a commotion. Is everything okay? I feel curious. I slip in behind some brush and watch. Mary is on her knees, her hands over her face. 

She is crying. Some of the apostles, including Peter, have arrived. I can tell they ran here; they are out of breath. 

Before me, I see Jesus’s tomb—the enormous stone covering it has been rolled aside! I see two men in dazzling garments, and I hear their words: “He is not here, but He has been raised. Remember what He said to you while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and rise on the third day.”

I move to get a better look inside the tomb, stunned by what I do not see. Jesus is gone. I close my eyes and remember Jesus’s words. I hear His voice in my heart. I know that after today, nothing will ever be the same again. Jesus is Lord, and He has risen!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this glorious mystery of your Resurrection. I pray for the courage to always believe Your Word and confess You as my Lord and my Savior. When I am suffering, help me to remember that the sorrow of Your crucifixion came to an end with the joy of Your Resurrection. In the moments when I feel despair, especially when you feel far away, I pray for the faith to know that with You, Lord, all things are possible.

The 2nd Glorious Mystery, The Ascension of Christ

I am in Bethany, perched within a tree. I feel the soft breeze as it gently moves the leaves around me. I see Jesus and His apostles speaking beyond the grove. I love to follow Jesus, hear Him teach, and care for those around Him. I don’t want to be anywhere else but in His presence. It has been 40 days since His Resurrection from the dead; I am still filled with joy when I think about the rolled-back stone!

Today, Jesus and the apostles stand more formally before one another. The apostle’s heads dip low, and I watch Jesus raise His hands over the men; He is giving them a blessing. In this moment the sun begins to burn brighter in the sky, our heads fall back as our eyes follow Jesus as He ascends into the sky. Against the backdrop of the sun, our eyes can no longer see His movement upward. And then, just as soon as it happened, it is over. The apostles stand with their heads still tilted back. The sky is silent, the sun softens, and again, I feel the cool breeze moving over my skin.

Jesus’s words ring in my ears, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Jesus has gone to be with His Father; I cannot wait to join Him someday.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that I become a more humble and faithful disciple. I pray for Your help in sharing the Gospel with all those I encounter and inviting them to Your heart. I thank You for the virtue of hope, the grace of Your merciful love, and the gift of eternal life with You. Help me to live a life worthy of heaven. 

Download our PGS below with these mediations and pray the Rosary with your children today!

For more information about joyfully reawakening a culture of life within your domestic church, visit www.pelicanprojectministry.org.