Rosary and Liturgy Anchors

In saying the rosary, the mechanical element frees the mind to rest in the mysteries, or more simply to find its repose in God. – Robert Llewelyn, A Doorway to Silence

I don't know where I came across this book, but it's a guide, so to speak, on the use of the rosary. Mr. Llewelyn was not Roman Catholic, but served as Chaplain of the Julian Shrine at Norwich. Over his time there he came to appreciate praying the rosary on a daily basis. As I've mentioned before, I discovered the rosary and began one while I was in Oregon. When the open-carry of weapons became legal, I decided that wearing a rosary would be a better open-carry option.

There is a difference between a Catholic rosary and an Anglican rosary, primary of which is the Catholic rosary is made up of “decades” (ten bead sections) while the Anglican rosary is made up of “weeks” (seven bead sections) – please, no jokes about us being “Catholic-lite.” Another difference is that the Catholic rosary often makes use of set prayers (such as the Hail Mary), while the Anglican rosary leaves it up to the user to develop their own prayers.

I've developed my own system over the years which includes the opening acclamation from Holy Eucharist, the Trisagion, and the Lord's Prayer.

This repetitive prayer at first holds the mind's attention; it gives us something to focus on so that our minds don't wander willy-nilly, leaving us to wonder why we were even praying. The repetitive prayer, if said often enough, eventually becomes an anchor, holding us secure but allowing the mind to drift within the mystery of God, engaging God in ever deeper levels.

In some sense, then, our Sunday liturgy might also be seen as a type of rosary. There are elements that change from week to week (hymns, Collects, and readings), but even those things that change are in always-familiar places. And there are elements that rarely change (Holy Communion).

For people new to the Episcopal church, the repetitive nature of the liturgy can hold their attention or get them to focus on worship. Which book we use (red or blue), what page we're on, and whether we're singing S-120 or Hymn 120 all take concentration. Eventually, though, as a person becomes familiar with the service, the repetitive words and actions become more and more familiar, allowing the liturgy to become an anchor while they begin to contemplate the mystery of God and engage with God in ever-deepening levels. Both the rosary and liturgy have also been described as a safe, protective blanket, allowing one to be wrapped up in God's love.

So whether you are praying the rosary or praying the liturgy, I encourage you to see those things as anchors to your faith that allow you to lose yourself in the mysteries of God without getting lost.

Todd+