October 7th is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, but the Catholic Church has long devoted the entire month of October to the Rosary. Here are 7 ideas to incorporate the Rosary into your family culture!
Do a Rosary walk
The meditative and repetitive quality of the Rosary pairs well with the steady beat of your own footsteps. If you struggle to make it through the Rosary without your mind wandering, consider setting aside the time to walk around your neighborhood while praying. The gentle motion of a walk can help you enter into the meditation of the mysteries in an unexpected way.
Let even the smallest children join you
Even if your child is too young to recite the Hail Mary, invite them to say only the most significant part of the prayer— the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Teach your smallest children to listen for the part of the prayer where you say “blessed is the fruit of your womb…” and let them respond with the name of “Jesus.” This not only includes them but also gives them an important role in the recitation of the prayers!
Find a beautiful rosary
You don’t have to limit your kids to plastic bead rosaries! You may be surprised how their attention span increases when they are able to have tactical contact with something beautiful and weighty. From the gentle shimmer of glass beads to the cold smoothness of marble, the different materials offer a stimulating tactile experience that can help children (and adults!) contemplate the mysteries.
Pray along with the Dominicans
The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have a beautiful audio recording of the rosary. Listen in the car, during nightly chores, or even sitting in your living room. The audio is peaceful with gentle background music that aids in contemplation. You can find the audio on Spotify here.
Start small
If you’ve never been able to regularly pray the Rosary, start small! For some, the entire Rosary can feel unapproachable. If this sounds like you, begin with just one decade at a time. You can commit to one decade a day, or split the 5 decades into bite-sized pieces throughout the day. You may find that one decade easily turns into two, and before you know it the 5 decades will no longer be intimidating.
Try a Rosary workout
The repetitive and sustained movements of a stretching or pilates-like exercise can help you ground your body while more fully entering into the mysteries of the Rosary. You can incorporate the rosary while you do your existing workout, or try the Rosary-integrated workouts offered by SoulCore!
Pair your Rosary with sacred art
“The Rosary in Art for Children” provides a visual aid to the recitation of the Rosary. Children and adults alike will appreciate the beautiful works of art thoughtfully paired with the mysteries of the Rosary. This edition includes not only the art but also scripture verses and meditation that can further enhance your family’s Rosary experience.
