When we think of praying the Rosary, we often perceive it as a personal prayer to be explored in the quiet places of our hearts and homes or in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Although the Rosary is beautifully prayed as a private devotional, and our one-on-one time with Jesus through our Blessed Mother is necessary and fruitful, it is amplified when we share and experience the Rosary in community with others.

“When people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking. It is very easy to break a single stick, but if you join it to others to make a bundle, it cannot be broken. In union, there is strength.”

– St. Louis de Montfort

4 Ways To Lead Others To The Rosary

1.) Mysteries of the Rosary Series

An incredible new video series came out earlier this year by Paradisus Dei that takes viewers into the Holy Land to experience the mysteries firsthand. Season One – The Sorrowful Mysteries, released this past Lent, and Season Two – The Joyful Mysteries, releases this month on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The episodes are free to watch and can be accessed on their program platform, Wild Goose TV, and FORMED. The series is designed to be run by small and large groups in a parish or home setting. Leader and participant materials are available to guide small group discussions that dive deeper into each episode. The Rosary Series can be enjoyed as a family either with your parish or in the comfort of your own home. The Joyful Mysteries series is an excellent way to prepare your hearts this upcoming Advent season. The Joyful Mysteries Official Trailer:

2.) Praying the Rosary Before Mass as a Parish

Although this is not a new devotion at all, the trend is gaining momentum once again in parishes across the country, and rightfully so. A plenary indulgence is granted, if the Rosary is recited in a church, public oratory, family group, religious community or pious association. The usual norms for a plenary indulgence must still be met. To initiate this in your own parish, getting approval from your pastor is first and foremost. Once approved, you will need to gather a dedicated group of lay volunteers to help lead the Rosary before the different Masses. Start with the weekend Masses, and build into the daily Masses depending on the response of your parish. As families arrive for Mass, the Rosary prayers help them enter more deeply into the sacred space and allows parishioners to encounter and normalize group Rosary prayer.

3.) Sacred Art and Visuals for Group Prayer 

When praying the Rosary with others, it is particularly beneficial to have visual aids to utilize more of the senses and offer something to ponder. It can be easy to allow the mind to wander during the Rosary, and having something to gaze upon while praying can be so beneficial. If you are in a large group setting, such as a youth group or Bible study, you may be able to set up slides on a projector. For smaller groups, or with children in the home, age-appropriate booklets can be a great addition to prayer time.

4.) Take a Rosary Walk

A nature walk with the Rosary fosters a connection to God’s creation and divine plan, which is revealed to us in the mysteries of the Rosary. This is a particularly wonderful activity to do with children, but even adults find enjoyment spending time outside in prayer. Prior to starting, try designating a leader and then have different people lead each decade of the Rosary. 

Encounter and community are two key components to strengthening the prayer life of your family and parish. Whether you are a catechetical leader or leading the domestic church in your home, seek out ways to offer encounter opportunities that allow you and others to gather and experience the love of Christ.

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