My church has some spiritual bouquet for the Blessed Virgin Mary on the nativity feastday which was yesterday, 8th September 2008. I was just passing by a corridor after mass and one of the ladies urged me to join in the group rosary. Basically, we just need to spend 30 minutes (at home) to say the rosary on 8th September. They have a chart for 18 hours (24 minus 6 hrs sleeping time) and we just pick one slot and put our names there. Not being able to say no is one of my weaknesses or rather, helpful point. So, I said, ok and filled the 11.30 to 12 midnight slot.
But here comes the funny part. I have never said the rosary alone, at home for like five years already. Initially, when I was taking my RCIA, I was taught by my friend to say the rosary. She also gave me a nice rosary. But I got a new baby after that and I didn’t even have time to take a breather, what more devote time for rosary.
Usually, if I am not too lazy, I will attend the sunset novena which is 30 minutes in church. But saying the rosary at home is a totally new thing to me. First, I need to find my rosary. I found one glow in the dark rosary belonging to my son. Next, I had to dig where I kept the booklet. I couldn’t find it.
Thank God for the internet, I found some websites which teach me how to say the rosary. So, with my rosary and the computer, I proceed. But my sons laughed because they said reading from the internet is not counted.
If that is not enough, I do not know what is the doxology. And suddenly, my mind went blank when I am supposed to say the Apostle’s Creed. Doxology is actually the ‘Glory be to the Father…world without end’. So, I Google for Apostle’s Creed and realised that I am reading the wrong one because our Catholic church is using the Nicene Creed. That means more Googling and my sons said, “Ma, you are cheating! You are not reciting the rosary but surfing the internet.”
Next thing is I do not know which mystery I am supposed to dwell on. After that, I do not know if I should end the rosary with which prayers.
Ah well….whatever it is, I completed all my five decades of Hail Mary. That means 5 x 10 + 3 Hail Mary = 53 times of Hail Mary.
However, the good thing is my son who is sitting for his important exam (UPSR) tomorrow joined me because he is now running to Mother Mary to help him. LOL, at least my kid shows some faith.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:43 am
David is a really funny boy. I like his umbrella dancing. I like the way he has fun with Matthew. Hope that he will do well in his UPSR.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Hi, thanks for highlighting all these different names of prayers. I’ve never heard of the Doxology nor the Nicene Creed. To me, they are just the ‘Glory Be’ and the ‘I Believe’. BTW, i googled and found Nicene Creed to start with We believe… while Apostle’s Creed start with I believe. I always thought when we say the rosary, we use the Apostle’s Creed (I believe) and on Sunday masses, we use Nicene Creed (We believe). Correct me if I’m wrong.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
eileen - Ya, they are almost the same with the difference of ‘I’ and ‘We’. Nowadays, we use the longer version in church.
choonie - Hope so.