How I Learned To Pray!
Thoughts On The Holy Rosary And The Crown Of Thorns
I enjoy listening to podcasts of Catholic Evangelist Dr. Taylor Marshall. In the podcast* I listened to this morning, Dr. Marshall interviewed Fr. Donald Calloway on the history and importance of the Holy Rosary. Dr. Marshall and Fr. Calloway are both Catholic converts. Dr. Marshall was formally an Episcopalian minister. Fr. Calloway led a troubled life as a teen and young adult. He was heavily involved in drugs and sex. Fr. Calloway also spent time in jail. Finally, this troubled young man learned about Our Blessed Mother and reached out to her. She intervened in his life, leading him to convert to Catholicism and to become a priest.
This podcast was a follow up on Fr. Calloway’s book, **Champions of the Rosary. Near the end of the podcast, Dr. Marshall asked Father Calloway which decade of the Rosary is his favorite. While Father was trying to decide, I started to softly repeat, “crown of thorns, crown of thorns, crown of thorns!” Fr. Calloway didn’t seem to have a favorite decade, so Dr. Marshall gave an example saying, “such as, crown of thorns.” At that moment, the words, crown of thorns, lined up exactly with my reciting, “crown of thorns.” A small happening! Yet, it made me feel sentimental and teary eyed. The Crown of Thorns is my favorite decade of the Rosary. My heart beats a little faster when I come to the 3rd decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries. Finally, Fr. Calloway gave an example of a decade of the Rosary that he likes very much and explained why.
I love the Sorrowful Mysteries and pray them every day during Lent. I can’t say when the crown of thorns became my favorite decade but this form of torture was not normal treatment for a person being crucified. The crown of thorns was just for Jesus, used not only to torture Jesus but to scorn, mock, insult, ridicule, humiliate, show contempt and bitterly deride, and to deny and discredit Our Lord! I desire to offer consolation to Jesus by honoring the mental and physical suffering Christ received through the crown of thorns. I beg of You, tell me, Oh Lord, what I must do to make reparation for this truly outrageous extremely unjust act committed against you? This despicable, disgraceful, deplorable, ignominious act? How may I make reparation for the physical as well as the mental agony brought about by this act of violence? Oh Lord, please tell me!
In the podcast, Father Calloway stated that he always carries a rosary in his pocket and has prayed the Rosary every day for the past 24 years. He admits that he may have missed some days, but very few. For a long time, I’ve had the goal to pray the Rosary everyday but I miss days, too many days. My love of the Rosary was renewed after listening to this podcast. I realize now that there’s no reason for me to ever miss a day of praying the Rosary. I attend daily Mass. If I pray the Rosary before or after Mass I’ll have the added blessing of praying the Rosary in the presence of Our Lord always present in Blessed Sacrament. By doing this, I also qualify for a ***plenary indulgence, which I can offer to the poor soul in purgatory to help relieve their suffering and bring them closer to heaven.
Whether we already pray the Rosary every day or only occasionally, the podcast and book will renew our faith in this powerful prayer.
I recommend everyone reading this article to listen to Dr. Marshall’s podcast.
*http://taylormarshall.com/2016/10/117-fr-donald-calloway-champions-of-the-rosary-podcast.html
Also, you can find Father Calloways’s book Champions of the Rosary on his website **http://www.fathercalloway.com/books-and-gifts
*** Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Rosary (Enchiridion of Indulgences) A plenary indulgences is granted, if the Rosary is recited in a church or public oratory or in a family group, a religious Community or pious Association: a partial indulgence is granted in other circumstances. A plenary indulgence can be gained, once a day, by praying the Rosary, privately or in common, before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed or in the tabernacle. (This is true owing to the plenary indulgence attached to a practice of Eucharistic adoration that is at least one half hour in length, according to the Enchiridion). The gaining of the plenary indulgence is regulated by the following norms: The recitation of a third part only of the Rosary suffices; but the five decades must be recited continuously.The vocal recitation must be accompanied by pious meditation on the mysteries.
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About the Author
Years ago, I suffered from severe anxiety and had many worries. I suffered and was distant from God for almost two years. Finally, I accepted the grace God had been giving me. Jesus loves me unconditionally. I need to love Him unconditionally as well. Jesus and I made a covenant a few years ago when I accepted Him back into my life. I made a promise never lose sight of Jesus again, to keep Him in my life forever. Jesus to help me keep my promises by giving me reminders. Now I’m happy. I understand that every challenge God placed in my path has been for my benefit. There are no obstacles in my path to heaven, unless I choose to take what God gives me and turn it into an obstacle. And though I’m not completely where I need be in trusting Providence and in doing God’s will, this is my life goal. Everything makes sense with God. I desire to share the joy I have in knowing Jesus with others.
