www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Question about rosary

Do people of the Eastern Rite say the Rosary?

John,

Lots of Eastern Catholics pray the Rosary. Lots don't. The Rosary is primarily a Roman devotion, but since the Roman Catholic Chuch is overwhelmingly the "default" Catholic Church in the US, and because of the gross latinizations which took place early in our Churches' history in this country, most Eastern Catholics are quite familiar with it.

The Rosary is a holy and praiseworthy PRIVATE devotion. It has no place in the public liturgical tradition of the East, but is a treasured part of the prayer life of many - not all of whom are Roman, or even Catholic.


Cheers,


Sharon


Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

I guess what I am asking is...Would it be considered improper if a person was saying the rosary in an Eastern Rite Church?

John,

It would be improper if that person were praying the Rosary during a service. It would also be improper if it was being done in a manner which was distracting to others.
Aside from that, you might check with the pastor. It shouldn't be offensive, but there are parishes which are somewhat touchy about perceived Latinizations. In other parishes you'll find a number of people in the pews also praying the Rosary. It's really nobody's business but yours and your Spiritual Father's how you choose to pray, but it never hurts to be aware and considerate of local custom.

Best,


Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

John,

I cannot speak for all Byzantines but what I can tell you is that in the Melkite Church I never saw anyone reciting the rosary in the Church. I was however a bit shocked to find it done in the Ruthenian Church. It is done before the early service on Sunday by a few people who I believe were or still are Latin Rite Catholics.

Not sure if this helps any.

Jeff

Jeff,

Last Sunday at the Great Entrance I was surprised to see a man with a rosary in his hand (normally we see prayer ropes). He has prayed the rosary since childhood, and saw no reason to stop. In fact, there is nothing wrong with the rosary. It's a Latin devotion, but may people outside the Latin Church (and outside the Catholic Church) find it useful.

Edward, deacon and sinner

I agree. The Rosary is a Latin devotion that was developed to provide a prayer experience based upon the major feasts of the church. It was prayerful and catechetical at the same time. (The Germans intersperse phrases based upon the mystery being commemorated into the Hail Marys: "...thy womb Jesus, WHO WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM FOR US. --, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED FOR US, etc. Holy Mary, .....)

It's interesting that in the East, we don't do repetition, although we are accused of it fairly frequently. We prefer the Akathist ("not seated") prayer to the Mother of God. We kinda like the poetry and the cadences, as well as the rhythms of the odes.)

Fr. Deacon Ed,

I must clarify that I find nothing wrong with reciting the rosary and in fact have done it myself on numerous occasions. I find it to be a very beautiful prayer and in harmony with all Church teachings that I have been instructed with. My only "shock" came due to the fact that I did not think that it was done in the Byzantine Rite. I also donot think that it should be done as part of the Liturgy, of course it is not part of the Roman Rite mass either.

Yours in Christ,

Jeff

Dr. John,

We don't do repetition??????????? I am really confused now. We DO REPEAT certain words, phrases etc... Please if I am misunderstanding this area please let me know.

Yours in Christ,

Jeff

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

John D

I just have a few comments. John, I also pray the Rosary . I pray to the Mother of God standing using traditional Orthodox prayers. The Rosary is a prayer rope. Both Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics use prayer ropes to pray to the Mother of God. Both Orthodox Christians and Catholics repeat their prayers.

There are five differences. 1) The Orthodox use of the prayer rope for Marian prayer antedates the Roman practice by several centuries. 2) The texts of the Orthodox and Roman prayers differ. 3) Roman Catholics can pray in a group. 4) Roman Catholics introduced the element of meditation to the Orthodox practice of repeating prayers to Mary while using a prayer rope. 5) Roman Catholics developed the practice of group prayer in church before Mass.

So, John, should you see group prayer of the Rosary before Divine Liturgy in a Byzantine church it is a latinization, as Sharon has made clear. Byzantine Catholics are slowly moving away from group prayer of the Rosary in place of some other service. You will continue to see rosaries in Melkite, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, and Ruthenian churches.