Praying a Mother’s Rosary

Carmen Lappe considers how certain Mysteries of the Rosary are more applicable to some seasons of life, and creates her own meditations on these Mysteries.  

The Rosary has been part of my daily prayer routine for quite some time now. I still struggle to quiet my mind and fully enter into the Mysteries, and yet I would be lost without these rhythmic prayers to start my day.  

Recently, I’ve noticed certain Mysteries pulling me in, inviting me into a deeper focus and reflection. For example, whenever I get to the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Presentation in the Temple, my heart aches. I wonder how Mary must have felt as she received Simeon’s prophecy that her Son would be the rise and fall of many. Then I wonder how I would have felt if, during our son’s Baptism, someone told me Damien would be diagnosed with a brain tumor and vision challenges in just a few short years.  

Entering into the Mystery  

When a particular Mystery of the Rosary is especially striking, whether for me, my family’s situation, or specific moments in my life as a mother, I try to enter into that Mystery (or Mysteries) through the lens of my own similar experiences. As I reflect on the life of Christ through our Mother’s eyes, I seek to become more like Him. And I believe that’s all Mary wants: for us to be more like her Son.   

With that in mind, I began to pray a unique Rosary where each Mystery is an event from the life of Jesus or Mary that we can reflect on through our own experiences of motherhood. Rather than following an existing set of Mysteries all the way through, I’ve cherry-picked those that apply specifically to my life at any given time.   

Four Sample Meditations for my “Mother’s Rosary”  

The Annunciation/The Nativity.  

Reflect on the moment you found out you were going to be a mother, whether naturally or through the gift of adoption. Or recall the moment you first held your child. Ask Mary to pray for you to always be open to God’s will. Thank God for the gift of life!   

The Agony in the Garden.  

Motherhood is challenging. There have been many days I’ve wanted to give up, many days when I’ve argued with God about why He called me to this vocation. Jesus’ words in the Garden, “Not my will but yours be done, Lord” (Luke 22:42), is often the only prayer I can muster. And that’s okay.   

The Wedding at Cana.  

As my children grow and I ponder what their own unique vocation might be, my prayer is that of Mary in the Second Luminous Mystery: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). That’s my greatest wish for them: to constantly seek the Lord and discern His call.   

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist.  

My daughter’s love for our Eucharistic Lord, in both Communion and Adoration, is such an inspiration. My prayer for this Mystery is that she always stays close to Jesus and lives her faith with joy and zeal.  

There’s no right or wrong way to create and pray your own Mother’s Rosary. I invite you to spend time reflecting on your experiences and ponder how they can draw you closer to our Mother and her Son.  

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Copyright 2025 Carmen Lappe
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