The Comfort of Rosary Beads

Caroline Godin reflects on her prayer journey and the comfort she finds while praying the Rosary daily. 

Habit 

Some years ago, I started a devotion by praying a Rosary on my drive to work. I’m not sure what started this, but I was sure to finish with each ride even if I was parked for a few minutes and even if I was late. 

I’m a person of habit—maybe it’s part of my neurodiversity—so it’s difficult to stop something once I’m committed. A priest once suggested that I change up my routine and pray at lunch instead, but I couldn’t; it didn’t feel right. During Lent, I prayed on the way home too. It just worked for me. 

When I went through the transition of being let go from that job (where I’d worked for nearly 20 years), I threw myself on the Rosary. I cried when I prayed, not to be able to stay so much as to get through that terrible time. 

With no more commute, my Rosary time changed to the evening, but it’s still habitual. The best was that it became daily after that, not just on workdays. I will not go to sleep without having prayed a Rosary first. I won’t even go downstairs to hang out with my husband and big kids in the evening without praying the Rosary first. It must be done, or I can’t move on. 

Intentions 

Before each Rosary, I decide on a prayer intention. I sometimes waffle around this part, talking aloud to God and trying to decide for whom to pray. I’m very distractable, so I find I waste time getting around to a solid intention. When in doubt, I’ve taught myself, pray for the dead. 

The souls in Purgatory cannot pray for themselves. I’ll often dedicate a Tuesday or Friday Rosary to the souls in Purgatory, especially those I know who’ve passed on and those who have no one to pray for them. 

I pray for my husband to be the man God wants him to be. I pray for his strength, courage, and faith. I pray for my children each in special ways. I pray for them to continue loving our Lord and following His path for them. I pray for my parents, for their faith to not fail, and for their health inside and out. 

There’s never a shortage of intentions. The hardest part is picking one (or two) and letting myself think about that for the whole Rosary. That’s really the hardest. 

Did I mention I’m easily distracted? That’s okay. I pull myself back in when I realize I’ve been off track. I may even say a few extra Hail Marys. I’m sure I’ve said extra decades too. 

Methods 

Now, I’m all over the place for most of this. I need to keep my body moving or I’ll lose my train of thought. I’m just that kind of person. So, while I could sit for fifteen or so minutes and move beads between my fingers, I confess that’s not often the case.  

I’ll fold laundry and count with my feet—I was a dancer. I’ll do it on my drive home from Taekwondo some evenings if I’m alone and use my fingers—five up, five down, always holding the wheel. I’ll do it while my little one falls asleep with beads in one hand and pick out clothes for tomorrow with the other.  

No matter the method, my mind races on chores that need to get done if I’m not moving. If I’m moving with a nice mundane task, I’ll focus more on the prayer I’m saying. Might be an ADHD thing.  

I’ve learned to pray the Rosary in Latin. It’s beautiful! Certainly not required, but beautiful. But if my older son joins me, I switch to English for him. (Although he is taking Latin this year!) 

Click to tweet:
Mary promises us her protection when we devote ourselves to the Holy Rosary. Our loving Mother will never let her children down. #CatholicMom

Comfort in the Rosary 

No matter my stress—I have plenty—I find comfort in the Rosary. It doesn’t change in either its meaning or power. It’s constant and universal. Our Mother gave it to the whole world. There have been many miracles attributed to the Rosary. It’s saved lives and changed hearts. I know it’s grounded me in my times of distress and helped me in times of need.  

Mary promises us her protection when we devote ourselves to the Holy Rosary. Our loving Mother will never let her children down. She will come to our aid, comfort us in distress, and guide us in all our trials. So, with this in mind, I hope you take comfort in the Rosary as well. 

Copyright 2023 Caroline Godin
Images: Canva