Alfred, Lord Tennyson, once wrote that “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Unfortunately, so many people turn to prayer as a last resort. I would suggest we turn to prayer as a first resort.
One of my favorite prayers is the rosary. Between the decades of the rosary I add two additional short prayers. One traditional prayer is: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.” I remember hearing that prayer as a boy when I was an altar server during Benediction way back in the 1950s. After Benediction, members of the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus or sodality recited those words during the rosary.
As a priest, I created an additional prayer of my own. Between the decades of the rosary, I pray: “Lord Jesus, may all people be free from suffering. May all people be free from fear. May all people be filled with peace and joy. May all people be filled with loving kindness. May all people come to the fullness of the life and the love in your kingdom where you live forever and ever.”
I always offer the first decade of the rosary in thanksgiving for all the good things in life. The second decade I offer for all the people who have asked for my prayers or for whom I have promised to pray. The third decade I pray that God will grant the fullness of life to the living and eternal life to the dead. The fourth decade I offer for the poor, the sick, the suffering and all who have asked for my prayers. The final decade I pray that all will be saved and that none will be lost.
Sometimes I pray the rosary while I’m walking downstairs in the basement of the rectory. I also pray the rosary often when I’m driving. I obviously concentrate on the driving, but the rosary seems to create an internal peace while I am driving. There’s no wrong way to pray.
Most often we pray in a building, perhaps home or in church, or from a book or hymnal. Formal prayers require us to be in a fixed position. The rosary offers us the chance to pray as we go.
