Praise comes in two parts: Song and Prayer. Singing is praying twice. God inhabits the Praise of his People. Where two or more are gathered in his Name, he is there- listening.
The Rosary, known to some billion Catholics worldwide is a Praise to the mystery of incarnation of God made man through whom redemption and salvation come to the World. For the stalward Presbyterian, it is composed of things routinely said in Presbyterian churches everywhere; the Glory Be To the Father and To The Son And To the Holy Ghost that is sung in services, with the Our Father everyone knows as the prayer that Jesus himself gave us. Added to it is a verse said by the ArchAngel Gabriel who told Mary that she was full of Grace (indeed "full of" the very definition of Grace; full, with the Christ Child) and Elizabeth her cousin's greeting that she is very blessed among women because she is carrying the savior, Messiah, of her people, and indeed the World.
Blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus (Yeshua). Hail Mary- said Gabriel- in the vernacular - Hey There Mary- you are full of Grace- unbelievably blessed are you among all the women the world. You're not going to believe this honey but hear me out ( I made up that part, what Gabriel really said was "Do Not Be Afraid."- there was a lot for anyone to be scared about-she was pregnant out of the blue, having slept with no one and her fiance was going to give her the What For like Nobody's business and probably dump her.)
Angels talk to people- they have throughout history. Elijah was fed by one in the desert, Job was visited by a few as were Abraham and Sarah. When they come to talk to you they don't mess around- they have something important to say. And they need your co-operation.
Mary's response, and the reason we have Christmas at all is "let it be done to me according to your Will." It wasn't exactly "Whatever Angel!" It wasn't "Gabriel who the hell are you!" it wasn't "Do I have a choice?" It wasn't "Talk to the Hand!" It wasn't "meet me in the confessional and tell me my sins first because I am so unworthy." It was simply -
I am going to do what you want. I am here to do what God wants. I exist to do what God wants. Note first she had to know what God wanted- he had to tell her, somehow- through an Angel. He told her in clear terms after doing something unmistakable- God knocked her up.
Today, the Angel might have to say something like "In our overly litigious paranoid society I am going to have to test you first to make sure you won't tell the Pharisees but I am here to tell you God really loves you and wants you girl. He wants you to be his so bad he is just going to knock you up." The Angel, and God apparently trusted Mary enough that she did not and wouldn't tell the Pharisees about God's plan. She hid it in her heart. She didn't sue Gabriel. She didn't sue God for hitting on her in a big way.
The opening preface to the various mysteries is a scriptural recitation from the birth, life and death of Christ. These are to be said thoughtfully and reverently. Saying the Rosary carries with it and conveys certain graces as does all sincere prayer-but this in a special way.
You can look up sites on how to say the Rosary just by googling "How To Say The Rosary." Could it be any easier? Here is one;
http://www.rosary-center.org/joyful.htm
The Christmas Season focuses on the joyful mysteries surrounding the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ.
Try it, you'll like it. I dare you. Sit still enough to recite the entire thing. And listen to your heart.
We are supposed to respond in our hearts- Let it be done to me according to your will. I exist to do what you want. Understanding His Will is more difficult if you can't or won't hear the Angels around you.
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