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Monday, August 6, 2012

Rosary Series 1: Is the Rosary biblical?

Many Non-Catholics claim that the Rosary is not only unnecessary, but that it is also unbiblical. They fail to see the biblicality of the rosary and the importance of it.
  
   What is the Rosary?

The rosary is merely a reflection on the life of Jesus and Mary, thus there is nothing unblicical, nor unchristian about it. The first 18 mysteries of the rosary which make up the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and the beginning of the glorious mysteries can all be found directly from scripture. This includes the nativity of Jesus, his passion, and his resurrection, which are all biblical. The last two mysteries, the Assumption, and the Coronation of the Virgin Mary can be taken indirectly from scripture.

As to the assumption of the Virgin Mary it is to be noted that there are passages in the old testament that give a glimpse to the possibility of an assumption, this includes Enoch and Elijah. In 2 Kings 2 it says "And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elias into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elias and Eliseus were going from Galgal." This passages is saying that although Elijah was probably not assumed into heaven, it is possible for this to happen.

The quotes below can be of use

   "That privilege has shone forth in new radiance since our predecessor of immortal memory, Pius IX, solemnly proclaimed the dogma of the loving Mother of God's Immaculate Conception. These two privileges are most closely bound to one another. Christ overcame sin and death by his own death, and one who through Baptism has been born again in a supernatural way has conquered sin and death through the same Christ. Yet, according to the general rule, God does not will to grant to the just the full effect of the victory over death until the end of time has come. And so it is that the bodies of even the just are corrupted after death, and only on the last day will they be joined, each to its own glorious soul."
  
"Now God has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary should be exempted from this general rule. She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body."- The Vatican

As for the coronation of the Virgin Mary

In revelations 12, scripture depicts a woman in heaven with a crown in her head. This can be alluded to the Coronation of Mary. Paul then says in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 " As to the rest of us there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the lord will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love is coming. These two verses can allude that we can in fact get coronated once we are in heaven, and thus explains that Mary was in fact coronated.

   Prayers of the Rosary

   The Our Father
  
One of the main prayers in the Rosary besides the Hail Mary is the Our Father. Not only is it biblical, but it is one of the most important Christian prayers. In Mt 6:9-13 and Lk 11:2-4 Jesus tells us the way we should pray, and thus gives us this prayer.

   The Hail Mary
  
The second prayer of the rosary, the one most people know, The Hail Mary, is made up all from biblical passages.  In Lk 1:28 The angel Gabriel greeted Mary and said "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Then in Lk 1:41-42 it says "And Elizabeth filled with the holy ghost, And she cried out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

   Glory be

Finally as for the Glory be, doesn't the bible mention praising God and the Lord many times both in the Old and New Testament. In Psa 150:1 It says "Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power." So how could it be unbiblical for the rosary to have this prayer included. What better method to pray the rosary than for praising our Lord.



This is to say that both the purpose of the rosary, and the prayers in the rosary are all biblical.

 

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