Kindle Books for Catholic Educators: The Rosary

With the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary coming up on October 7, the following two Kindle books are excellent resources for preparing to explain the rosary to students.

Praying the Rosary, by Megan Mckenna. Doubleday. Printed Length: 272 pp. Kindle Price: $9.99.

Internationally acclaimed author Megan McKenna gives this Catholic tradition enriched modern relevance in a completely up-to-date guide to praying the Rosary, designed for general readers and incorporating the recent additions made by Pope John Paul II.

As a speaker, teacher, and bestselling Catholic author, Megan McKenna has informed and inspired audiences both in- and outside of the Catholic tradition with her warmhearted, contemporary approach to spirituality. Now she turns her attention to the Rosary, revealing the universality of this ancient practice and how it can enrich lives today.

Praying the Rosary—the act of counting off prayers with a string of beads in a rhythm of focused spiritual contemplation—is a practice that has existed for centuries and is common to many faiths. For the world’s one billion Catholics it has become the most popular form of devotion. Though strongly associated with The Rosary - Mckennathe Virgin Mary, the prayers of the Rosary are ultimately meant to bring those who say them closer to Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are central to all branches of the Christian faith. This gives the Rosary an ecumenical dimension that is in sync with today’s emphasis on the common bonds, rather than the divisions, among all Christians. In 2002, Pope John Paul II updated the Rosary by adding a new section on the teachings of Jesus, further emphasizing the centrality of Christ and the biblical Gospels at the heart of the prayers. Embracing this ecumenical attitude in Praying the Rosary, Megan McKenna explores the Rosary and explains how to pray it, incorporating the Pope’s recent additions and revealing its relevance to a new generation. She breaks down the Rosary into its twenty components, prefacing each with a selection from Scripture that identifies the prayer’s source in the Bible. Combining practical instruction with meditative reflections on the prayer’s spirituality, she reveals the Rosary’s richly contemplative nature and shows how praying the Rosary can inspire peaceful, calm attitudes, and an awareness of the universal spiritual mystery that connects all Christians. –Amazon.com

The Rosary: A Path into Prayer, by Liz Kelly. Loyola Press. Printed Length: 174 pp. Kindle Price: $9.56.

An introduction to the rich tradition of rosary devotion, with new material on the recently added Rosary - Kellyluminous mysteries.

The rosary is a central element in the prayer lives of countless people, though it is still often neglected and misunderstood. The Rosary, an updated and revised version of The Seeker’s Guide to the Rosary (Loyola Press, 2001), is a comprehensive look at the history, practice, and benefits of rosary devotion. Designed to introduce the reader to the mysteries of this simple meditative prayer, author Liz Kelly gently guides the reader on an exploration of this powerful prayer that is well suited even to this modern world.

15 Rosary Resources for October

Because October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, October is traditionally considered the month of the rosary. This is an excellent time of the year to reacquaint your students with this beautiful method of prayer.

The following links may be helpful as you plan your religion lessons for the month:

  1. Rosarium Virginis Mariae – Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter on praying the rosary
  2. How to Pray the Rosary – from the Rosary Confraternity
  3. Come, Pray the Rosary – A beautiful site for praying the rosary onlineRosary Beads
  4. For People Who Can’t Stand the Rosary – 4 reasons to give the rosary a chance
  5. Rosary Army – “Make them. Pray them. Give them away.”
  6. Rosary for Job Seekers – From the Anchoress
  7. 12 Tips for Praying the Family Rosary Daily – From Taylor Marshall
  8. USCCB Rosaries for Life – Beautiful rosary meditations that focus on the value and wonder of human life
  9. A Rosary for Healing and Protection – From the USCCB Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection (pdf)
  10. Real Men Pray the Rosary – Facebook Page
  11. Scriptural Rosary Podcasts – Sound files from Franciscan University of Steubenville
  12. The Rosary from CatholicTV – Various different video rosaries, including some which feature Catholic school students and others which are in 3D (yes, 3D!)
  13. RosaryLive.com – During live recitations of the rosary, viewers can contribute prayer intentions
  14. Online Rosary – An easy-to-follow aid to praying the rosary
  15. Holy Rosary Deluxe – An iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app for praying the rosary

The Hail Mary in Different Languages:

Fr. James Martin, SJ on the Rosary:

Celebrities Pray the Rosary in New DVD Release

Rosary Stars DVD
Rosary Stars DVD

What do World Series pitcher Jeff Suppan, NFL wide receiver Chris Horn, Transformers star Matthew Marsden, and Bella star Eduardo Verástegui, have in common? They’re all featured in a new DVD from Family Theater Productions titled Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel.

This production looks like it will be a powerful new resource to encourage families to pray the rosary. According to the Family Theater Productions web site, the DVD will include a rosary tutorial, a history of the devotion, and a complete rosary led by celebrities from various fields.

The rosary is a great way to transition young Catholics into meditative prayer, because it blends the memorized prayers of their early years with contemplation on the life of Jesus.

Other stars include Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza, “Doritos girl” Ali Landry, and major league baseball All-Star Mike Sweeney. Take a look at the trailer:

To order the DVD, visit the Holy Cross Family Ministries online store.

Thanks to Jean at Catholic Fire for the tip.