"The Rosary is the most powerful prayer"

[Marie5890]

Originally Posted by wasserfall

Fair enough.

One of the most pernicious errors of the modern world is the assumption that if something cannot be demonstrated by historical-evidentiary methods, it is necessarily false.

Yes, there is always the risk when assumptions are made in any area of life.

Humans are very prone to making them. It's also a fair point that human beings can also believe in pious myths and legends.

[thewanderer]

Originally Posted by wasserfall

Fair enough.

One of the most pernicious errors of the modern world is the assumption that if something cannot be demonstrated by historical-evidentiary methods, it is necessarily false.

Isn't it just as bad to assume that because someone told you about it that it is true? Each person must make their own decision about what they will believe about it, whether or not one believes in all of the promises attatched to it it is still an extremely powerful prayer and one that is given a special place in the Church, after Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

[wasserfall]

Originally Posted by thewanderer

Isn't it just as bad to assume that because someone told you about it that it is true?

No. Oral history is a legitimate source of information.

[TimothyH]

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

The Fatima prayer is a modified version of the Jesus Prayer. I believe that is the most powerful prayer because it invokes the mercy of God through the most magnificent name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I was thinking that when I read the thread, that the Jesus prayer was similar to the Fatima prayer.

For me the Jesus prayer definitely has power. I find it a particularly strong defensive weapon against temptation. When that temptation comes which turns you upside down and you feel like you could be headed for the brink, that is when I take a few deep breaths and begin breathing the Jesus prayer. When specific temptation seems to last for days, I pray the Rule of St. Pachomius and Satan has always fled. After two or three experiences like this I am able to recognize such temptations easier and don't hesitate. I carry my eastern prayer rope together with my rosary all the time.

I find the Jesus prayer to be a defensive weapon and the rosary to be an offensive weapon.
That's just me. The Jesus prayer is something I really need to share with more of my Roman Catholic friends.


-Tim-

[Marie5890]

Originally Posted by TimothyH

I was thinking that when I read the thread, that the Jesus prayer was similar to the Fatima prayer.

For me the Jesus prayer definitely has power. I find it a particularly strong defensive weapon against temptation. When that temptation comes which turns you upside down and you feel like you could be headed for the brink, that is when I take a few deep breaths and begin breathing the Jesus prayer. When specific temptation seems to last for days, I pray the Rule of St. Pachomius and Satan has always fled. After two or three experiences like this I am able to recognize such temptations easier and don't hesitate. I carry my eastern prayer rope together with my rosary all the time.

I find the Jesus prayer to be a defensive weapon and the rosary to be an offensive weapon.
That's just me. The Jesus prayer is something I really need to share with more of my Roman Catholic friends.


-Tim-

Love your description of the Jesus Prayer. I pray it often during the day even if "only" to center myself again and bring His presence back to my mind and soul.

For me, the Rosary is for when I want to meditate, the Jesus Prayer when I want to be "right there with Him, or Him with me" in the moment. It's more personal and conversational. The Rosary, more of a disciplined exercise in meditation.

And the Divine Office---(when I have the time)---purifying.
Mass---sanctifying and worshipful....

[thewanderer]

Originally Posted by wasserfall

No. Oral history is a legitimate source of information.

Yes, but how do you know what is told to you is a legitimate oral history if all you have to go off of is that someone told you it is. This is how rumors can snowball into ridiculous proportions. I am not refering specifically to oral traditions, my point was to show that there is nothing wrong with looking up the history of something, or just in general fact-checking what someone else tells you, no one is ever right 100% of the time, and often completely false rumors will be circulated as fact because people just accepted what they were told as fact without attempting to verify it. A rather funny example of this I have experienced was to do with a rumor going around about one of my professers at College. He graduated with a BA, went on to get his Doctorate in 3 years, and then came back and began to teach right away at the same college he had graduated from. The rumor went around that because of this he spent a year as a professor while people he knew as students were still at the college (those who were freshmen his senior year). People wondered how weird it must have been, being a professer of those you used to be fellow students with, and it went around for quite a while, I must even shamefacedly admit that I also accepted this as true until it was pointed out to me that the math just didn't add up. Those who were freshmen his senior year would have spent the next three years completing their four year course (This particular college only offers one degree and it is a 4 year course) and have graduated right before he came back to teach. But I and so many others accepted it as true simply because we heard it from someone else. While of course we all operate like this to some extent because it would be impossible to double check everything, it is a very good habit to get into. The only reason I mentioned it is that at the mention that one might want to look at the history behind the devotion you flared up and started talking about the "pernicious errors of the modern world". Relax, fact checking is a good thing. Also, it is not necessary to believe in the promises associated with the rosary to pray the rosary or be a good Catholic, nor so far as I know for those same promises to apply to you. Whether or not one believes in the promises the Rosary is still the private devotion with place of honour in the Latin Church, looking up history does not necessarily make one reject the devotion of the Rosary, even if they don't believe in the promises associated with it.