Over the last couple of years, I’ve really become a rosary pray-er. I used to pray it sporadically when I was in the car or when others were praying it, but for at least the past year or so, I’ve prayed it pretty much daily. I’ve always had a strong devotion to Mary, so I love going to her in prayer. One thing that always annoyed me, though, was having to pray the Apostles’ Creed at the beginning. Oftentimes, I would stumble over the exact wording of the Apostles’ versus the Nicene Creed and I wondered why I even needed to pray it. I thought to myself, “I know what we believe; I just want to start.”
A few months ago, though, I suddenly discovered something. After going to confession, my penance was to pray the Apostles’ Creed. As I prayed it, it hit me that praying the Creed was for none other than little ol’ me! It wasn’t for Jesus, it wasn’t for the Father or the Holy Spirit; it was meant for me–so that I could, once more, reaffirm and proclaim my faith. Wow. It all clicked. I then realized that each time I prayed the creed, I was, in fact, strengthening my faith. I was saying with all of me, “I believe…”
Since then, I’ve gladly prayed the Creed at the beginning of my rosaries and I’ve even taken up other basic prayers like the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love each day. I have to tell you, too, that I believe that I have received so many graces from it! These fundamental prayers of our Church are so important—they are absolute treasures. They say so much in so few words, and truly bring grace. I cannot really explain it, but I can feel a difference in myself. Different parts of the prayers stand out on different days and really come to life for me. For example, from the Act of Faith, “I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.” This teaches me obedience to the Church and her teachings and confidence in the Lord as He “can neither deceive nor be deceived.” That is powerful stuff! There is so much grace to be found in these prayers–I invite you to try praying them wholeheartedly everyday for a week and see how the Lord moves through them! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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Praying the rosary can change the world as well as us… Peace, Jane Collins
Love it! Reminds me of Mark 9:24 somehow
I never used to get the Creeds either, until a few months ago when our priest announced during his homily that he was being re-assigned. Of course saying goodbye to a Father, even (or perhaps especially) a spiritual one is painful, so as we stood to profess our faith, the congregation choked back tears and put on our brave faces – chins up, chests out – and leaned into those words, “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty…”
That was the first time I ever understood how powerful the Creeds really are. When everything else is changing and uncertain, our faith is there, strong and sturdy as ever, and we need to be reminded of it constantly, lest we look to something else for strength.