Dear Friends,

At the beginning of the summer, I wrote a column about ten ways to have a good Catholic summer on Nantucket. This week, since October is the Month of the Holy Rosary, I offer ten things one can’t do while praying the Rosary:

1)  You can’t watch TV or the news.
For twenty minutes or so, the noise stops. Sadly, the headlines will still be there when you’re finished.

2)  You can’t argue about politics.
When the beads are in your hands, the focus shifts away from Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, and back to Jesus Christ. That alone is very good!

3)  You can’t think ill of your neighbor.
It’s hard to ask God for mercy while spending the whole time thinking about what is wrong with someone else.

4)  You can’t argue with your husband or wife.
You may argue before the Rosary. You may even argue after it. But for those few minutes, you have to stop. Sometimes that pause is exactly what is needed.

5)  You can’t scroll social media.
Put the phone down and pick the beads up. For a little while, there are no likes, comments, notifications, or endless scrolling.

6)  You can’t be ungrateful to God.
The mysteries of the Rosary remind us of everything God has done for us. Gratitude begins to replace complaining.

7)  You can’t be joyless — which is different from being unhappy.
We all have times when we are sad, worried, or overwhelmed. But Christian joy is deeper than happiness. The Rosary reminds us that God is with us, that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and that suffering never has the final word.

8)  You can’t gossip about someone.
It’s difficult to tear someone apart while saying, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.” The person we are tempted to criticize may need our prayers more than our criticism.

9)  You can’t hold onto a grudge quite as tightly.
You may begin the Rosary angry. You may even finish still struggling. But spending time with the mercy of Jesus has a way of loosening our grip on resentment.

10)  You can’t convince yourself that everything depends on you.
   This may be the most important one. We spend so much time worrying, planning, fixing, and trying to control everything. The Rosary reminds us, one bead at a time, that we are not God.

   Maybe these are some of the reasons the Rosary brings such peace. For a little while, we stop arguing, scrolling, judging, worrying, and trying to control everything.

   And with Mary, we simply turn our attention back to Jesus.

   So during this Month of the Holy Rosary, get those beads out and pray. You may be surprised not only by what the Rosary helps you do, but by what it helps you stop doing.

   While we are at it, let’s pray for one another and for our parish.

God bless you all!  

                                                                                  Fr. John