When to Pray The Rosary (Even if You Have No Time)

Do you have the desire to pray the Holy Rosary each day but feel as if you don’t have enough time or perhaps you aren’t quite sure when you could devote time to do so?  While some may believe that praying the Rosary will take a significant amount of time, not only does it not but it is a powerful tool that every Catholic should keep in their “spiritual toolbox.”

Pope Leo XIII said, “the Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying.”

My grandmother, who was particularly devoted to our Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, prayed the Rosary regularly.  While I had never prayed the Rosary with my grandmother (something I wish I could turn back the clock to do!), I was very much aware of that the Rosary was a method of prayer.  I always had a Rosary by my bedside and the moment I started driving, I carried another one in my car.  It was not until shortly after we received a screening test that indicated our son had an increased risk of Down Syndrome (read more about that here) that I began to pray the Rosary each day.

In fact, it was a Facebook post shared by a friend that inspired me to do so.   The website, One Peter Five shares, “the most amazing thing about the Rosary is that Mary made 15 promises to those who recite it daily. These aren’t insignificant promises, but rather enormously helpful graces provided to those who are trying to live a good and faithful Catholic life.”

It has now been over two years that I have been praying the Rosary each day.   For me, praying the Holy Rosary has become a part of my daily routine and is a standard for me just like showering each day.   Similar to if I miss a shower one day, if for some reason I am not able to pray the Rosary, I just don’t feel right.  And unlike showering, there is no dry shampoo to substitute the Rosary.   
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My preferred method of praying the Rosary is sitting in a quiet room or at Church when I have ample time to focus and meditate on the mysteries.  However, as a mom to a rambunctious, loving and energetic toddler with a to-do list for both personal and professional duties which is continuously overflowing, I am not often granted a time to pray the Rosary quietly.  Being a fan of ‘feeding two birds with one seed’ I have found that there are many times in my day that I am able to pray the Rosary while engaging in other tasks. 

Here are several occurrences in a daily routine that could allow time to also pray the Rosary:

1. While cleaning the house, folding clothes and/or doing other chores around the house.
2. As a passenger in the car or while driving yourself.  If you are driving, please be mindful of your surroundings, use your fingers instead of the rosary beads!
3. During your commute to or from work if you ride public transit.
4. While exercising.  It is especially peaceful to pray the Rosary while exercising outdoors.
5. During a bath or shower.
6. While making breakfast, lunch or dinner. (Or all three!)
7. As you wait for a meeting, doctor visit or other appointment to begin.
8. During your lunch break while eating.
9. If you are a nursing mother, while breastfeeding or pumping breastmilk.
10. Pray the Rosary with your children!  Involve them in praying the Rosary early and hopefully it will be a prayer that will carry them throughout their entire lives.

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While many of these methods of praying the Rosary do not allow for holding the Rosary beads, as I mentioned earlier, you can use your fingers to keep count or a “Finger Rosary” as shown here. 

​Another way to keep track of the Hail Mary prayers is to say the number you are on after each Hail Mary.  For instance,
“Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.. One.”   
“Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.. Two.”
…and so on.                                

Whichever method you choose, praying the Rosary can and will change your life.   It would be selfish of me not to invite everyone, men, women and children, to incorporate praying the Holy Rosary of our Blessed Virgin Mary in their daily lives.

St. Josemaria Escriva said “the holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.”

Do you pray the Rosary during any other time in your day?  Please share with us on Facebook. 

​As always, thank you for reading.  God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

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