The Use and Purpose of the Rosary

The Rosary is a Roman Catholic tradition that may have originated in the early 1200's. Traditionally, it is said that the first rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition by the Virgin Mary. However, historically it is believed that the creation and use of the Rosary may have gradually evolved through the centuries, originating as knots on a string to keep track of repetitive silent prayer.

The term Rosary comes from the Latin word rosarium which means "rose garden" or "garland of roses." Currently, the term Rosary represents a set of prayer beads which are used as a physical way of keeping track of prayer and meditation in a repeated sequence. The sequence, also known as a decade, consists of the Lord's Prayer followed by ten Hail Mary prayers, and a single praying of "Glory be to the Father,..." After each decade one should meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary.

The Mysteries of the Rosary are 15 events in the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, his mother. These Mysteries are divided up in to three distinct groups, the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries.

The Use and Purpose of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation - the Virgin Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and told she will conceive the son of God.

2. The Visitation - the Virgin Mary visits with Saint Elizabeth whom is 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist.

3. The Nativity - the birth of Jesus Christ.

4. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Mary and Joseph present baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to perform the redemption of the first born in accordance with the Law of Moses.

5. The Finding of the child Jesus in the Temple - Jesus, at age 12, goes missing while returning from the Temple during Passover and is later found back at the Temple and in discussion with the elders who were amazed at his knowledge of the scripture.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden - Jesus prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane immediately after the Last Supper. He went with three of his disciples who fell asleep while he was in prayer.

2. The Scourging at the Pillar - Jesus is stripped and scourged (beaten) unmercifully.

3. The Crowning with Thorns - the Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, dressed him in a purple robe, and said "Hail, King of the Jews".

4. The Carrying of the Cross - Jesus carries his cross to the place of his crucifixion.

5. The Crucifixion - Jesus is nailed to the cross and left to die.

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection - after Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial in a tomb, Jesus resurrects on the third day, also known as Easter.

2. The Ascension - Jesus' body ascends to heaven while in the presence of the apostles.

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles and followers of Jesus.

4. The Assumption of Mary - upon the Virgin Mary's death she was physically, body and soul, taken up into heaven.

5. The Coronation of the Virgin Mary - God and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, place a crown on the head of Mary crowning her Queen of Heaven.

Most rosaries have 15 decades which correspond to each of the 15 mysteries of the rosary. Some may have more, which include the Luminus Mysteries added in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. Both rosaries also have a shorter strand, which starts with a crucifix followed by one large, three small, and one large bead, which connects to the rest of the rosary. The praying of the rosary starts with the short strand by reciting the "Apostle's Creed" at the crucifix followed by the "Our Father" at the first large bead, three "Hail Mary's" on the next three beads, and then the "Glory be to the Father,..." on the next large bead. The praying of the decades then follows until the Rosary is complete.

Rosaries can be made from a wide variety of materials including glass, wood, bone, crushed flowers, semi-precious stones and other precious materials including crystal, pearl, silver, and gold. Whatever the material, the Rosary is used today in the Catholic Church as a way to pray and meditate about the life of the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus Christ.

The Use and Purpose of the Rosary
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Breaking the Ice at a Christian Cell Group

Cell groups do not have to be strictly serious learning. Of course, people go to cell groups to learn and to grow in their relationship with Jesus. But many also go to develop relationships with other members. So if you are leading a cell group and are noticing some hesitation and some resistance between members to share with one another and develop relationships with one another, there are some ice breakers you can do at the beginning of the meeting to help get the ball rolling.

A great, easy ice breaker is the game "If I were a..." This game is great because members do not have to get up and walk around to play it. Everyone takes turns saying something silly about themselves. "If I were a movie I would be an action-adventure movie because my life is full of nonstop action." Or, "If I were a cake I would be an upside down pineapple cake, because sometimes my life is pretty upside down." Start the game yourself, and go around the room so that everyone gets a chance to say something silly. A few laughs can liven up any meeting and encourage people to share more than they would have previously.

Another great ice breaker is "Who am I?" Everyone writes a name of a famous person a sticky note. That sticky note is then placed on another person's forehead, so that the person wearing the sticky note does not know what it says. Every person then takes turns asking the group yes or no questions about the name on their sticky note to figure out what it says. The first person to guess wins. A more simple way of breaking the ice is having everyone go around the room and introduce themselves, but instead of saying just their name and where they are from, they have to name one of their favorite things.

Breaking the Ice at a Christian Cell Group

When choosing ice breakers for you group, keep in mind that most people do not go to small groups to then have to get up and walk around. Try to choose a game or some other ice breaker that involves the least amount of having to move around. Games that allow members to stay in their chairs are the best. Ice breakers are great for new groups, or other groups that may have been having trouble connecting with one another. A big part of any small group is the building of friendships between members. Members are encouraged to share at small groups so that they can receive support and prayer from other members. But, if the ice has never been broken, it can be especially hard for people to share or connect with others.

Breaking the Ice at a Christian Cell Group
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Stephen Lawes is a Pastor/Church Growth Consultant who writes about Church Growth Ideas. Christian Cell Groups [http://christiancellgroups.christianadvantage.info] and Christian Small Groups [http://christiansmallgroups.christianadvantage.info] are two ways to help promote Church Growth.

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Christian Discernment - A Practical Definition

What is really involved in Christian discernment? Is it something mystical? An inner sense? Or is it more practical than that?

Hebrews 5:14 notes that discernment is the ability to recognize good and evil: "Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." But you might say that recognizing good and evil is the end product of discernment. What about the actual process of discernment: how do we get to the point of recognizing good from evil? How do we gain that ability? What is involved in discernment? If we know the process, we will get the product.

The process begins with establishing a solid definition. The American Heritage Dictionary defines discernment as: "To detect or perceive with the eye or the mind; to perceive the distinctions of [which can be considered "to define"]; to discriminate."

Christian Discernment - A Practical Definition

To detect. To define. To discriminate. Three "D's" that define "discernment."

To detect. The first aspect of discernment is detection. Put simply: open your eyes! Be observant. Pay attention. Scripture commands us to "be sober" (I Thess. 5:8), and to be "on the alert" (I Peter 5:8).

Remember what the Bible says about Satan and sin and evil: that people fall prey to "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life" (I John 2:16). That "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" (James 1:13). That there are people who "hold fast to themselves for an evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly; they ... devise injustices ... for the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep" (Psalm 64:5-6).

The implication is that evil is often disguised, camouflaged, or hidden. You have to be watching out for it. Satan doesn't walk around with a sign around his neck that says, "Satan: Watch Out!" In fact, the Bible teaches that he often appears as an "angel of light" (II Cor. 11:14). He is a deceiver - "a liar, and the father of lies" (John 8:44). You have to keep your eyes open, or you will lose the battle before you ever knew there was a fight.

To define. The second aspect of discernment is to define what you see. First, you have to see what's around you. Then, you have to think about what defines it. What are the characteristics of this thing, this thought, this situation? Why do I want this thing, this goal? How is this the same or different from other good or evil things I am familiar with?

To discriminate. First, you detect something. Then, you define it. Finally, you have to decide about it. "I've thought about this thing, this thought, this situation, this decision in my mind. These are its characteristics. Now, what does the Bible say about this? What does my reason tell me about this? What do trustworthy Christians think about this? What is God's Spirit telling me about this?"

This is where you are deciding if something is good or evil. After that, it is up to you to obey God, or to disobey him. Remember, the spiritual discipline of discernment - like all spiritual disciplines - is meant to bring us closer to God. Discernment helps us to recognize good and evil, and therefore, if we choose the good, to live a holy life. In doing so, it strengthens and deepens our relationship to God.

Detecting, defining, and discriminating: three very practical "D's" that define the art of Christian discernment.

Note: All Scripture references are from the NAS translation.

© 2008 Paula Marolewski

You have my permission to reprint and distribute this article as long as it is distributed in its entirety, including all links and copyright information. This article is not to be sold or included with anything that is sold.

Christian Discernment - A Practical Definition
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Paula J. Marolewski provides challenging and interactive adult Bible studies for individuals, Bible studies, small groups, and adult Sunday School classes at Sink Your Roots (www.SinkYourRoots.com). The above article is an excerpt from Good vs. Evil: The Discipline of Discernment.

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Salutary Neglect

The strict Salutary Neglect policy arose from Great Britain's endeavor to promote prosperity within the Colonies. This act was endorsed by St. Andrews Episcopal, and existed from 1607-1763. It was enacted in an attempt to limit English control over the American Colonies by permitting more freedoms to the pilgrims. This policy imperatively developed American society in legislative assemblies, commerce, and religion.

Salutary Neglect led to the formation of legislative assemblies within the colonies due to the lack of governing influence in North America. Citizens exercised their newfound freedom and formed legislative assemblies leading to the establishment of their own government. The movement towards a governmental system by legislative assemblies was provoked by the unjust rule of the British monarchy. The English colonists' strived to achieve a Democratic government of choice, distinctly separate and essentially improved upon from the heredity of a malicious monarchy. These diligent efforts led to the formation of the House of Burgesses in 1619, the leading sovereign government; additionally they led to the creation of the Mayflower Compact, which would later form the American Constitution.

Salutary Neglect's influence on the colonies was crucial to the development of many aspects within the American society; of course commerce was no exception. The newly established freedoms in legislature were responsible for managing colonial commerce, which relied profoundly upon the Triangular Trade, foreign trade, and colonial trade. Though the British tried to control colonial trade with the Navigation Acts in 1650, procrastinated enforcement of these policies disrupted foreign trade, and severely angered colonists. The necessities so bountifully relied upon, along with the trade relations amongst fellow countries had been severed by the ravenous ways of England.

Salutary Neglect

The effect of Great Britain's Salutary Neglect policy on American society had a devastating impact on religion within the colonies. Primarily, colonists experienced extraordinary religious tolerance and freedom. Elated by their divergence from the Church of England new spiritual liberties led Puritan colonists to desirably center the importance of open creed. With this perception focused in the minds of the colonists The Great Awakening commenced, spreading renown amongst the colonies, people flocked to the churches seeking salvation without persecution. In the early 1730's, this revelation toward the protestant religion, which had been taxed and unfairly elevated within England for the past decades, was finally concluded. Colonists could devout their beings into the divine sanctity of the "Holy Spirit", and achieve salvation in their own manner. The freedom of worship revitalized the colonists who had been chronically oppressed by the fallaciously greedy ideas of the Church of England were abolished to the new world.

Religious persecution toward the pilgrims forced them to migrate from the inadequate religious foundation and vicious tariffs of England. The colonist had to break free from England's distant dictatorship and excel on a pure set of freedoms, which still divide the world in major differences; defending and fighting for these arguable entities create our individuality. Developing the liberation of Democratic government has made the colonies unique, and for that uniqueness the colonists fought. From Plymouth Rock, to the first representative government of the new world, House of Burgees, to all those that died of dysentery and smallpox colonist fought, colonist fought to impede the formation of the United States of England.

Salutary Neglect
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How to Know if You Love Someone - Simple yet Powerful Ways to Find Out

Most people have this feeling inside them but are not sure whether it is simple affection, a crush or maybe love. Well love is a lot more stronger word than simple affection and attraction towards someone. Love involves much more than what you find in simple attraction towards someone. Read on to find out some of the simple yet powerful ways to find out whether you love someone or not.

You're happy when your partner is? - If you feel joy when your partner is happy and just a mere smile or his/her face gives you happiness than you are definitely in love with that person. Love is all about feeling one with your partner therefore you tend to enjoy all joys, lovely moments, moments of satisfaction with your partner.

You don't mind public affection? - Do you often hold hands in public - maybe kiss or hug? If this is the case than you might be in love with your partner. Normally most couples don't prefer showing much public affection until and unless they are in love.

How to Know if You Love Someone - Simple yet Powerful Ways to Find Out

Caring like family- Do you care for your partner just as you care for your family? And get sad when your partner is sad or maybe get happy when you partner is? Love is all about caring and sharing. And if you treat your partner just like you treat your family than you are definitely in love.

You feel like being an open book- When you love someone you feel like being an open book and tend to share some of your biggest secret which you would never even share with your closest of friends. Love makes you surrender totally and you feel like pouring your heart out.

You talk without getting bored - Mostly when it's just a mere crush or attraction you would easily get bored after a while. Everything would just seem boring and you would not feel like carrying on any more. But when you are in love you would always have something to talk about, it would never get boring no matter how long and how much you talk.

You would sacrifice- This is the best way to find out whether you are in love or not. If you are ready to sacrifice something for your partners comfort then you are definitely in love. Love is all about sacrifices and compromises and if you are truly in love you would not mind being committed and making sacrifices for the one you love.

How to Know if You Love Someone - Simple yet Powerful Ways to Find Out
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Does Religion Cause War?

Religion causes war. This is a matter of historical fact. Since time immemorial, men have fought each other in wars caused by religion. There are at least three instances by which religion causes war.

The first is when people try to compel other people to adopt their religion or religious perspectives. This comes from our innate tendency to want other people to subscribe to our beliefs. That desire can be accompanied with a strong zeal such that if others are impervious to our peaceful approach to convert them to our beliefs, we can even resort to violence to achieve that end. History is replete with such examples. One example was shown during the initial propagation of Islam when the Prophet Mohammad actually declared a holy war against the desert kingdoms and cities of Arabia. The purpose of the holy war was compel the infidel Arab people to embrace the new religion he had founded. This kind of religious conflict was also amply demonstrated during the Thirty Years' War of the 1600s. Catholics and Protestants in Europe were locked in a long and devastating conflict that arose out of a desire of the warring religious and political leaders to force each other to accept their own interpretation of what Christianity should be.

The second instance when religion can cause war is when a nation of a particular religious conviction goes to war against another nation, not to convert it to their religion, but to simply eliminate them as people who are unfit to populate a certain geographical locality. It is nothing more but the expression of a bias against another group of people because they do not subscribe to the same faith or religion. This was the nature of the violence that erupted between the Old Testament Hebrew nation and their neighboring desert tribal nations such as the Canaanites, Edomites, and the Moabites. As narrated in the Bible, the Hebrews had to wage wars against these neighboring kingdoms, not so much to convert them to the Hebrew faith, but as an act of cleansing commanded by no less than their God who wanted to rid the Promised Land of people practicing other religions with allegiance to other gods such as Baal, who was a much hated deity in biblical history. This kind of war that partakes of the nature of a cleansing act had its modern version in the Serbian Christians' attempt on ethnic cleansing to clear the newly created republic of Kosovo of its majority Muslim population so that the minority Christians of Kosovo could take over.

Does Religion Cause War?

Finally, religion causes war because people of different religious convictions can easily distrust each other. In this instance, there is no attempt to either convert or eliminate each other. Two groups of people or nations go to war against each other because of they have a sense of misgivings for each other that can be traced to their difference in religious convictions. An example of this was the long conflict that had characterized the relationship of the Catholics and the Protestants in North Ireland. There had been no attempt to convert each other. Neither had each religious group attempted to eliminate each other from their geographical enclaves. It had been a war that was waged by two religious groups who had found it psychologically difficult to co-exist simply because they had different religious beliefs. It might be an oversimplification but in a sense, this is how we can characterize the strained relationship between the Christian and the Muslim worlds today. That strained relationship has found an outlet in what is currently termed the "war on terrorism" being being fought by the United States and its allies against a militant Islamic group called Al Qaeda.

Religion does cause war. However, there is a positive footnote on this. The other side of the coins is, religion does also promote peace, perhaps even more than it causes war. But that is another story.

Does Religion Cause War?
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Religion - A Way of "Life"?

Religion...technically and strictly speaking is belief in the controlling power of the superhuman. If there's a controlling power, a basic question needs to be addressed...what is it exactly that is being controlled? The word 'religious' encompasses all that is right, conscientious and moral. So, religion is that aspect of one's life that enables channelizing of thoughts and accordingly actions, since the two are interdependent and must synchronize for a synergistic interplay. Religion was created because we humans need something tangible to believe in...so what we cannot comprehend or aptly describe, we term as god's handiwork.

Religion provides us with a platform to express ideas. It gives us, as a community, an opportunity to come together. Religion unites. It gives us a common foundation, the latter being essential for a final build up towards a wholesome existence. As humans, there's constant need on our part to connect with others of our race, to reach out, to explore, to comprehend, to have a common grounding factor. Religion provides us with all that and more. Ideally that's how it is supposed to be. But of course as we know from history, from our own experiences, from all we witness around us, ideologies are fragile. It is a different thing to talk of ideals and a completely different thing to put enforce them in practice.
As mentioned earlier, religion controls...or rather guides our thoughts...harmonious thoughts.

Trouble brews when we fail to recognize the constructive nature of these thoughts. Human race, since the beginning of its existence, has essentially been a divided lot. There are differences based on nationality, societal status, creed, or even matters as trivial as the color of one's skin! In such a scenario, can religion be far behind? Tracing the origin of these disparate factors, we realize that there is one fundamental similarity...they are all created. Nature did not intend it that way. We were created as humans, distinct in our formation and capacities from animals, not from each other. Evolution designed man to arise from animal. We are letting the animal within us to take precedence over our reason and sanity and trying to legitimize it in the name of religion!

Religion - A Way of "Life"?

But can violence, aggression against another and curtailing someone's freedom ever be legitimized? The answer is a resounding NO!!
Everywhere we look around us, there are examples that only reiterate our regression. Such incidents may range from petty non issue debates to ghastly massacres. A case in point here would be the godhra carnage. Enough and more has been written about the initiation and propagation of violence that ensued due to the handiwork of a few miscreants. There are as many theories as there are people in the state of Gujarat on people of which religion started the riots. Who was the initiator is a matter for the protectors of the legal system to decide. The problem that we need to address as common citizens is that have we become so blind as a society to believe whatever is fed to us? Are we so frustrated and disillusioned with our lives that we need to take innocent lives to vent our anger? This fire of frustration is in turn fuelled by politics. The upholders of our democracy need issues to stay in the public eye, most often at the cost of steering the attention away from the real issues that stare us in the face. Are we falling prey to their ploys?

When did something as individual and personal as one's way of life...one's religion...become a ground for holding them hostage? Since when is it a reason to kill? Since when do we fear god, our creator?? The only ones we have to fear are his apparent men and messengers. God is essentially one, only we know him by different names. The sooner we realize...no, we do realize but do not believe. The sooner we believe the fact, the better it is for us. The human race is a rather resilient lot...we have survived everything from the wrath of nature in the form of the ice ages, famines, earthquakes and cyclones to our self destructive world wars. Surely by our inherent rationality, we can also put an end to this madness!

Religion - A Way of "Life"?
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