Is it hard to pray the Rosary?

Before being able to pray the Rosary every day, I went through several different phases. First, l was moved by Saint John Paul II’s letter, "The Rosary of the Virgin Mary," written in 2002, in which he explains that the Rosary is about contemplating the face of the Son in his various mysteries, through the eyes of Mary. Then I discovered that in moments of great suffering, the Rosary is the ultimate prayer, the one that is left when we can no longer pray anything else. I also found that I could pray it in segments throughout the day, taking advantage of the time I spent in transportation to pray a decade. Finally, I realized that this prayer is suitable for all ages. It is wonderful to pray the Rosary with children and teenagers. I am convinced that a family and a couple who pray the Rosary every day, at least a decade, are in good hands. The same goes for me, a priest and a bishop.

It took me a long time to say the Rosary every day. Today, I am happy to say that I pray it every night before going to sleep, walking around the house of the bishopric. It might become quite a challenge when it starts snowing! But what a joy to end a long day of work with this prayer, entrusting all the people and difficult situations we have encountered during the day to Mary's intercession. We sleep so much better when we fall asleep holding Mary's hand!

So, we should always carry our rosary in our pocket and pray it whenever we have a chance, and finish it in the evening!

Xavier Malle, Bishop of Gap and Embrun (France)

October 2017