Rosary

When Our Lady gave St. Dominic de Guzman the rosary, she told him to "preach my psalter." It was a common practice back in St. Dominic's time that the religious would pray all 150 of the psalms every day. When he preached about the rosary, and all the promises contained with praying it, he was referring to all 150 mysteries (or the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries as they are known today). But just like the Catholic Church grows and refines doctrine over the years, while still holding true to the same beliefs and being the same Church, St. John Paul II instituted the Luminous mysteries 2002, so now there are 20 decades, or 4 mysteries to pray every day. 

St. Louis de Montfort said that while one rosary is understandable for children, the full rosary should be the norm for every Catholic. And St. John Paul II, who I'm sure was busier than you and I will ever be, managed to pray the full rosary every day in addition to his holy hour (and everything else he did as the pope). His prayer didn't hinder his productivity, but only added to its effectiveness to make sure that he was actually busy for God, and not just a busy-body.

And look at St. Dominic himself! A skilled preacher and a holy priest, but before Our Lady gave him this spiritual weapon to pray, and teach the lay faithful to pray, he was ineffective in converting even a single soul! It's not our works or words that convert hearts. No, it is purely the mercy of God and an act of the Holy Spirit. However, our constant faithfulness to those (oftentimes hidden) acts of love and obedience is what will make us great in the eyes of God, and allow us to be of any service to others.

Is the rosary fun? Is it always enjoyable? Is it easy to pray? No, no, and you guessed it...no! But that's the beauty of it. It's a sacrificial prayer. You have to give up your time and thoughts, and make real sacrifices in your daily schedule to pray it. Now, while you should do your best to meditate well on each mystery, don't let distractions keep you from praying it. If you keep "messing up," just entrust it to Our Lady and keep on going. Are you so prideful as to think that the effectiveness of your rosary comes from your own doing, and not the love and obedience which prompts your prayer? 

In all the Marian apparitions, what is one thing Our Lady always says? Pray the rosary. And what makes a prayer pleasing to God? The delights and feeling we get from praying? No! Faith is not based on feelings. A prayer and sacrifice which is pleasing in the eyes of God is a "pure and contrite heart" (Ps. 51:19). A heart that is steadfast in doing all things purely for the glory of God, so as to love and to honor Him. Persevere in your prayer. God is faithful, He will reward you. If the dishonest judge answered the widow's persistence, "will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?" (Lk. 18:7). Enough said for now.