Ideas to Help you Pray the Rosary Without (or with less) Distractions
5 Tips on How to stay Focused when Praying the Rosary
Do you sometimes get discouraged when you pray the Rosary? You have the best of intentions to stay focused, and then, before you know it, you are at the end of a decade and you realize that your mind has wandered. All you remember thinking about is your grocery list. You may not even remember the mystery you started praying. I have to tell you something: you are not alone. Learning how to stay focused when praying the Rosary can take time and practice. Don’t give up.
Here are some ideas to try that can help you to stay focused when praying the Rosary. If you have some ideas you do not see mentioned that work for you, please share them in the comments at the end of this post.
1. Pray before you begin the Rosary.
Before you begin the Rosary, ask God and Mary to help you to focus on the Rosary as you pray. It may seem strange to pray before you are about to pray, but it can help you to stay focused. You are sincere in your desire to stay focused as you pray the Rosary. God knows this. Trust in Him to help you to be focused and for your mind not to wander.
2. Pray the Rosary out loud.
When you pray the Rosary silently, sometimes it can be easier for your mind to wander. Announcing the mysteries and praying the Rosary prayers aloud can help you to keep your focus as you pray.
3. Pray the Rosary as you read the mysteries and prayers.
If you have a Rosary book or a prayer book that includes the Rosary, pray as you read along. It can help you to keep your mind on the Rosary and the mysteries as you pray.
If you like to have your own copy of the Rosary Meditations for all four sets of Mysteries, plus copies of the Rosary Reflection Guide and Benefits of Praying the Rosary, you can find out more and get your copy here: Rosary Meditations
For some book suggestions about the Rosary, see the Rosary Gift Guide post.
4. Plan your intention for each mystery before you start praying that decade.
Make a plan, then stick with your plan. Think about your prayer intentions for the Rosary before you begin praying. You may have one or more intentions for the entire Rosary or you may have a different intention for each decade. Decide what you will do. As you pray, mention your intention(s) at the beginning of each decade. this will help you to stay focused on your intentions as you pray.
If you are looking for Rosary meditations already prepared for you for each set of mysteries, you can find them here: Rosary meditations
5. Look at a picture of the mystery or a picture of someone who is in the mystery.
Looking at a picture or painting of the mystery or of someone in the mystery can help you to focus if your mind wanders during the Rosary. This can be especially helpful for people who are very visual. By focusing on the picture, you can keep your mind focused on the mystery and on Jesus.
What do you do if your mind wanders during the Rosary?
Sometimes, even with all the tips and ideas you use, you still may find your mind wander while you pray the Rosary. Here are some tips to help you when that happens.
1. Refocus your mind back to the Rosary as soon as you notice it has wandered.
God is not upset at you when your mind wanders unintentionally. If you notice your mind has wandered while you are praying, tell God you are sorry and refocus on the Rosary.
Bring your mind and attention back to the Rosary any time it may wander. The more you do this the easier it becomes to keep your focus and the faster you will notice when your mind wanders.
2. Pray for the situation or people that your mind wandered to as you pray the Rosary.
Sometimes when your mind wanders during the Rosary it is because you are remembering a person or a situation you need to pray for. Add this to your intentions for your Rosary and then nudge your mind back to focus on the Rosary.
Use these tips on how to stay focused when praying the Rosary.
The more you pray the Rosary, the more practice you have in keeping your mind on the mysteries. Do not let your mind wandering discourage you from praying the Rosary. Remember that God knows you. He knows that you want to remain focused as you pray and He knows that you are human. As a human, your mind may tend to wander now and again. God knows this already. It is pleasing to Him when you refocus on your Rosary instead of giving up because you remind wandered.
Here is a recap of the tips:
- Pray before you begin the Rosary.
- Pray the Rosary out loud.
- Pray the Rosary as you read the mysteries and prayers.
- Plan your intention for each mystery before you start praying that decade.
- Look at a picture of the mystery or a picture of someone who is in the mystery.
If your mind does wander:
- Refocus your mind back to the Rosary as soon as you notice it has wandered.
- Pray for the situation or people that your mind wandered to as you pray the Rosary.
The last and most important tip:
- Do not give up. Keep praying your Rosary.
If you like to have your own copy of the Rosary Meditations for all four sets of Mysteries, plus copies of the Rosary Reflection Guide and Benefits of Praying the Rosary, you can find out more and get your copy here: Rosary Meditations
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