Hands-On Ways To Pray the Rosary, by Gina Vetsch Robles
May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which makes it the perfect time to start praying the rosary as a family. It may seem overwhelming, especially as a special needs family, but thankfully there’s no shortage of creative ways to pray the rosary as a family. From apps that guide you through each decade to YouTube videos and even coloring pages and pop-it rosaries, there’s something for everyone, regardless of age or ability. If you’re looking for hands-on ways to get started praying the rosary as a family here are a few ideas to try!
The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ’s spirit dwells.
USCCB
Creative Rosaries:
- Wooden Abacus Rosary
- Wooden Rosary board
- Pop-It Rosary Bracelet
- Rosary Bingo Style Board With Closing Windows
Saying the Rosary Through Play:
- Blocks: Use different shapes for Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. Use different colors for each Mystery. Build the towers 10 high as each Hail Mary is prayed.
- Magnetic or Foam Numbers: We have multiple sets. You can have 1 to 5 on top and 1 to 10 below and move each number across as you pray.
- Use a play Mass Kit (affiliate link): Set up your altar with the monstrance and have Jesus present during the time that you are praying. Kneel around your altar for every other mystery if it is too much to kneel for the whole rosary.
- Cars: Park the cars in 5 rows of 10 as you pray along. Use cardboard to make a stall for each Hail Mary.
- Use construction paper to cut 1 larger circle and 10 smaller circles so that your child can step along as you pray (you may want to laminate or use packing tape to help make them hold up longer). Start again for each mystery.
- Or make a walkable rosary using this tutorial.
Apps:
- Our family uses the Amen app. We usually listen to the rosary as the children are falling asleep so we are relaxing and hearing the prayers. I love that you can change the speed of the voice that is praying. I generally slow down the voice so that we can pray along and meditate.
- Another great app to pray along with is the Hallow App:
The Rosary is a prayer both so humble and simple and theologically rich in Biblical content. I beg you to pray it.
Pope Saint John Paul II
YouTube Videos:
- EWTN Ireland has an animated video of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
- Catholic Kids 101 has a video of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
- The Little Rose Shop has a simple animated video for the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
- Spirit Juice has a video of children praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
Coloring Books, Pages and Printables:
- The Catholic Toolbox has a board game, a lapbook, and rosary bingo!
- TheCatholicKid has several rosary coloring pages.
- Family in Feast and Feria has coloring pages for each mystery.
- Holy Heroes offers several high quality coloring and activity books, as well as prints of each mystery.
The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.
Saint Padre Pio
Start with just a decade of the rosary and add more when your child is ready. With all these resources, I hope you are able to find something that makes praying the rosary with your family possible this month!