7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.9 After this manner (along his line) therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:7-10In the rosary there are basically three prayers that are repeated:The 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary' and 'Glory Be'. For every 1 'Our Father' there are 10 'Hail Mary's'. The Our Father is found in Matthew 6 where Jesus gave his disciple and example of what is contained in prayer, not something that was to be memorized and repeated over and over.
The truly alarming part of this is the 'Hail Mary':
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
This prayer is to be said 9 times more than the 'Our Father' prayer Jesus used as an example in Matthew 6.Mary was a special woman, yes, but mother of God? Is Mary to be worshiped? Absolutely not! The 'fruit of thy womb' is not to engender uterus worship! There is a big difference between 'worship' and 'honor'. We worship God above all else. Mary deserves honor because she loved God and did what He asked her to do.
Another point about Mary is that Jesus Christ died for her too. In that sense also, we honor her as we honor all those who love God and recognize what He did through Christ.
Actual prayer involves 'seeking first the kingdom of God' (also in Matthew 6) and in that thinking we don't just robotically recite words and not think about what they are implying. There is a whole lot more in the Lord's prayer than a mere repetition of words.
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