I mentioned in an earlier post that I have trouble praying the rosary. Quigster challenged me to pray it 2 to 3 times a day for at least a week and give God the chance to “overcome” me with it, which I take to mean in a good way give me interior consolation and joy in praying it.
My laziness is a powerful force, unfortunately, so I think I am going to pass on this challenge. However, in part from this challenge, after daily Mass I have been staying and praying the rosary with the handful of people (most of whom I am friends with) who faithfully pray it everyday. It is a (small) sacrifice for me, as I could get to work a half hour earlier if I just left directly after Mass without staying to pray.
I have tremendous difficulty motivating myself to pray the rosary by myself. I try to go as quickly as possible, which tires me out as I breathe-whisper the words of the Hail Mary rapidly. I have to keep my mind from wandering all over, especially over all the neat things I can do after I finish praying the rosary. My faith in it being the Devil’s scourge and that I am weaving a crown of roses for my Blessed Mother in Heaven are admittedly weak, although I do believe both of those things.
Nonetheless, I have found praying the rosary in a group is 10 times easier and better for me. I enjoy having different people lead the prayers, myself included, and I enjoy the back-and-forth way of splitting up the Haily Mary, Our Father, and Glory Be. It is also easier because usually other people are counting, and so I don’t have to worry about getting off one bead and saying one too many (inefficient) or one too few (was that really a valid decade? 
). Offloading this mental accounting energy allows me to focus more on praying and on meditating on Jesus’ life.
One more thing: I think women more than men are (super)naturally disposed to praying the rosary. I don’t have any statistical evidence for that, but it seems true based on a limited sampling of people I know.
Finally, for a heartfelt story of how hard praying the rosary as a family can be, and praying together in general, read this faith-filled article by mum2twelve.
Blessed Mother, pray for us when we entreat you to do so through the rosary–especially when we find praying it difficult.
