Thursday, August 01, 2002

Aves Reconsidered

John da Fiesole of Disputations relates Flos Carmeli's comments, on what some might consider the "dreariness" of the rosary.

Many of us who attended Catholic schools up until the 1960s, remember the Angelus, and how we learned it. At noon, the church bells would sound and all activity on the playground would stop. We would pray to ourselves the versicle and response:

"The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary / and she was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace..." There were two verses with responses after that one.

But consider how the rosary was once prayed, in a manner like that, for all 150 "Aves." A verse and response for each, memorized by Everyman, to contemplate the entire saga of redemption. This is one devotion that was dumbed down years ago. I propose bringing it back. One of my projects on the drawing board, is a labyrinth that comprises the entire fifteen decade rosary. On each "bead" is the appropriate versicle and response.

Well?

No comments: