Honestly, I never really got into praying the rosary, but even so, I always admire our senior confreres who keep floating the rosary beads through their hands. And obviously it’s something that keeps them in their service of praying for the world and its people.

Throughout my formation we sometimes prayed the rosary together, but it never became my habit to use the beads for my personal prayer. I’d rather put myself in silence into the presence of the Lord and simply let him look on me while looking at him.

In our Thai parish we have the tradition that families invite the parishioners to pray the rosary in their homes. A statue of Mother Mary is brought from house to house and people are honored to welcome her. We especially pray for the family members, have a blessing of their houses, and ask for protection from all kind of dangers. After the prayer I always see a deep inner joy in those who invited us. They often prepare dinner and praying the rosary so becomes a social happening.

It’s really interesting that all our patients from the Rehab Centre who are Buddhists ask to join in this activity. They must find something in the meditative, repetitive prayer. I also see them hanging the rosaries around their necks – probably not because it’s fashionable.

Our SVD community will be hosting one of these rosary prayers by the end of October. I hope to be filled with the same inner joy that I can see in others.

PHOTO: Br Bernd is pictured far right, second row, with parish-members in Thailand, who have gathered to pray the Rosary.