The Catholic Commons

Have you ever wanted to pray the Rosary but felt too distracted, too busy, or just not “holy” enough? That was me. For years, I struggled to connect with the Rosary. But everything changed when I committed to praying it daily. In this post, I’ll share how the Rosary transformed my prayer life—and three lessons that may help you too.

My Story: From Reluctance to Joy

Thinking back, I believe it was in 2018 when I first began praying a daily Rosary. At the time, I had no consistent habit of praying such a long prayer—just occasional, half-hearted attempts, often accompanied by a sigh or a sense of guilt. The Rosary was something I felt I should do, a devotion so many saints had championed throughout the history of the Church, but it never quite clicked for me.

Its repetitive nature didn’t pair well with my easily distracted mind. My to-do list, physical hunger, random song lyrics—anything—would constantly interrupt my prayer and leave me feeling frustrated. I felt inadequate, like this form of prayer just wasn’t meant for someone like me, someone who couldn’t seem to quiet her thoughts long enough to make it feel fruitful.

But something changed.

The turning point came when a friend invited me to join her in a 54-day Rosary novena for a very special intention. I said yes—reluctantly. I didn’t feel ready, and truthfully, it felt more like a chore than a gift. But I committed to it anyway. And somewhere in the middle of those 54 days, something shifted.

The Rosary, which once felt burdensome and inaccessible, slowly became familiar. The habit began to take root. What started out as a reluctant obligation became a source of peace—and eventually, joy. Now, praying the Rosary daily is a natural and beloved part of my day.

From this, I’ve learned three invaluable lessons.

1. Habit is the Key to Spiritual Growth

Forming habit is the key to transforming your life. Essentially, this is what virtue is: a habit of choosing the good. For me, that good began as the hope that our special intention would be answered. I chose to commit to daily prayer—and I did see results, though not in the way I initially expected.

To be completely transparent, our prayer wasn’t answered in the way we had hoped. But along the way, I learned something far more important: through habitual prayer, I learned to love simply being in God’s presence. The distractions didn’t completely disappear, but they became little invitations to give more of myself to Jesus. Akin to how married lovers learn to just be still with one another after years of life and love together, being with Jesus on a daily basis helped calm my soul. After all, He wants all of us—not our perfect attention, but our faithful hearts. Even in our weakness, He sanctifies.

The pace of the rosary also taught me to “breathe” (i.e., spiritually) in rhythm with the Lord and his mother. In the repetitive nature of the rosary, I discovered the tools I needed to slow down my mind and heart. It was as if Mother Mary was daily taking me by the hand and leading me to contemplate on the life of Jesus…a true gift.

Through all of this I learned that the virtue of prayer grows when you commit to showing up daily.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says (1803),

“A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.”

Show up in prayer, and the Lord will surly bless you.

2. Prayer Doesn’t Change God—It Changes Me.

What daily prayer—especially meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary—has taught me is that my prayers are not about changing God’s mind. They are about conforming my will to His. Every time I pick up the beads, I reflect on the life of Christ, placing my own joys, sorrows, confusions, and hopes in His hands.

Daily prayer has formed me. It’s softened my resistance and invited me into a deeper trust in God’s will. Praying doesn’t always give me what I want—but it always gives me what I need, time and quiet in the presence of the Lord. This is the “Good Portion” that he speaks of in Luke 10:38–42:

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”
— Luke 10:41–42 (RSV)

Walking with Jesus and Mary in the rosary daily taught me to imitate their complete acceptance and readiness to follow God’s will. Meditating on the life of Christ with Mary in the rosary helps me to be more like Jesus and Mary.

3. The Rosary Is the Way Mary Leads Us to Jesus.

Part of God’s will for us is that we come to Him through His Mother. This is why Jesus, in His final moments on the Cross, gave Mary to John—and through John, to all of us:

“Behold, your mother.” (John 19:27)

He didn’t waste those words. Mary is a gift we are meant to receive. She doesn’t replace Him; she leads us to Him. Always.

As St. Padre Pio said:

“Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.”

And in the words of St. John Paul II:

“The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer.”

This is why I pray the Rosary every day. Mary, my Mother, has gently opened my heart to more fully receive and rest with her Son. Through her, I’ve learned not just how to pray—but how to love. Christ is always at the center of the rosary, and praying the rosary daily helps me to learn from her what it means to love her Son more deeply.

Want to Begin a Daily Rosary Habit?

Here are a few things that helped me get started—and might help you too:

• Start with one decade a day. You don’t need to begin with the whole Rosary.
• Pair it with a rhythm. Pray during your walk, in the car, or while nursing a baby.
• Use a guide, app, or book. It helps with focus and pacing. (My favorites are The Scriptural Rosary book and The Holy Family School of Faith daily rosary podcast.
• Offer your Rosary for someone or something. It gives your prayer direction. (And know that you can pray for multiple people and intentions with one rosary!)
• Let go of perfection. Distraction isn’t failure—it’s a reminder to come back to Jesus. If all this seems daunting for you, simply start with one decade at a time! Slowly build up your habit as you go, and before you know it you will find joy in this fruitful prayer.

Above all: keep showing up. The fruit comes with time.

Let This Be Your Invitation

I hope that in sharing all this with you, you are encouraged to begin. Take up the habit of daily prayer…and if you want to change your life dramatically, do it through the daily rosary.

Have you struggled to pray the Rosary? Or found transformation through it? 

I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments—or pass this along to someone who’s ready to begin.