Ecumenical Miracle Rosary
Encyclopedia
The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary or "ecumenical rosary" is derived from the Roman Catholic
rosary
and was invented by Dennis Di Mauro, a Lutheran
layperson and Theology PhD student at the Catholic University of America
in Washington, DC. He explains that there are diverse styles of prayers, and a rosary is a kind of multidimensional prayer in which the central focus is a meditative contemplation of God's glory, while simultaneously, in words, confessing one's faith, praising God, or appealing for spiritual strength. The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary presents a core format whose theme is believed by its creator to be central to any Christian denomination. There are three conference calls to pray the Ecumenical Miracle rosary each year in Lent, Advent, and in the Summer.
and he is Lutheran, Mr. Di Mauro had often sought ways to bridge the gaps in the Protestant-Catholic divide. This devotion was designed in response to this perceived need and also to introduce the benefits of rosary-type devotions to non-Catholics.
. The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary's mysteries are called "miracles" instead, and can be seen below.
A. Miraculous Healings (Prayed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays from the first Advent Sunday until the Sunday before Ash Wednesday)
B. Miraculous Acts (Prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and the Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday)
C. Miraculous Appearances (Prayed on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Easter until the Sunday before the first Advent Sunday)
. It uses the Nicene Creed
rather than the Apostles Creed, "The Greatest Commandment" (see below) rather than the Hail Mary
, and "The Great Commission" {see below) rather than the Glory Be. It ends with the Jesus Prayer.
This prayer attempts to capture what is written in scripture concerning Jesus' Greatest Commandment. It can be found in Matthew 22:34-40.
This prayer attempts to capture what is written in scripture concerning the Great Commission. It can be found in Matthew 28:16-20.
In addition, free brochures which describe how to pray the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary can be obtained from its website.
churches. Also hundreds have participated in the devotion's free conference calls, ( http://ecumenicalrosary.org/Conference%20call%20page.htm). However, some Protestants have opposed the devotion since they feel it violates a prohibition of vainly repetitive prayer found in Matthew 6. Some Roman Catholics have opposed any changes to the original rosary. The Roman Catholic Church has taken no formal position on the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
and was invented by Dennis Di Mauro, a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
layperson and Theology PhD student at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, DC. He explains that there are diverse styles of prayers, and a rosary is a kind of multidimensional prayer in which the central focus is a meditative contemplation of God's glory, while simultaneously, in words, confessing one's faith, praising God, or appealing for spiritual strength. The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary presents a core format whose theme is believed by its creator to be central to any Christian denomination. There are three conference calls to pray the Ecumenical Miracle rosary each year in Lent, Advent, and in the Summer.
Origins of the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary
The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary was placed on the web in early 1999, and was devoted to bringing all Christians together in prayer. Because his wife is CatholicCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and he is Lutheran, Mr. Di Mauro had often sought ways to bridge the gaps in the Protestant-Catholic divide. This devotion was designed in response to this perceived need and also to introduce the benefits of rosary-type devotions to non-Catholics.
"Miracles"
The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary uses "mysteries" different from those of the traditional rosaryRosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
. The Ecumenical Miracle Rosary's mysteries are called "miracles" instead, and can be seen below.
A. Miraculous Healings (Prayed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays from the first Advent Sunday until the Sunday before Ash Wednesday)
- Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant - (Luke 7:1-10 and Matthew 8:5-13)
- A Woman Touches Jesus' Garments - (Luke 8: 43-48 and Mark 5:25-34 and Matthew 9:20-22)
- Jesus Heals the Blind Man with Mud - (Mark 8:22-26)
- Jesus Raises Lazarus from the DeadLazarus of BethanyLazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
- (John 11:17-44) - Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy - (Luke 17:11-19)
B. Miraculous Acts (Prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and the Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday)
- Jesus Turns Water into WineMarriage at CanaIn Christianity, the transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John....
(John 2:1-11) - Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 8:18, 23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25)
- Jesus Feeds the Five ThousandFeeding the multitudeFeeding the multitude is the combined term used to refer to two separate miracles of Jesus in the Gospels.The First Miracle, "The Feeding of the 5,000" is the only miracle which is present in all four canonical Gospels...
(Matthew 14:15-21 and Luke 9:12-17 and John 6:4-13 and Mark 6:35-44) - Jesus Walks on WaterWalking on waterJesus' walks on water, or Jesus walking on water, is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. Accounts of the miracle appear in three Gospels: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52 and...
(Mark 6:47-52 and Matthew 14:24-33 and John 6:16-21) - The Withered Fig TreeThe Fig TreeThe Fig Tree and its fruit, the fig, are mentioned several times in the New Testament as well as the Old Testament. Biblical references to figs are often symbolic and refer to more than just the common Mediterranean fruit tree and the Common Fig...
(Mark 11:19-25 and Matthew 21:19-22
C. Miraculous Appearances (Prayed on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Easter until the Sunday before the first Advent Sunday)
- Jesus Becomes IncarnateIncarnation (Christianity)The Incarnation in traditional Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity, also known as God the Son or the Logos , "became flesh" by being conceived in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary, also known as the Theotokos .The Incarnation is a fundamental theological...
by the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary (Annunciation) (Luke 1:26-56) - TransfigurationTransfiguration of JesusThe Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels describe it, and 2 Peter 1:16-18 refers to it....
(Matthew 17:1-9 and Luke 9:28-36 and Mark 9:2-10) - Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18 and Mark 16:9-11)
- Jesus Appears to Doubting ThomasThomas the ApostleThomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
(John 20:26-31) - Jesus Appears to Paul (Acts 9:1-19)
Prayers
Its prayers are also different from the traditional rosaryRosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
. It uses the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
rather than the Apostles Creed, "The Greatest Commandment" (see below) rather than the Hail Mary
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
, and "The Great Commission" {see below) rather than the Glory Be. It ends with the Jesus Prayer.
The Greatest Commandment
"Sweet Jesus, I love you with all my heart and all my soul, Help me to serve my family, and everyone else I meet today."This prayer attempts to capture what is written in scripture concerning Jesus' Greatest Commandment. It can be found in Matthew 22:34-40.
The Great Commission
"Oh my lord, I know that you are always with me, help me to obey your commandments. And lead me to share my faith with others, so that they may know you and love you."This prayer attempts to capture what is written in scripture concerning the Great Commission. It can be found in Matthew 28:16-20.
The Jesus Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God; have mercy upon me, a sinner."In addition, free brochures which describe how to pray the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary can be obtained from its website.
Reactions to the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary
Since the devotion's inception in 1999, many churches have held Ecumenical Rosary prayer sessions where the devotion has been prayed. These include Roman Catholic , Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, and BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches. Also hundreds have participated in the devotion's free conference calls, ( http://ecumenicalrosary.org/Conference%20call%20page.htm). However, some Protestants have opposed the devotion since they feel it violates a prohibition of vainly repetitive prayer found in Matthew 6. Some Roman Catholics have opposed any changes to the original rosary. The Roman Catholic Church has taken no formal position on the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary.
External links
- http://www.ecumenicalrosary.org/
- Mr. Klingon's Mere Prayer (A tool for Praying the Ecumenical Miracle Rosary)- http://web.archive.org/web/20091026163526/http://geocities.com/mrklingon/prayer.html