The Rosary: Keeping Company With Jesus and Mary Paperback – April 30, 2009

When this book arrived, I found the "something else" I had been seeking (though I couldn't have told you I was looking for it). For one thing, there's the title. I love the image of the rosary as a time to just hang out with Jesus and his mom. It has given me a whole new approach to my morning rosary, an entirely new paradigm and a breath of fresh prayer for me.Unlike so many devotional helps, Karen Edmisten doesn't flowery-phrase you to death. She says what needs said -- I had quite a few "ah-HA!" moments -- and she shares enough from her own experience that I caught myself, a few times, looking over to see if she was standing over my shoulder.It's the kind of book that has a voice you can actually hear. Karen's approachable and she's not out to convince you to pray the rosary. Instead of a volume of reasons you should be praying the rosary already, Keeping Company is one woman sitting down, coffee in hand, to discuss it calmly with you. She gives some history, she gives some tips, she gives some anecdotes, and in the midst of it, I found myself smiling and nodding and asking her if she wanted more coffee, if she could stay for another few pages, if she would pray with me.This is one of my very favorite books. I can't recommend it highly enough, whether or not you're a Catholic or you struggle with the rosary.

What a joy it was to receive my pre-ordered copy of "The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary" just in time for Mother's Day.As always, Karen Edmisten writes with sincerity and clarity, drawing others to the rosary through a narrative that is intensely personal and deeply spiritual. Without so much as a word wasted, the book is a course in Marian history, apologetics, scripture and prayer that I cannot wait to share with my teenagers.The real genius of the book is that it is at once both simple and deep--simple and not at all intimidating for those just learning to say the rosary, yet deep and full of new information for those of us who have loved this prayer a long time. It is also a book I can see myself revisiting whenever I need a lift or inspiration. Karen's "Making it Work" chapter in particular is one I need right now while juggling a new baby along with days that are fuller than full. My new motto is going to be "pray while you rock and nurse, rock and nurse . . . ."This book is a labor of love sure to remain a favorite forever. It is the perfect tribute to the "fairest of queens in the fairest of seasons, sweet May."

This book is a good place to start if you are new to the rosary or catholism. It's a very thin book though, would have liked more depth.

Very good for cradle Catholics as well as converts. Gives great history of the rosary also. So it is definitely worth the read!

This short, easy-to-read book is full of practical advice on how to say the rosary - not just the mechanics, but how to make time in your life for this important prayer. I found it more helpful than anything else I've read regarding the rosary.

I was delighted to come across this book that I hadn't reviewed. We all come from different religious backgrounds; I converted to Roman Catholicism from a lifetime as a Presbyterian venturing into Buddhism and Unitarianism. Though I'd practiced Zen meditation for many years, looking on the Holy Rosary as a Western form of meditation was a revelation for me; I'd just never thought of it that way. When I started exploring the Rosary, mostly what I came across were little booklets with a florid painting of Mary on the cover and maybe some angels. I'm not stupid, but a few of those little tracts left me clueless. After figuring out what to do with the Rosary, I started wanting to learn more about this, and that's when I came across this book. Perhaps it did appeal in particular to me because the author was an atheist-which I consider a religion of sorts, itself. This book also 'relaxes' some of the more rigid-sounding pronouncements in some other books. What do I mean? Well, in my ignorance I thought I HAD to say the various Mysteries in the proper daily order and some pieces I read even tried to specify when and how to say the Rosary on those days. Ms. Edmisten makes it clear, as I've since learned, that there is no 'right' way to say the Rosary. It's however each person wishes to say it. After all, it's a tool, a tool that I think came from the Holy Spirit, but still a tool. She made it clear that if there isn't time to say a whole set of Mysteries, fine, just say part of a set, or even part of a decade. Jesus won't mind if there isn't enough time. Being a convert, I've never been able to get a handle on the old pre-Vatican II system of indulgences, so I don't care about that. I do know that I not only say the Rosary daily, but I enjoy it very much, and I also go once a week to my Church to say it as a group with some others. I've bought a few copies of this book to give out to others going through RCIA because it's worth every penny.

When I received this little book in the mail I thought to myself, "Sigh. Yet another book on the rosary." I know that sounds terrible, but in my defense I do have a whole shelf full of rosary books. However, it was written by Catholic blogger Karen Edmisten and, being a fan, I gave it a read. And I'm glad I did. It was fresh and I loved it.Not only did I love it, but my teen daughter loved it. During a long drive one afternoon, just the two of us with her driving, she asked me to read aloud to her and this is the book I had on hand. Karen not only taught my daughter and me about the history and the beauty of the rosary but she touched our emotion. I found myself at moments, when Karen talks of her fallen past, with tears welling up in my eyes. As one who was once lost and then found, I was quite moved by Karen's discovery of the Catholic Church and the rosary after years of atheism.So, with all that said, I highly recommend Karen's book. I think it belongs not only on your bookshelf but on the library's shelf as well so put in a purchase request at your library. It is a short easy read yet packed full of vital information -- perfect for today's reader.