Will the Rosary Be a New Wellness Trend? Research Says It Should Be

It has been known for decades that meditation is good for one's mental health, and the Rosary is (or should be) a meditative prayer.

From Aleteia

By Theresa Civantos Barber

New study finds that praying the Rosary boosts mental health and this traditional prayer can be "a source of inner peace."

What if a way to boost your mental health costs nothing, requires no app subscription, and has been hiding in plain sight for centuries? And helps you grow in love for God? A groundbreaking new study suggests it might be praying the Rosary.

If you’ve ever felt a spirit of calm and happiness wash over you when you pray the Rosary, you won’t be surprised to see these results. 

The Journal of Religion and Health published the findings in an article called, “Is the Rosary Still Relevant? Exploring its Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Multinational Study.” 

The authors were interested in exploring the effect of the Rosary, as it hasn’t been much studied. They wrote:

The study of benefits linked to meditation and prayer has provided a considerable amount of empirical evidence revealing their positive influence on health, coping, resilience and flourishing. The practice of praying Rosary has drawn much less attention in academic circles, even if it could probably be enlisted with other forms of meditation and prayer with similar positive effects. 

The Rosary is “a source of inner peace”

The authors surveyed an international sample of 361 participants from Catholic countries: Italy, Poland, and Spain. Their responses indicated a positive effect of this repetitive and calming prayer. The authors reported:

The results point to positive moderate correlations of Rosary with those variables, like reducing depression, increasing empathy and lowering religious struggles… the qualitative analysis of open-ended questions highlights the perceived protective effect of this prayer, which serves as a source of inner peace and a coping mechanism during times of distress.

This finding might not come as a surprise to the many Catholics who cherish their regular praying of the Rosary. After a stressful day, or in times of worry and fear, praying the Rosary feels like an inner oasis as we turn to Our Lord and Our Lady to give us strength beyond our own human abilities.

For the educated ... and the broke

The authors also noted a few other surprising findings:

• 62.2% of participants held graduate or master’s degrees, challenging an assumption that traditional Catholic devotions appeal mainly to the less educated
• Praying the Rosary correlated positively with reduced depression and increased optimism about the future (and without paying for meditation retreats or app subscriptions!)
• In an era when meditation apps charge $70+ annually and therapy sessions cost $150+ per hour, this research draws attention to a completely free alternative that requires only a rosary and time

This research holds interesting implications for the global mental health crisis. One writer astutely noted:

As mental health crises escalate globally, the research suggests society may be overlooking accessible, culturally rooted resources for psychological well-being.

As a practice that is free and accessible to all, the Rosary can be a valuable key to supporting mental health. This study hopefully will spread awareness so that many more people can benefit from this powerful prayer and source of peace.