Customer Reviews

Hail Mary and Rhythmic Breathing: A New Way of Praying the Rosary

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! What an interesting and meaningful little book! I got a copy from a friend at Christmas, who knew of my interest in Catholicism and my on & off meditation practices. I had never heard of a book attempting to offer a way of using mindful breathing to enhance the well-known Catholic prayers, but this book does so wonderfully!

The book has nice introductory reflections/forewords from both a Jesuit priest and yoga practitioner. Then, the author gives a nice easy history of meditation in the Christian tradition, and the evolution of the Hail Mary. These histories are expanded upon throughout the following chapters as well.

The book then explains one method for inhaling, holding, and exhaling in conjunction with the Hail Mary, and discusses how this practice can help us in our contemporary daily lives. The author does a good job of tying in real-world examples of distractions & problems that can be remedied through prayer and mindful breathing. His writing style actually reminds me of another favorite author of mine, Thich Nhat Hanh...

The book closes with ten suggested meditations of relevance for the Christian life. Some of these are scenes from the life of Christ, and some are virtues for consideration. The author again does a an insightful job of tying these meditations to the real world challenges and distractions that their graces can help us to overcome.

A wonderful little book. I highly recommend it for anyone who practices the Rosary or similar prayer routines. It will be a breath of fresh air (literally!) in these disciplines!

Galentino's book helps bring our focus back on to what is important in life and exactly how we can do this every day. The first half focuses on the importance of taking a step back, retreating, taking an hour off every day to meditate, pray, and be spiritual. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and other figures in history took time off from their busy schedules to give them the "life force" necessary to accomplish their great deeds. The second half of the book gives actual, practical examples of meditations for the reader to attempt. Galentino beautifully weaves Catholic spirituality with Eastern meditation and exemplifies how symbiotic they can be.

"Hail Mary and Rhythmic Breathing" by Richard Galentino is indeed a new way of praying the Rosary by integrating stress-releasing breathing exercises with each Hail Mary. I liked it because it challenged me to integrate both the physical and spiritual, theory and practice, and take time to pray in a busy world.

Meditation has been common to many religions throughout history--Richard Galentino makes us aware of this and encourages Americans and believers everywhere to embrace this not only for a healthy relationship with God, but also with our bodies and minds. Whether you are religious or not, you would do well to adopt some of this book's ideas for a more peaceful life. For example, the idea of simplifying your life by diminishing your possessions and realizing that "things do not matter, people matter." Richard Galentino explains the health benefits as well as the religious and personal benefits. He also explains the history of yoga and the Hail Mary, specifically mentioning Ghandi and Mother Theresa. If you are a Catholic, you will especially enjoy not only reading this book, but putting it into practice in your life. After realizing where your time is allocated and the benefits of this book's recommendations, you will find it easy to trade in one hour of TV for yoga, meditation and prayer. Even if you're not religious, you can learn from any religion--take from this book what you wish and apply it to your life in your own way, in a way that works for you.

Indeed we should all be praying the rosary, but AS THE CATHOLIC CHRUCH TEACHES, not as another self indulged new ager. For anyone who actually CARES about their soul and is not their OWN god, i.e, meditating to one's own personal breath as opppsed to the life of Christ, (imagine that!), you would be wise to stay clear of this book and "yoga rosaries."

This is another of what I call new age "subtle suductions." The evil one works best by always making something LOOK good, i.e, Hail Mary's and the rosary, even M Teresa for goodness sake! New age PROFANES what we Catholics revere. If you don't believe me, go to the vatican website and see what the Catholic chruch does teach AGAINST the new age and WHY it is so dangerous to our souls, including yoga alone.

That said, it is indeed true that the rosary can change the world. The battle of Lopanto with the Turks was won by the rosary (google it). As well, Catholic priests at ground Zero in Hiroshima survived unscathed because of their dedication to the rosary (google that too). More commonplace, lives around the world have been changed by meditating on the LIFE OF CHRIST in the rosary(20 mysteries)(which just so happnes to be 95% ommitted in this yoga version). If you really want to get close to Christ via the rosary, I suggest starting with the Vinny Flynn CD, and maybe Father Peyton's book after that. F Peyton is the Catholic Priest that had all of Hollywood prayiing the rosary in the 1950's--just watched the family theater movie on it the other night on EWTN.

I gave this a 2 star because the rosary is indeed the KEY to peace, but via Christ, not by each breath HE GIVES US. The point is to FILL OURSELVES UP WITH CHRIST, not EMPTY ourselves (i.e., yoga)and fill up with ME ME ME. Beware of the new age, feel good scam. It always LOOKS good, but it's always counterfeit. In fact, I would suggest "meditating" on the 4th sorrowful mystery, the carrying of the cross. Hmmm, now that wouldn't be new age would it?--PICK UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. Bottom line, a rosary with yoga is a rosary for SELF, a rosary with Christ is a rosary of one emptying themselves FOR Christ, FOR the salvation of the world, FOR the repentence of sin, and FOR world peace.

I gave the second star knowing that God can and often does make great good from evil. I encourage all to lose the yoga, and start to pray the rosary as the Catholic Chruch teaches it (many protestants pray the rosary). It will change your life in beautiful ways and bring you a peace of soul like you've never imagined.

To the author, I don't know if you wrote this out of ignoance being a Catholic who doesn't know your faith, or if you are a wolfe in sheep's clothing. Either way, know that it's a peril to souls. You can't have it both ways. If you make the claim for Jesus, then you have to accept that Jesus IS the TRUTH, NOT YOU. The rosary, via Mother Mary, will lead ALL souls to truth, her son, Jesus Christ. This blasmphemous yoga rosary will lead all souls AWAY from truth, away from the light of God.