Are they really going to do a whole rosary? You’re right, that can take a while, especially if everyone is doing it out loud together. Someone doing it silently and solo can get through it pretty quick, but it’s 50 Hail Marys and five Our Fathers and one Glory Be and one Apostle’s Creed (if I remember right – I haven’t had/prayed a rosary since I was in grammar school). Seems awfully long for a wake.
It’s traditional to do the whole rosary, and it only takes about 15 minutes. Remember, people are saying those prayers at a good clip.
Around here, it’s not called a “wake,” it’s called “the rosary,” as in, “Are you going to the rosary for Mrs. Jones.” It’s held the evening before the funeral/funeral mass.
Interesting. Local custom, I guess. Around here (New York), it doesn’t seem to be customary. I’ve been to about a zillion wakes (always “wakes,” never “the rosary”), and I’ve never seen a rosary said. A priest will usually lead some prayers, but that’s about it.
I wonder if it’s due to the predominant ethnic influence on local customs? Irish, mostly, with some Italian, in New York, and perhaps Hispanic in Texas?
We did the whole rosary, with 3 priests relaying leading each decade (uncle was a prominent citizen, funeral was in a cathedral). Good clip for sure, one of the priests started each Hail Mary before we’d finished the last and most of us were in silent giggles by the end of his decade.
Nobody knelt! Everybody sat. Whew!
I’ve never kneeled during a rosary 