Ritual & Rosary: A Psychological Approach

This article explores the psychological functions and lasting importance of ritual participation, through the lens of the Catholic Rosary. It defines ritual, and distinguishes it from routine. It also highlights key scholars in the field of religious studies, Emile Durkheim, Dimitris Xygalatas, and Michael Norton, while explaining their ideas on how ritual promotes benefits on the individual and collective level. The Rosary serves as an example of these effects in modern and ancient times. Ultimately, the article argues that ritual participation often fulfills a universal human need for emotional stability, purpose, and belonging, showing why practices like the Rosary endure for hundreds of years.