What is the Catholic Church's stance on reciting the rosary? Does the Bible mention the rosary anywhere?

Reciting the rosary is a common practice among Catholics and is often seen as a way to deepen one's faith and connection with God. But what is the Catholic Church's official stance on this practice? And does the Bible mention the rosary anywhere?

The Catholic Church encourages the recitation of the rosary as a form of prayer. The rosary is a set of prayers that are said while meditating on specific events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. It is seen as a way to bring oneself closer to God and to deepen one's understanding of the teachings of the Church.

The Catholic Church teaches that the rosary is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and that it can help individuals to focus their minds and hearts on the mysteries of the faith. The Church also emphasizes that the rosary should be said with a spirit of devotion and reverence, rather than as a rote or mechanical exercise.

While the rosary as a specific prayer practice is not mentioned in the Bible, many of the prayers that make up the rosary are taken from biblical passages. For example, the Hail Mary prayer is based on the greeting that the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary in the Gospel of Luke. The Our Father prayer, which is also included in the rosary, was taught by Jesus to his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew.

The use of prayer beads as a tool for prayer is also not unique to the Catholic Church. Many other religious traditions, including Buddhism and Islam, use prayer beads as a way to help individuals focus their minds and hearts on their spiritual practices.