Dear Parishioners:
Monday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. St. Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to praying the Rosary. Pope Gregory XIII changed the name to Feast of the Holy Rosary–originally celebrated on the first Sunday in October–in 1573. Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716. Moreover, in 1913, St. Pius X set a date for the feast that we know today, October 7.
The development of the Rosary has a long history. First, a practice was developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then, there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon, a mystery of Jesus' life was attached to each Hail Mary.
Though Mary's giving of the Rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of Dominic. One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as "the apostle of the rosary." He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the Rosary was developed to consist of 15 mysteries: joyful, sorrowful, and glorious. In 2002, St. Pope John Paul II added the five Mysteries of Light (luminous) to this devotion.
The purpose of the Rosary is to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation. Pius XII called it a compendium of the gospel. The main focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The "Our Fathers" remind us that Jesus' Father initiated salvation. The "Hail Marys" remind us to join Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence. The "Glory Bes" remind us that the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity.
The Rosary appeals to many people. It is simple. The constant repetition of words helps create a prayerful atmosphere to contemplate God's mysteries. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us in the joys and sorrows of life. We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary forever, and Jesus sheds his divine light upon us. October is a month dedicated to the Rosary. If the Rosary is not a part of your regular prayer life, it is easy to get your feet wet with this devotion. Pick up your rosary beads. It is an easy practice of prayer to begin and make part of your regular spiritual life.
You do not have to pray the Rosary all at once. Sure, some people might sit down and quietly pray a whole rosary in one sitting. However, we can also divide it up, saying just a decade or two at different points throughout the day: on the way to work, in between errands, in between meetings, while folding laundry, or doing dishes. Many holy men and women and even popes have prayed the Rosary this way and have found it manageable and fruitful for their busy lives.
We can pray the Rosary anywhere! It is like a portable chapel we can keep in our pocket and pull out anytime, anyplace. Whether we have a sudden, urgent situation to present to God in prayer or want to fill some of our days with thoughts of God, all we need to do is pull out our beads and turn to the Lord as we pray the Rosary. We might pray it in a church, the bedroom, or office. We might pray it in the car, on the treadmill, in the grocery store line, while cutting the grass or taking a walk. Bringing our hearts into the rhythm of the Rosary is something we can do throughout any day. It is easy to fit the Rosary into your schedule, give it a try!
The American Journalist James Foley was kidnapped and then executed by ISIS in 2014. He was a devout Catholic who faced severe beatings and torture at the hands of his terrorist captors. While imprisoned in Libya, Foley never missed praying the Rosary. He wrote: "I began to pray the Rosary. It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. It took almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused."
Join us on Monday at 7:00 PM for October Devotions as we pray the Rosary as a parish family before the Eucharistic Lord. Be well. Do good. God Bless. Our Lady of Rosary, pray for us!