October is Month of the Holy Rosary

 

Because the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on October 7, October has become traditionally known as the Month of the Rosary.   While the Church does not prescribe praying the rosary as binding, she certainly encourages all Catholics to pray this wonderful prayer with heart-felt devotion. Praying the rosary does not mean gunning through it to get it over with. Praying the rosary means devoutly meditating on the face of Jesus with Mary, as we contemplate important moments in salvation history. For myself, I will commonly pray the rosary during my morning prayer. I find it intensely peaceful and re-assuring. Remembering the events of Jesus life allows me to pray for a specific virtue as well. For instance, I pray for openness and obedience to the word of God when I pray the Annunciation; I pray for true charity and Christian friendship when praying the Visitation; I pray for conformity to the will of God when praying the Agony in the Garden; I pray for purity when praying the Scourging at the Pillar; I pray for fortitude in bearing witness to Jesus when praying the Crowning with Thorns; I pray for faith when praying the Resurrection of our Lord. These are some of the virtues demonstrated by Mary or Jesus in these moments. These virtues and scenes contemplated are not “nice” examples for us, but rather special gifts that God wants to share with us. He wants us to receive what Jesus was given. When we contemplate them we are seeking them for ourselves, opening ourselves to their power. As Christians, we live off the word of God who becomes flesh for us. Contemplating that word allows it to become real and alive within us.

 

Praying the Rosary takes commitment. Like any prayer it can become rote. For this reason, we can benefit by praying it in a way that best suites us. We might pray it as we walk to class, or when we exercise or drive. Praying it in church in silence before the tabernacle can be particularly powerful. Here we can fruitfully receive the amazing power of the rosary in a unique way. Our Lord is present in a special way in church, and if Jesus is present, so too His Mother.

 

Every human life has joys, lights, sorrows, and glorious moments. Jesus’ life did too. Entering into these mysteries by making them present through our prayer helps us to come close to Jesus and Mary, to relate to them in a heart-felt way transforming us through contact with these grace-filled events. These mysteries become our mysteries. In this way Christ lives more and in us and we can say with St. Paul: “It is not I who live, but Christ living in me” (Gal 2:20).

 

In this month of the Holy Rosary let us recommit ourselves to this amazing gift. Our parish is particularly blessed to be under the patronage of our Blessed Mother Mary. The Rosary honors her in a profound way and opens us to the graces and blessings of her only Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 

 

There are pamphlets at the main entrance of the church with images and scripture references for our meditation, entitled: “How to Pray the Rosary.” Contact me or Jeremy if you need a Rosary.

 

Fr. Will