Today we come to celebrate the External Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary. As we find ourself in the midst of the month of October may we be reminded that this month is dedicated to the rosary. On October 13, which is next Sunday, the apparitions of Fatima came to their conclusion through what is known as the Miracle of the Sun. On this day I invite you to a community rosary which will be held at 3:30pm. If weather permits this rosary will be held at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima which is found outside. I find it very important that this parish continue to move forward through a spirit of prayer and our Blessed Mother’s intercession.
The rosary is related to the praying of the Psalms. The clergy and members of religious orders are bound to pray the Liturgy of Hours. This is something that I recommend for all the lay faithful to pray. Traditionally the Roman Breviary would cover all 150 Psalms in the period of one week. In its’ current form this takes four weeks and a few of the Psalms are even excluded.
I bring this up because the Rosary is sometimes referred to as being the Psalter of our Lady. This is made in reference to the Roman Brevary and the praying of the 150 Psalms. If you take the traditional mysteries of the rosary and add up the Hail Mary prayers which are made between the decades you will arrive at 150 Aves which are prayed. To pray the rosary gave an individual the opportunity to spend time with each of these Psalms.
The Rosary then becomes a very powerful prayer that needs to be rediscovered in the life of the faithful. Saint John Paul II went as far as to say of it: “The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.” To think of the many issues which run rampant within the world which includes the realm of the family. How different would the world in which we live be different if we came to heed these words?
With that let us consider what led to the creation of this celebration of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was in the year 1571 that victory was won for Christians at Lepanto which was attributed by Pope Pius V to the praying of the rosary on the behalf of the faithful. The Christians were greatly outnumbered and had this city fallen to Turkish invaders which would of been catastrophic for Christiandom. Nevertheless, the faithful banded together in prayer and Our Lady of the Rosary granted a great miracle on that day.
The rosary is thus a great spiritual weapons against Satan and all evil spirits. Let us remember that many in religious orders wear their rosary to their left thus reaching for it with their right hand. This is equal to a knight, who when headed into battle, reaches for his sword with his right hand finding it on his left side.
Let us then come to heed the faithful praying of the rosary in our everyday life including in our home when among our family. Our Lady of Fatima stated: “Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world.” May we heed this request and forever take up the weapon of the Most Holy Rosary.
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