Last month we took up the topic of the universal call to holiness. If we seek to be holy and to follow after our Blessed Lord we need to foster proper Marian devotion within our life and family. Most fittingly the month of October is devoted to the Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on Monday, October 7th. For those who attend our 2pm Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this will be the feast which will be celebrated on Sunday.
From Saint Josemaria Escriva concerning the rosary: “Become little. Our Lord hides Himself from the proud and reveals the treasures of His grace to the humble. Never fear if, when thinking on your own, daring and childish words and affections escape from you. Jesus wants this. Mary encourages you. If you say the Rosary in this way, you will learn to pray well.”
In the words of our Blessed Mother at Fatima: “Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world.” These are important words from our Blessed Mother’s lips and yet so many do not heed her command. Saint John Paul II stated concerning the rosary and the family: “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.”
Many monks and religious sisters wear the rosary hanging from their side. When they reach for their rosary they take their right hand and stretch it to their left hip. The is like a knight who heads into battle taking their right hand and stretching it to their left hip where their sword is found. The rosary becomes our sword for we must undergo spiritual battle everyday.
How sad to know that our Blessed Mother has asked that we pray the rosary everyday and yet so many Catholics do not heed her words. How sad to hear those who do not know their typical prayers especially when it is children. This tells me that the family does not foster a spirit of prayer together. We must remember that the father becomes the spiritual head of the household and must be concerned with this role.
In our modern world so many marriages end in divorce. In our modern world so many children grow up to stop practicing their faith. What would be different if we were so convinced of the importance of praying together as a family especially that of the rosary as was suggested by Saint John Paul II?
The rosary allows us to enter into the life of Christ. Through it we have the opportunity to mediate on his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Through this prayer we seek out the Blessed Mother’s intercession and allow our heart to dwell with her Son.
