The Month of the Holy Rosary |
“I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life, to you, Christian families, to you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives.” (Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae , 43) The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. It is therefore opportune for individuals and families in the parish to respond generously to the late Holy Father’s call and renew the practice of reciting this simple but profound prayer. The Rosary is contemplative and Christocentric and in praying it the Christian is following Jesus, preceded by Mary. The Rosary is a Biblically inspired prayer that focuses on twenty mysteries recounting the work of salvation undertaken by Christ. He accomplished this in union with Mary who was so close to her son in his redeeming activity. The 7th of October marks the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast was instituted by Pope St. Pius V to honour Mary for the Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto on that date in 1570. The pope and Christian communities had prayed the Rosary in support of this outcome. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on a Sunday this year and is therefore superseded by the Sunday Liturgy. That is also designated the Day for Life by the Church in Ireland. Further information on the Holy Rosary can be found on this website. |