“I invite you to pray the Rosary and to carry it in your hands or your pockets. The recitation of the rosary is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to the Virgin Mary; it is a contemplation on the stages of the life of Jesus the Savior with his Mother Mary and is a weapon that protects us from evils and temptations,” Pope Francis.
In the Church, the month of October is, by custom, the month of the Rosary but people do use this prayer all the year around. We should profoundly understand that praying the rosary is promoted within the Catholic Church as a means of strengthening one’s faith, growing spirituality, resisting evil and generally benefitting the community. The spirituality of praying the rosary should not only be reserved for October, May and to different Novenas but rather observed as a daily basic need.
Praying the rosary was originally called the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary because Our Lady is venerated by the angelic greeting (the Hail Mary) repeated 150 times, corresponding to the number of the Davidic Psalter.
The Rosary prayer tells us about the life of Jesus and his Mother, Mary. The rosary is a meditative walk through the life and purpose of Jesus here on earth. It helps us focus on the centrality of Jesus in our faith and the hope rested in him of his second coming.
The rosary is presented both as a “school of faith” and a “school of charity.” Pope Paul VI wrote “Without contemplation on the mysteries the rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation is in danger of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas” (Marialis Cultis, n.47). In 1980 Pope John Paul II had this to say at Fatima: “Would you like me to tell you a secret? It is simple, and after all, it is no secret. Pray much. Pray the rosary every day.” Praying the rosary opens our hearts to accept God and hear God better than before.
From Private Revelations of Our Lady of the Roses, October 6, 1970. “Realize the power in your hand with the rosary, for in your hands you should hold the power of God. If you do not recognize the Rosary, can you expect to be recognized by my Son? How much can you expect? Why do you hide My Rosary? It was with a mother’s loving heart that I chose to give you these pearls of Heaven that you reject. Those who remain true to my Rosary will not be touched by the fires.
Gather these treasures, My children, for the time will come that you will not find them on the counters of your stores.”
Praying the Rosary, we are told by the Church is an extraordinary means of changing tepid Christians into ardent followers of Christ. Why? Because the foundation of holiness is the practice of mental prayer and is the meditation on the truths of our faith.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, meditation of the Catholic Church, meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our hearts and strengthen our will to follow Christ.
As we meditate on the events in Jesus’ life, we focus on Him. Our Rosary prayer becomes a Prayer of adoration and recognition of who God is and what He has done for us and our salvation because of His love for us. Taking the time to focus on God is important; it pulls us away from the temptation of self–absorbed and self–centred.
The rosary is a highly symbolic and purposeful summary of the gospels. Right from the crucifix to the Hail Mary beads and the rest of the rosary structural elements, there is a lot of symbolism and significance. It is a powerful prayer, one that can change our lives, strengthen the family, bring peace to the world, convert entire nations, and win the salvation of souls.
Praying the Rosary is not only an instrument for counting each Hail Mary; it is a heavenly garland of precious pearls, and every part of it affords treasure of indulgences and assurance of mercy through the merits of Jesus and Mary.
Sem. Robert Bigabwarugaba ([email protected]) is a clergy member at St Paul’s National Seminary – Kinyamasika
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