Our Lady of the Rosary

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was instituted to honor Mary for the Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope St. Pius V and all Christians had prayed the Rosary for victory.  This victory saved Europe from being overrun by the forces of Islam.

According to pious tradition, the concept of the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the year 1214. Pope, Leo XIII, known as the Rosary Pope, issued a record twelve encyclicals and five Apostolic Letters on the rosary.  He instituted the Catholic custom of daily Rosary prayer during the month of October.  The Rosary as a family prayer was supported by Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Ingruentium malorum (In the face of approaching evils): "The custom of the family praying of the Holy Rosary is a most efficacious means."  Pope Benedict XVI (as well as other popes throughout history) encouraged all families to pray the Rosary for the intentions of the Pope, the mission of the Church and peace.

Our family has not always had the most devoted to this beautiful prayer of meditation; however, I find it interesting that we always lean toward this prayer when we are in need of special graces.  I have always found it a great way to center myself on God.  There is also many wonderful places to pause and add intercessions, praise, and worship.

The Rosary has often been misunderstood as just a group of repetitive words.  However, it is in this group of simple prayers that one can get lost in the even and continuous flow in order to find God.  I have often felt closest to God as I meditate on the mysteries that lead us through the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious moments in the life of Christ.  For anyone who knows the Bible, the mysteries found in the verses are easily brought to mind.