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.

Our Lady in the Soup Kitchen

Yesterday (sorry for the delayed post) we celebrated two feasts days...Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Vincent de Paul.  My guess is these two work well together in love of the community is the main theme of the day.  Even the Mass readings (not connected as it was a Sunday liturgy) seemed to bring about the message of giving to neighbor (James 5:1-6).

I had the joy of painting these two pegs for the occasion.  I also made an extra Lady for the priest at our monthly pilgrimage into San Francisco.

So...some may ask...Why another feast day for Mary?  Here is the scoop...

Mary’s title “Star of the Sea” is thought to derive from the prophet Elijah's account in 1 Kings 18:41-45 which refers to a little cloud appearing above the sea as a sign of hope that rain would soon come to water the parched earth. The idea of Mary our Mother being a guiding star for People of the Sea has led to special devotion to Our Lady, Star of the Sea in many coastal and fishing communities.  Just as seafarers have traditionally depended on the stars for navigation, so they trust in the protection and guidance of Our Lady Star of the Sea.  I think we should be able to do the same in our own journey to Christ as it can be just as tumultuous as the sea.

Along with this feast, is the recognition of St. Vincent de Paul.  When our little guy was born, we named him after this saint as we thought it was his fest day.  It turned out to be another saintly Vincent who we have come to love but it is still nice to recognize Vincent de Paul as one of his patrons.


Feast day: September 27
Birth: 1580
Death: 1660
Patron saint of charitable societies
French
Born of poor parents in a village of France
Priest of the Capuchin Order in 1910

To assist in the cost of schooling and not be a burden to his parents, he tutored other students.  In 1596, he went to the University of Toulouse for theological studies, and there he was ordained priest in 1600.

In 1605, on a voyage by sea, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was carried as a slave to Tunis. His captivity lasted about two years, until he was able to escape. After a brief visit to Rome he returned to France, where he became a chaplain for a noble family.

He then began preaching in missionary style throughout the area, specifically in poverty-stricken regions.  He helped all in spite of age, race, or creed.  His only desire was to help the poor with their basic needs.  He formed an order for men (Congregation of the Mission, or the "Vincentians") and later for women (Daughters of Charity) to assist in this mission.

He died at the age of 80 in 1660.  He was canonized in 1737.  He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity and is known as the "Great Apostle of Charity".  His mission continues today in most Catholic parishes under a group given his name...the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

Today is a feast day that we can all understand.  Even as Christians, we have sorrows that we must bear in this life.  The sorrow of a mother seems to be a deep pain.  Watching the suffering of a child is very hard, especially when we have no control over the cause.  Mary is the perfect example of a life of sorrow in spite of having God dwell with in her and around her.

This feast day represents her sorrows in life and dates back to the 12th century promoted by the orders of Cistercians and the Servites.  The entire Church began contemplating the meaning of Mary's sorrows on various feast days throughout the years; however, in 1913 Pope Pius X set the feast for this day.

When looking at her life in the Bible readings, we can often relate to her sorrows because of events in our own lives.  This was Mary's way to a spiritual martyrdom-suffering along side her son and showing repentance among the evils of this world.  Let us remember to also seek her guidance in how to respond to these sorrows.  She always turned closer to God in these moments.

The fulfillment of all the prophecies of old, come true in the suffering servant.  Mary was told that she would be "pierced by a sword" (Luke 2:34-35).  She "pondered these things in her heart" (Luke 2:19) at this moment and throughout her life ending with her at the foot of the Cross on which Jesus hung and continuing until her own dormition.

These are the traditional seven sorrows:

• The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
• The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
• Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50) 
• Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
• Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
• The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
• The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)