Praying the Holy Rosary is always good and beneficial, to be united with Jesus through Mary. The unique advantage of praying the Rosary is that we reflect on various events of our salvation, fulfilled by Our Lord Jesus Christ. These events are reflected as Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries, while praying the Rosary. Since Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ is the only one who was so closely associated with her son Jesus during his life on earth, we are able to derive the merits of Salvation by meditating them together with Our Blessed Mother.
There is a historical reason why October is the month dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. In the 16th century the Islamic Ottoman Empire presented a serious military threat to southern Europe. Pope Pius V recognized the grave danger and organized the fleet called the Holy League to confront the navy of the Ottoman Turks. On October 7, 1571 the two navies, Christian navy on one side and the Ottoman navy on the other, were ready with 400 warships. The fate of the western Europe depended upon the success of the Christians in this battle. Pope Pius V knew that the Christians needed more power than the military strength. Hence, he asked the faithful to pray the Rosary, seeking the intercession of the Blessed Mother. At the end of the battle of Lepanto, the Holy League of the Christians was victorious. The next year Pope Pius V established a feast in honor of the Blessed Mother on October 7th.
The Holy Father’s universal promulgation was recognized with the growing devotion to the Blessed Mother throughout Europe and increased the number of people praying the Holy Rosary. Gradually, Catholics all over the world recognized the importance of praying the Rosary.
Although the commitment to the Rosary was formalized in 1571, it was an established prayer long before then. The Rosary was first given to Saint Dominic by the Virgin Mary during an apparition in 1241 in Prouilhe of southern France.
Pope Benedict the XVI explained once in 2007, in his Angelus message at 12:00 noon on Sunday that Rosary is a means given by the Virgin Mary to contemplate Jesus and to love and follow him ever more faithfully.
Let us, therefore, renew our devotion to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and pray every day and particularly in times of conflict and despair.
God bless you
Fr. Arul Joseph V.
0 Comments