Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Today, October 7, we remember, we celebrate, and thank our Mama Mary of the Holy Rosary!
How many of us know that this day was originally designated as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Victory by Pope Pius V to commemorate the 1571 victory of the combined fleet of the Holy League at the Battle of Lepanto which Pope Pius V attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession?
Pope Gregory XIII changed the title to the Feast of the Holy Rosary "in memory and in perpetual gratitude of the miraculous victory that the Lord gave to his Christian people." In 1960 Pope John XXIII changed the title to "Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary".
We now pray the rosary, starting with the Creed, affirming our faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Then we follow it with the Our Father, the prayer taught to us by Jesus Christ Himself, followed by three Hail Marys (the Angelic Salutation) and the "Glory Be" -the Doxology.
As we recite the five decades consisting of the Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and the Doxology, the various Mysteries lead us to meditate on our Lord's life and mission for our redemption and we remember "the faithful witness of our Blessed Mother."
Journeying through the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous mysteries of the rosary, the individual brings to mind our Lord's incarnation, His passion and death and His resurrection from the dead. In so doing, the rosary assists us in growing in a deeper appreciation of these mysteries, in uniting our life more closely to our Lord, and in imploring His grace and assistance to live the faith. We also ask for the prayers of our Blessed Mother, who leads all believers to her Son.
Our Mama Mary has encouraged and urged those she had appeared to in various places to pray the Holy Rosary, for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world, for God to hear our prayers.
Everyone is familiar with Fatima where the Holy Rosary was prayed by the three shepherd children. Many of us also have learned this beautiful song by heart -"Our Lady of Fatima, we come on bended knee, to beg your intercession, for peace and unity. Dear Mary, won't you show us, the right and shining way? We pledge our love and offer you a rosary each day. You promised at Fatima each time that you appeared, to help us if we pray to you to banish war and fear. Dear Lady on first Saturdays, we ask your guiding hand, for peace and guidance here on earth and protection for our land."
We also learned since we were children that praying the rosary is like offering roses to our Mama Mary.
For many of us, praying the rosary daily is always a joyful spiritual experience. It allows us to meditate on God's wonderful redemption for us, to commune with Him, to find peace and hope in Him amidst fears, needs and concerns, and to raise our and others' petitions and prayers to Him, with the intercession of Mama Mary. For many of us, a day feels incomplete if we are not able to pray the Holy Rosary. Would you like to join us pray with joy the Holy Rosary each day for peace in the world, in our country, and in our hearts?
"Daily, daily sing to Mary, sing, my soul, her praises due: All her feasts, her actions honor, with the heart's devotion true. Lost in wond'ring contemplation, be her majesty confessed: call her Mother, call her Virgin, Happy Mother, Virgin blest."
Happy Feast Day and thank you, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary!
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