Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Meditation

The rosary is a favourite means of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, recommended by the Popes over many centuries.  It consists of various elements:

(a)    Contemplation, in union with Mary, of a series of mysteries of salvation, distributed into three cycles.  These mysteries express the joy of the Messianic times, the suffering of Christ, and the glory of the Risen Lord which fills the Church.  This contemplation by its very nature encourages practical reflection and provides norms for living.

(b)    The Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father, which by reason of its immense value is at the basis of Christian prayer and ennobles that prayer in its various expressions.

(c)    The litany-like succession of the Hail Mary, which is made up of the Angel’s greeting to the Virgin (Lk 1:28) and of Elizabeth’s greeting (Lk 1:42), followed by the Church’s own prayer.  The continued series of Hail Marys is the special characteristic of the Rosary, and their number, one hundred and fifty, is divided into decades attached to the individual mysteries.

(d)    The doxology Glory be to the Father concludes the prayer with the glorifying of God Who is One and Three, from Whom, through Whom, and in Whom all things have their being (Rom 11:36).

In her sixth and last apparition at Fatima, October 13, 1917,
the Blessed Virgin insisted on the recitation of the Rosary as a powerful means for the conversion of Russia and for peace in the world.  When Lucy asked, “Who are you and what do you want?”   Our Lady replied: “I am the Lady of the Rosary, and I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  Thy must not continue to offend our Lord who is already so deeply offended.  They must say the Rosary.”

Through the prayer of the Rosary untold blessings have been showered down upon all humankind throughout the ages.  Through the Rosary today as in past times of peril that have threatened civilization, Mary has again come to  save all humankind from the evils that overwhelm us.

But the Rosary is especially most helpful in bringing back home life to its full splendour, by raising the family to a higher family circle where God is Father and Mary is Mother and we are all children of God.  The Family Rosary is a practical way to strengthen the unity of family life.

THE WORD OF GOD

“Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun, as awe-inspiring as bannered troops”  (Song 6:10)

“You are beautiful as Tirzah (early capital of Northern Israel), my beloved, as lovely as Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered troops.”  (Song 6:4)

“Listen, my faithful children; open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up the sweet odour of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily.  Send up the sweet odour of your hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all he has done.” (Sir 39:13-14)

NOVENA PRAYERS

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.   Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.  If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.  I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.   If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual “Bouquet of Roses” because I love you.  I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful.  For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.  Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.