October 7
On Wednesday, October 7, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary—a beautiful reminder that the Rosary is not simply a string of prayers we repeat, but a school of prayer where we learn to walk with Jesus alongside His Mother, Mary.
There is something wonderfully practical about the Rosary. You can pray it almost anywhere. I once heard someone say, “Father, I pray the Rosary in the car because it is the only place where nobody interrupts me.” I smiled and thought, You obviously don't have children in the car!
Anyone who has tried praying the Rosary as a family knows what I mean. You begin with great enthusiasm: “In the name of the Father…” Then someone cannot find their Rosary. Someone else wants a drink. Another person starts the next Hail Mary too early. And just when everyone finally gets quiet, the dog decides it is time to participate!
And yet, we keep praying.
That is one of the beautiful things about the Rosary. It does not require perfect conditions. Mary does not ask us to have a perfectly quiet house, a perfectly focused mind, or a perfectly organized life. She simply invites us to come and pray.
The Rosary has a long history in the life of the Church. Tradition especially connects its spread with St. Dominic and the Dominican tradition. Over the centuries, countless Christians have turned to the Rosary in times of joy, sorrow, uncertainty, and thanksgiving.
Why does the Rosary remain so popular?
Because it is simple enough for a child to pray, yet deep enough to occupy a lifetime.
As we pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, we meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life: His Incarnation, His ministry, His Passion and Death, His Resurrection, and His glory. Mary does not take our attention away from Jesus. Quite the opposite—she teaches us to look at Jesus with her eyes and to treasure Him in our hearts.
The Rosary can become a wonderful family prayer. It can also become a personal prayer: in the car, while walking, before going to bed, or during a quiet moment in the church.
Perhaps October is a good time to begin again.
Pray one decade when you have only a few minutes. Pray a full Rosary when you can. Pray it in the car, with your family, or before the Blessed Sacrament. Most importantly, pray it consistently.
And if the children get distracted, don't give up. If you lose your place, start again. If you fall asleep during the fourth decade, you're probably not the first Catholic to do so!
The Rosary is not about perfection. It is about being with Jesus and allowing Mary to lead us closer to Him.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Lead us closer to your Son, Jesus, and teach us to treasure His life, His Cross, and His Resurrection in our hearts.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
Fr.Marius Sztuk, SDS
