Memorial of Our
Lady of the Rosary
(Jonah 4:1-11; Luke 11:1-4)
It is said that the rosary became popular centuries ago
as an alternative way to pray for those who were unable to read. Readers would recite the psalms which number
one hundred fifty. Non-readers would say
as many “Hail Mary’s” in the then full rosary of fifteen decades. But why has the devotion still such strength
that it is said very often when people gather in homes to pray? The answer has to do with how repetitive
prayer focuses people attention. We do
not pray the rosary concentrating on every word. Rather we focus especially on Mary
recognizing her as our mother since she is the physical mother of Jesus, our
brother. We ask her to reinforce our
prayers to God for assistance.
Today the Church celebrates Our Lady of the Rosary. The Dominican pope St. Pius V established the
feast after the combined Catholic navies defeated ascending Ottoman Empire in
the Battle of Lepanto. Pius had led a
rosary procession asking the Virgin Mother’s intercession before God on behalf
of his sailors.
In today’s gospel Jesus teaches his disciples to
pray. He shows them how to say the “Our
Father,” a prayer that is not lost in the rosary. Indeed, when we pray the rosary, we begin
every section with that appeal to God.
We know that God hears our petitions and will come to assist us.
