Monday, October 7, 2024

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (Galatians 1:6-12; Luke 10:25-37)

James Gustafson was a Protestant ethicist.  His book Can Ethics Be Christian relates the story of a modern “Good Samaritan.”  The man came to the rescue of a drunken soldier whom he found laying on the street.  He made sure the soldier was not badly hurt and found in his wallet the soldier’s address.  Then he took $20 from the wallet, found a taxi, and sent the man home paying the taxi driver with the $20.  The man did all this even though he did not profess any belief in God.

Because of Jesus’ parable today, the man’s action might be described as “Christian.”  But is it fair to say that when the man did not proceed from any belief in Christ?  It should be observed that the man went beyond what most decent people would probably do in the situation – call the police and let them take care of the problem.  But he expended much time and energy to help the man. 

(optional homilette highlighting today's memorial)

Certainly Jesus calls us to act similarly.  We have to go beyond decency to assist the suffering in ways that really matter.  Christ has told us that they are really he himself.  They are also our passage to eternal life.

Today’s feast celebrates a number of accomplishments.  First, it lifts up the rosary as a way for Christians to implore the help of the Virgin Mary in seeking favors from God.  We remember how Mary appealed to her son at the wedding feast in Cana when the party ran out of wine.

Second, the feast recalls the naval victory of a Catholic alliance known as the Holy League over the Ottoman fleet in the latter part of the sixteenth century.  Historians have said that a defeat of the Holy League would have opened Western Europe to Turkish domination.

Third, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrates Mary’s patronage of the Dominican Order.  According to a legend, Mary presented the rosary to St. Dominic.  History verifies that Dominic chose the Mother of God as the Order’s primary patron.  Furthermore, the Dominicans were the primary preachers of the rosary for centuries. The great missionary Dominican province is named after Our Lady of the Holy Rosary as well as many Dominican churches and schools throughout the world.