Weapon for Our Times
Today the Church commemorates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was St. Dominic who, in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, encouraged everyone to say the Rosary. St. Dominic was greatly saddened by the spread of a terrible heresy called [Albigensianism--The largest Cathar sects. They taught that the spirit was created by God, and was good, while the body was created by an evil god, and the spirit must be freed from the body. Having children was one of the greatest evils, since it entailed imprisoning another “spirit” in flesh. Logically, marriage was forbidden, though fornication was permitted. Tremendous fasts and severe mortifications of all kinds were practiced.] (https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-great-heresies)
With the members of his new Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, he was trying his best to spread the truth and put an end to this dangerous heresy. He begged the Blessed Virgin for help, and it is said that she told him to preach devotion to the Holy Rosary. St. Dominic obeyed and he was very successful in stopping the heresy.
The Holy Rosary is a simple devotion, which can be practiced by all people—old and young, learned and unlearned. It can be said anywhere, at any time. While we repeat the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and Glory to the Father, we think about great moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. In this way, we grow closer and closer to Jesus and his Blessed Mother. We learn to imitate their holy lives.
Mary is very pleased when we say the Holy Rosary often and well. She used to say it with St. Bernadette when she appeared to her at Lourdes. The three little children of Fatima learned from Mary the power of the Rosary. Mary taught them that the Rosary obtains graces to live a life close to God.
A Dominican pope, St. Pius V, established today’s feast. It is to show our gratitude to Mary for a military victory over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. (iMissal, Saint a Day)
Pope Pius XI said: “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.”
Let’s acquire the beautiful habit of saying the Rosary every day. If we carry a rosary in our pocket, it’ll be easy for us to find the time each day to pray this beautiful prayer. Wherever you are, let the Hail Mary be on your lips! You can even say it while performing your duties. If your duties do not allow you to leave your job, do it anyway. No matter how many they may be, you should go to God with all your mind and heart, God will listen!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Hail Mary full of grace…
Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen