WHY SAY THE ROSARY?

          

             The prayer we know as the Rosary today, originally was called the Psalter of Mary because of the 150 hail Marys that corresponds to the number of psalms in the Bible. However, it gained its title of the Rosary due to a vision by a Monk, who saw our Lady collecting roses from his mouth to weave a garland or crown for herself. Thus, the title 'Rosary' from Latin Rosarium, etymologically means the Crown or Garland of Roses. The Rosary, however, through the centuries, has gained popularity as one of the surest ways of attracting God’s Mercy through our Lady.

            Many popes and saints have written to convince us of the efficacy of its power. Pope Leo XIII wrote twelve encyclicals on the Rosary, not to mention several other popes. Holy Men like Blessed Alan de la Roche spent their lives promoting the Rosary. All this is because of the lived experience of the effect of the Rosary. St. Pio would say that our Lady has never refused him any grace through the recitation of the Rosary. Another excellent effect of the Rosary is that, it presents us with the major events in the life of Jesus for our meditation and imitation. Thus, it fulfills a twofold task for us; while it urges our Lady to tell him that we have no wine, it, also, presents to us what he has asked us to do and imitate.

          Since we have at our disposal a sure way of attracting in our lives some great graces from God, let us not hesitate to make daily use of it. The Rosary has in history proven to be worthy of its popularity. Let us once again with all our heart call on our Lady, Comfort of the Afflicted. Let us scatter the roses at her feet, let us beg like dying men panting for their lives. Let us beg for the uncertainties that hold us today concerning the lives of our family, friends and loved ones. Let us beg for our lives in this period when we are besieged by many crisis in our world.

 Our Lady of Fatima, who declared herself the Lady of the Rosary said “Pray the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.” It is obvious that the world is critically in need of peace now than ever, nor do we have a complete grasp of peace in mind and body. Let us with all our hearts implore the powerful intercession of our Lady through the Rosary.

Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary – Pray for us.