Bishop O'Connell reflects on the Rosary as the Church celebrates the Month of the Rosary
During a recent hospital stay, I had an interesting experience. The night nurse was taking my “vitals” before bedtime when she noticed my Rosary on the nightstand. She told me she was a Hindu and never heard of the Rosary before.
I explained this traditional Catholic prayer and she quickly became interested. I likened praying the Rosary to the use of meditative prayer beads in her own religious faith. I went through the Rosary prayers, their meaning and purpose and the role of the Blessed Mother in our Catholic faith.
“I want to say these prayers” she said. “How can I learn them?” I directed her to a website and she seemed so happy. Just goes to show how we can share our beautiful Catholic faith anytime, in any circumstance, wherever we are!
The Catholic Church has been blessed with the intercession of the Mother of God through this prayer since the early 13th century when, according to Catholic tradition, she appeared to St. Dominic (1170-1221) in 1214 offering him the idea of the Rosary. There are various legends and stories regarding how the Rosary initially came to be but its current form of fifteen mysteries – five joyful, five sorrowful, five glorious called “decades”– was formally established by Pope Pius V (1504-72) in 1569. Pope St. John Paul II added five “luminous” mysteries to the decades of Rosary in 2002.
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Continue reading Bishop O'Connell's reflection on the Rosary.
The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and – added by Pope John Paul II in 2002 – the Luminous.
The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.
The Five Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and, during the season of Advent, on Sundays:
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays:
The Five Luminous Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Thursdays:
Familiarize yourself and/or your group with the prayers of the Rosary.