As a young child, I didn’t understand why my parents loved to pray the Rosary together as a family. We would sit together in the living room working our way through Hail Mary after Hail Mary, and it seemed to take so long.
Over the years, though, I started to appreciate the sense of peace that came through those prayers. As the Rosary concluded, there was always a sense of release. I still feel that today, a stillness and peace as the prayers come to an end on that final Amen. There is sense of relief and gratitude that you’ve handed your concerns over to the Blessed Mother.
On a page, the words might seem like a repetitive series. But as with many spiritual practices, the Rosary is what you make of it.
There are times when I get lost in the powerful stories of the mysteries of the Rosary, imagining the star shining over the stable the night Jesus was born, seeing Jesus dining with his apostles at the Last Supper, or picturing the archangel Gabriel sharing miraculous news with a virgin in Nazareth.
Then there are times when I am too worried to focus well on the mysteries, and the Rosary feels more like a string of prayers. Those are times when I’m grateful for the familiarity of the prayers, thankful that I don’t have to think of the words myself.
Praying the Rosary can be like taking a walk where you think you know the destination, but you might still be surprised along the way. When I pause to pray a Rosary, I often start with particular intentions in mind, but I find others popping up as I go. I suppose that is part of the gift of a prayer that is so enriched by meditation.
As our mother in heaven, Mary has a special love for each of us—and she loves to hear from us. We don’t have to pray the Rosary. But the invitation is always there to reach out and speak to our Blessed Mother, leaning on Mary to grow closer to her son, Jesus.
“The Rosary is a sweet chain linking us to heaven,” St. Bernadette Soubirous said. “It is the prayer of the simple and the great alike.”
October is a time for leaf crunching and Halloween decorating and maybe even sweater wearing once cooler weather arrives. But October is also the month of the Rosary. Maybe this season is a chance to give the Rosary a try for the first time—or the 101st time.
Our Blessed Mother will always be happy to hear from us.
If you’re interested, here’s a guide in how to pray the Rosary.
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