With the state of the world now at war in so many places, and on the brink of war in Western Europe, I am asking the faithful throughout our diocese to pray the rosary for peace. In our parishes, in our Catholic Schools, in small groups, in families, or individually on the Feast of the Holy Rosary tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7, let us implore the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede to bring about urgent peace throughout the world and for the conversion of sinners. There are various rosary campaigns taking place on this day. Let us join them in asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to transform hearts immersed in violence and hatred into ambassadors of peace and goodwill, as we pray the rosary for peace. With God all things are possible.
Undoubtedly, many of you who are regular readers of this weekly email post frequently, perhaps daily, pray the rosary. I truly believe this has kept the world from total collapse now for quite some time. At the same time, when groups unite in praying the rosary in our parishes, or rosary campaigns such as the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign sponsored again this year by the Pontifical Foundation known as Aid to the Church in Need, there is tremendous grace that flows from the Intercession of Our Blessed Mother.
The incredible victory of the Holy League in the Battle of Lepanto took place because of an outpouring of prayer through the Holy Rosary across Europe. This feast encourages us to step out in faith and pray fervently again as new threats to world peace disturb us all. So, the real question is, do we believe in the power of prayer especially by means of the Holy Rosary? The circumstances of our times demand that we act in faith, calling upon our Blessed Mother to intercede to bring about true and lasting peace. But the key is that we “act in faith.”
Once again, this reminds me of the difference between wishing and praying. In my high school years, there were many times I wanted to take the car and go to town to see my friends, but until I asked my dad, it was just wishful thinking. There are many times when we want to obtain something from God but actually praying to him is another matter. Daily we wish current world conflicts would cease. Daily we hear about Christians throughout the world (Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, India, etc.) who are being rounded up and murdered and we hope that this would come to an end, but do we pray and ask our Lord to intervene? Personally, we can do very little to stop the war, but collectively we can act in faith and beseech our Lady, Queen of Peace, to obtain such an urgent request, and she will intercede.
Since I was very young, I have regularly prayed the rosary. I grew up with an absolute confidence that Our Blessed Mother could obtain for me anything I requested if I would but pray the rosary. At Lourdes, at Fatima, and in so many other places where Our Blessed Mother has appeared, she has always asked the children to pray, pray, pray the rosary. That was never lost on me as a child. I believe Our Lady has obtained for me many timely graces throughout my life.
There are some who say things like “I get nothing out of praying the rosary.” I think what they mean is that it has never been an intimate prayer experience for them. But praying the rosary is not about feeling. It is about trusting in God to act through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. Praying the rosary is an exercise that brings about an increase in faith, hope and love, as we ask Mary to intercede. Recall that when the archangel Gabriel came to Mary at the Annunciation she was totally disposed to say in reply, “Let it be done unto me according to thy will.” Praying the rosary disposes us to entrust our lives to God as Mary did and leave the rest up to him.
I firmly believe that if we pray the rosary daily with focus and attention to the mysteries we offer, in time we become more at peace amidst the storms of life that go on around us. We are less likely to be caught up in the turmoil of this world and more confident in the Lord, the Prince of Peace. If you have some resistance to Marian devotion, or specifically to the rosary, it’s not likely to just change on its own, short of a miracle. I’ve watched it happen over the years that only by entering into this devotion sincerely and asking for the grace to believe in the salutary role of Our Blessed Mother in our salvation will we come to experience, through her intercession, what we can’t get at rationally. It is confounding! Read all the books you want to gain an intellectual understanding of the rosary. Praying the rosary is an act of faith. Only by entering into this devotion will it become meaningful for us.
Tomorrow, please join me wherever you are in praying the rosary for peace in the world. And in doing so, notice what interior thoughts, feelings and desires are stirred up in you. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
