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One of the aims of advertising is to convince us that something we were not aware of is something that we now need. These ads can lure us into a false sense of need or misguided trust in the product. But products don’t often fully deliver everything that is needed or usually promised.
There is one Catholic devotional prayer that time and time again has shown to deliver on its promises both because of who has made the promise and its eternal benefits — the Rosary!
At various times throughout history, Our Blessed Mother has appeared holding a Rosary. Those to whom she appears are taught by her how to pray. Mary requests them to pray the Rosary themselves and to invite others to pray it, too. Her request is not for her own bottom-line followers like many want on various social platforms nowadays. But rather, it is for her to draw as many souls as possible closer to her Son and away from evil.
The Third “R” of the Rosary is requested!
Mary requested St Dominic to pray and introduced the specific mysteries of Jesus’ life, Death and Resurrection to combat the Albigensian heresy back in the 1200’s. At that time, Mary granted success against this heresy, and the faithful saw its importance. Over the next 300 years, the devotion of the people for the Rosary dwindled down and Mary requested of Blessed Alan de la Roche to bring back to life the pious practice of the Rosary throughout Europe in the 1500’s. At nearly all Marian apparitions since then Mary has appeared and requested the praying of a daily Rosary to convert sinners and for peace. The recitation and vital importance of the Rosary has continued to be proclaimed by the Church including: a Papal bull by Pope Pius V, 12 Rosary Encyclicals by Pope Leo XIII, an Encyclical by Pope Pius XII, and an Apostolic letter by Pope St. John Paul II.
Praying the Rosary with Mary, the greatest intercessor of all time, can change hardened hearts, lead sinners to holiness, redirect civilizations, stop wars, and convert nations. She knows the deepest needs for our souls and authentic wants of love, peace, and holiness. She invites us to use just a small part of each day to pray with her the Rosary to keep our eyes and hearts on her Son, Jesus. She will lead us to what we are not aware our soul needs as we pray with her. Mary will invite our hearts to greater joy and peace in whatever our vocation is. The Rosary unites our souls to Christ and unites our families together at a time when the culture wants to tear it all apart.
Take a moment to be further motivated to pray the Rosary by reading through the 15 Promises of the Virgin Mary for those who pray the Rosary. Now that’s a truly lifetime guarantee!
How can we ignore Our Mother’s request that is filled with love for us and promises for our spiritual benefit?
I invite us to consider the power of these words in the role of Rosary in our families’ lives and recommit to praying the Rosary requested by Our Blessed Mother for our families’ benefit:
“Families seldom manage to come together, and the rare occasions when they do are often taken up with watching television. To return to the recitation of the family rosary means filling daily life with very different images, images of the mystery of salvation: the image of the Redeemer, the image of his Most Blessed Mother. The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth: its members place Jesus at the center, they share his joys and sorrows, they place their needs and their plans in his hands, they draw from him the hope and the strength to go on” – Pope St John Paul II
The Rosary is a powerful spiritual weapon, a beautifully repetitive learning tool, and a Gospel in mini form for our easy reflection on the life of Christ. All these aspects lead us to understand why the Rosary is such a powerful prayer for every faithful person.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
References:
Pope St. John Paul II quote retrieved from http://theleaven.org/marys-request-at-fatima-even-more-relevant-today/
Author: Laura Stephens, FF Homeschool Coordinator
