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Saint Paul
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Resonance of the rosary

Deacon Gordon Bird

We give it special attention this month. It is a journey through the Gospel story. Yielding only to the Mass, arguably the favorite prayer of many saints, popes, monks and mystics. And, of all of us sinners who desire to love Jesus more than our sins. In spiritual warfare, it “is the weapon for these times,” proclaimed St. Padre Pio.

While growing up, some cradle Catholics confessed its repetition helped digest their evening meal before the TV came on. Even Elvis — the “King of Rock & Roll” — sang to “The Miracle of the Rosary”:

Oh, Blessed Mother we pray to thee;
Thanks for the miracle of our rosary.
Only you can hold back, your holy Son’s hand;
Long enough for the whole world to understand.

Mary pursues and leads us yet today to a life of intimacy with Christ. We reverence her holiness through the rosary — praying, meditating and contemplating — the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, “The King of the Universe.” Her last words recorded in the New Testament, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5), delivered a profound message then and is one which resonates in hearts today. Her last quote in Scripture was at the wedding in Cana, but the Blessed Mother’s active role to bring others to her Son did not cease in those days. The power of her prayers and the impact of her apparitions pressed on through the centuries, and her “Seat of Wisdom” continues to guide us.

St. Padre Pio prayed the rosary daily and fought spiritual battles unimaginable to most of us. He preached of the Blessed Mother, touting that “her rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.” Perhaps today more than ever the rosary has become “the weapon for these times.” It is a good idea to keep a spiritual armory of rosaries by the lampstands, under pillows, by the “big book” on the coffee table, etc. Our battles may not be as intense or terrifying as those afflicting Padre Pio; however, the crafty, subtle ways of the cunning adversary need to be curtailed regularly. This is true especially in our “ordinary” lives of today that smacks with division and lack of unity among family, friends and colleagues.

Mary understands how the greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary life, and she teaches us through the mysteries of the life of Jesus via the rosary. Speaking to the calmness, the selflessness, the consolations and healing power of this prayer that the Mother of God and her Son bring, Pope Emeritus Benedict expresses: “They touch you in a meditative way, so that the repetition allows the soul to settle into tranquility and holding fast to the Word, above all to the figure of Mary and to the images of Christ that pass you by, make your soul calm and free and grant it a vision of God.”

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The rosary of the Blessed Mother — its meditative nature, scriptural references, virtuous fruits of each mystery —sanctifies, instructs and guides us in our walk with Jesus. As watchmen — at the heights and the breach of the watchtower of the family — it is our duty to pray this prayer with persistence. Starting in our own homes, parishes and communities, let us seek paths to holiness, settle past grievances and untruths, mend spiritual wounds and serve the needs of others. It’s a tall order as we pray daily with many others across the country for the needs of our Church and our nation. Let Our Lady — Tower of Ivory — and the resonance of her prayers heal and strengthen us.

Oh, Holy Mary, dear Mother of God;
Please pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death;
And give thanks once again;
For the miracle of your rosary.

 Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount, All Saints in Lakeville, and assists the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Reach him at gordonbird@rocketmail.com. Learn about the Catholic Watchmen at archspm.org/faith-communities/men or at facebook.com/thecatholicwatchmen.

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