The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. Pope Saint Pius V established this feast day to acknowledge the effectiveness of praying the Rosary and to thank the Blessed Mother for her intercession in the miraculous victory of the Christian forces over the Turkish troops in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571.
Where and when the Rosary began is unknown. The use of beads as an aid in prayer has a long history both in the Catholic Church and in other religions. The chain of beads establishes a framework, a setting, a pace for the prayer, and the repetition provides a background for meditation.
St. Dominic (1170-1221) is attributed with the growth and popularity of praying the rosary. Dominic encouraged the Rosary as a remedy to the heresies of the time since meditating on the mysteries helped develop a foundation of the truths of the faith. He often encouraged both the clergy and the laity to pray the Rosary in his homilies.
The Rosary is primarily a scriptural prayer. This can be summarized by the traditional phrase used by Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) that the Rosary is "a compendium of the entire Gospel". The focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death and resurrection. The Our Fathers remind us that Jesus' Father is the initiator of salvation. The Hail Marys remind us to join with Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence. The Glory Bes remind us that the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity.
The rosary appeals to many. It is simple. The constant repetition of words helps create an atmosphere in which to contemplate the mysteries of God. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us in the joys and sorrows of life. We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary forever.
In this month of October, let us consider devout, thoughtful use of this beautiful prayer of the Rosary as a means to draw closer to Jesus and Mary by meditating on the great mysteries of our salvation.
From: http://www.saintcyprian.org/monthofmary.htm; http://www.americancatholic.org; https://StPaulCenter.com ; www.ewtn.com
