Our Lady of the Rosary — Five Reasons to Pray This October
Dear Parishioners,
October is here—the month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1917, at Fatima, Blessed Mary appeared to three shepherd children and gave them a command that still echoes through the centuries: ‘Pray the Rosary every day’. Nearly 110 years later, her words remain urgent, her promise remains sure, and her call remains unchanged. This month, I invite you to answer that call with renewed commitment and faith.
Why should we pray the Rosary? Here are five compelling reasons:
1. The Rosary Is Biblical ~ The Rosary is not a Catholic invention, but it is woven directly from Scripture. The “Hail Mary” comes from Luke’s Gospel: The Angel Gabriel’s greeting (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth’s praise of Mary (Luke 1:42). The “Our Father” is the prayer Jesus Himself taught us (Matthew 6:9-13). The Mysteries of the Rosary trace the central events of the Gospel narrative: the Incarnation, the Passion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Christ.
As the Church teaches, the Rosary is a compendium of the Gospel. When we pray the Rosary, we are not adding to Scripture; we are meditating on Scripture. We are holding the Gospel in our heart and letting it transform us. Scripture itself commands this: “Mary treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). She knew Christ most intimately, and the Rosary invites us into that same treasured knowledge.
2. To Come Closer to Jesus Through the Mysteries ~The Rosary is Christocentric: Christ is its center and its purpose. As we meditate on the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries, we are not praying to Mary; we are praying through Mary to her Son. We contemplate His Incarnation, His agony in the Garden, His Crucifixion, His Resurrection, His Ascension – the very heart of our faith.
Pope St. John Paul II taught that “the Rosary is a powerful means of fostering spiritual life” precisely because it leads us into deeper communion with Christ. Each Mystery opens a door. Each decade deepens our meditation. By the time we finish, we have lived with Jesus through His life, death, and glory. We know Him better. We love Him more. We follow Him more faithfully.
3. It Makes Us Holier ~ Holiness is not achieved through willpower alone and it is cultivated through prayer and grace. The Rosary is a school of sanctity. As we repeat the words, meditate on the Mysteries, and intercede for our needs, the Holy Spirit works within us. He softens hard hearts. He strengthens weak wills. He draws us away from sin and toward virtue.
The Catechism teaches that “Mary’s role is to lead us to her Son and His grace” (CCC 968). When we pray the Rosary faithfully, we allow Mary to lead us toward holiness. Saints throughout the centuries, from St. Dominic to St. Thérèse of Lisieux to modern martyrs, have testified that the Rosary is a ladder to sanctity. As we pray, we become more patient, more merciful, more forgiving, more like Christ. Our families see the change. Our parishes feel it. Our world needs it desperately.
4. Our Lady Herself Asked Us at Fatima, October 13, 1917 ~ On October 13, 1917, at Fatima, Portugal, Mary appeared to three children and gave them a direct command: “Pray the Rosary every day.” This was not a suggestion. This was a mother’s plea to her children in a time of spiritual crisis where World War I was raging, secularism was spreading, souls were being lost.
Mary’s message at Fatima remains urgent for our time. She asked the children to continue saying the Rosary every day, and she promised peace – not the false peace of the world, but the peace that comes from grace, from forgiveness, from union with Christ. She appeared as “Our Lady of the Rosary,” placing this prayer at the center of her maternal mission: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27)
5. The Rosary Weakens the Devil. A Weapon Against Evil ~ St. Paul writes, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12).
Pope Pius XI declared with prophetic clarity: “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin. If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary.”
When we pray the Rosary, we invoke Mary’s intercession and Christ’s power against the evil one. The devil trembles at the Rosary. He cannot bear the Name of Jesus repeated number of times in a single decade. He cannot withstand Mary’s maternal authority. He flees from grace.
In our homes, in our families, in our nation – the Rosary is our defense. It calls down Christ’s victory. It weakens the devil’s grip. It restores peace.
This October, let us commit to:
- Pray the Rosary every day, even one decade, even 10 minutes. Do it as a family. Do it alone. Do it in your car. Let’s just do it.
- Join us for communal Rosary before the Masses on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Teach your children the Mysteries. Let them see you pray. Let them learn that the Rosary is a gift of love.
- Pray for the intentions Mary asked the children to pray for: the conversion of sinners and the peace of the world.
- If you have forgotten how to pray it, ask any parishioner or come see me. We are here to help you answer Mary’s call.
Mary’s Promise:
St. Dominic received this promise from Mary: “Whoever prays my Rosary faithfully will obtain peace.”
On October 14, as we gather at Sacred Heart Church in Merrill for ‘Beads & Brats’, we remember her appearance at Fatima and her command: pray the Rosary every day. Honor her request. Claim her protection. Join the millions of Catholics worldwide praying for peace.
Our Lady of the Rosary – Pray for us.