October 7, 2010
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Did you experience so many things in vain?--if indeed it was in vain. Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard? Galatians 3:4-5
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10
Piety
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.
Study
Today, we focus on Our Lady of the Rosary and the prayers contained in this meditation. Yesterday, the daily scriptures focused on the Lord’s Prayer. Some Catholics consider the Rosary the perfect prayer. Others may consider the Lord’s Prayer to be the perfect prayer.) However, in the span of less than 48 hours, scripture leads us through some of the prayers in the Church which have the richest meaning.
No matter which one of these prayers (or perhaps something else) may be your favorite, the lesson in today’s Good News is to pray consistently and persistently. Whatever your prayer intentions are, if you turn in faith to the Lord, he will hear you and will respond.
For some of my Catholic friends, they truly connect and pray the Rosary with joy – even when the distractions of life interrupt their meditations. For others, the Rosary has not yet become a prayer with which they have any special affinity.
I have sometimes found that when the prayer speaks to me in my personal situation or in the situation in which my family is experiencing, then the prayer holds a more special meaning. Dropping your child off at school and leaving him or her there leaves an emptiness in our hearts. Maybe that was the emptiness and fear that Joseph and Mary experienced when Jesus wandered off to teach in the temple. Running out of food and wine at a wedding party could cause a host special embarrassment – like the event was not planned carefully. Solving that – delivering the host from such anguish – may drive home the social significance of the mystery of the Wedding at Cana.
Action
Allow Our Lady of the Rosary to speak to you today through the Mysteries of the Light.
The Baptism of Jesus: When have you witnessed a child or adult Baptism? When have you gone through a special initiation into an organization like a fraternity, the Knights of Columbus or other group? When have you turned to Jesus and asked for his assistance in the same trusting way Jesus put the beginning of his public ministry into the hands of John the Baptist?
The Wedding at Cana: When did Christ open your heart and change you into His disciple? When have you asked Mary to intervene with her son on your behalf or on behalf of your prayerful intentions?
The Proclamation of the Kingdom: When has the preaching of Jesus rung out in your ears like it did to those who witnessed the Sermon on the Mount? When have you changed the direction in which you are seeking happiness in order to follow the way, the truth and the light as preached that day?
The Transfiguration: When have you had a “mountaintop” experience with the Lord?
The Institution of the Eucharist: What has Christ changed in your life? How do you share in His ministry and in His suffering and resurrection?
Consider using the Rosary in your palanca for the candidates on the Cursillo this weekend.
