Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

October 7, 2017

Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.   The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/USCCB explains:  The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells.  (USCCB website)
Jesus listens to the excitement of his seventy-two recently empowered disciples in today’s Gospel as they return from having gone out in twos to many towns and villages in order to prepare the way for Jesus. They relay to him how the goodness of his spiritual teachings has been received.   They are awed by the results of their preaching and prayer which have demonstrated that sin and evil can be conquered. Jesus then prays in thanksgiving to God through the Holy Spirit for revealing this truth to his disciples.
Today’s Memorial to Our Lady of the Rosary reflects the truth of this Gospel.   Prayer is always a link to Mary and Jesus and gives us great strength in the face of obstacles and struggle.  The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. (USCCB website)
A friend of mine recently turned 93. Throughout the past three years she has needed more care and more assistance with life tasks. Her health is failing and her spirit is drawing inward. She always keeps three or four rosaries at her bedside and goes to bed with one in her hand every night. Whenever I look at the rosaries by her bed, I am comforted by her faith and I trust that God is with her.
She is no longer able to kneel by the side of her bed to pray the rosary as she did when we were growing up. She no longer remembers our name or even what she did a few minutes ago but she remembers how to pray the rosary. It will be in her hand until the end. And even now as we walk with her in this fragile, difficult time of life, her contemplative prayer continues to light our way and be a source of strength in the heart of her friends.