October 7th was the Feast Day of our Lady of the Rosary. On that day, we celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The Turkish forces were very powerful, but the Christians won due to the intercession of Mary and the prayer of the Most Holy Rosary. Century after century, stories accrue of miracles that occur as a result of the faithful praying the Rosary. Miracles are happening today.
Some people easily gravitate to this meditative form of prayer. Caressing the beads and repeating the prayers is simple and relaxing. I have been praying the Rosary daily for a few years, but it didn’t come easily to me at first. What turned that all around was falling in love with the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Pondering the mysteries helps me relate to Jesus and Mary and dig deeper into these important Gospel stories. There are many books to guide us in reflecting on the mysteries, but I prefer now to use my own imagination, making it very personal. For instance, when contemplating Mary’s Annunciation, the first of the Joyful Mysteries, we may meditate on what Mary might have thought when Angel Gabriel invited her to take on the history-changing role of God’s mother. But I might contemplate my own annunciation experiences. What unique roles has God asked me to do? How did I respond? What was the outcome?
The first Sorrowful Mystery is Jesus’ Agony in the Garden before his passion. When people I know are awaiting surgery, I compare their agony of waiting with Jesus’ agony; it helps me recognize their suffering as redemptive and it is comforting to know that Jesus understands their anxiety and pain. Each of the mysteries can become personal if we find commonalities with our own lives. They draw us deeper into the Gospel message, help us grow in intimacy with Jesus and Mary, and validate that our own life experiences are meaningful too.
Escritura: Luke 22:41-44. What commonality can you find?
Llamamiento a la acción: Fr. Joachim will be offering a workshop on meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary in order to see the face of Christ through Mary. Join us on October 20th, 7:00-9:00 PM in the Large Conference Room.
