The Rosary: A Prayer That Leads Us To Christ Through His Mother

The Rosary is a powerful way of praying for many people. While for some it can seem repetitious and dull, it gives us an opportunity to be formed by meditation on the mysteries of Christ’s life. The twenty Mysteries of the Rosary take us in prayerful reflection from the Annunciation through Jesus’ Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They also invite us to reflect on Mary’s part in Christ’s life, not only as His Mother but also as a disciple who received the crown of her discipleship in eternal life.

In Mary’s appearance to the three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917, she asked that the Rosary be prayed daily for peace. In her appearance to Bernadette at Lourdes, she was seen with a Rosary over her right arm.

The months of May and October are especially dedicated to Mary, and October is called the Month of the Rosary. Delores Yosten, who organizes the praying of the Rosary before the weekend Masses in October says, “The Rosary is a very important prayer that is best prayed as a family, even though it is sometimes hard to find time to pray the Rosary alone, let alone to find time to pray it with others.”

She also says, “Praying the Rosary is so important, especially after all we’ve been through with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blessed Mother intercedes with her Son, our Lord, for our needs as only a mother can.”

Delores prays the Rosary each night. She prays for her deceased husband, Merlin, as well as her deceased parents, people in need, those suffering from the effects of COVID-19, and healthcare workers, to name a few.

In particular, Delores especially looks forward to joining her fellow parishioners in praying the Rosary, because it is so special to her. She has always enjoyed it when she has traveled to other parishes in the United States who pray the Rosary together regularly before Mass.