MOTHER TERESA & THE ROSARY
“Cling to the Rosary as the creeper clings hand she to the tree…for without Our Lady we cannot went “in stand” (St. Teresa of Kolkata). haste” like Mary, in search of souls.” Three years after her death, the late Pope The Rosary was her favourite and conSt. John Paul II said of Mother Teresa: “As the stant prayer. She prayed the Rosary anytime, years pass, her memory remains more vivid anywhere, but was especially fond of praying than ever. We remember her with her smile, the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. her deep gaze, her Rosary” (John Paul II on 5 St. Teresa of Kolkata, by her example September 2000). and especially by her silent witness of clinging At the time of her beatification he re- to Our Lady through the Rosary – and by her marked: “Is it not significant that her beatifi- words, taught her followers and each one of us cation is taking place on the very day on which to pray and to work in union with Our Lady. the Church celebrates World Mission Sun- The practice of praying the Rosary in the street day? With the witness of her life, Mother Te- became part of the Missionaries of Charity way resa reminds everyone that the evangelizing of life, and the hallmark of the Sisters as they mission of the Church passes through chari- made and (still) make their way through the ty, nourished by prayer and listening to God’s slums, going in haste with Our Lady in search word. Emblematic of this misof souls. sionary style is the image that Let us honour Our Lady and shows the new Blessed clasp“sing her glory wherever we go ing a child’s hand in one hand by praying the Rosary with love while moving her Rosary beads and devotion daily and on the with the other. Contemplation streets.” and action, evangelization and human promotion: Mother “This month of October Teresa proclaimed the Gospel must be very special to each one living her life as a total gift to of us, as it is the month during the poor but, at the same time, which Our Lady invites us all in steeped in prayer” (John Paul II a very special way to contemplate on 19 October 2000). with her the mysteries of Jesus’ life that she shared so fully, through The experience of God’s our fervent praying of the Rosary. thirsting love was at the root of the exceptional capacity to love that character- Yes, we must always be very faithful and never ized Mother Teresa’s life. Jesus’ words “I thirst” give up praying the Rosary.” uttered on Calvary echoed in her heart and she Let us heed her voice and follow Mothunderstood that the echo of the same words er Teresa’s example of praying the Rosary daily is still resonant in the cries of the poor on the with great love and fervour. Calvaries of the world. Like Mary, she stood at DL Correspondent the foot of the Cross, and with the Rosary in
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