The importance of the Rosary

John Ergon Golpe ’24

Contributor

For centuries, the Rosary has been entrenched in Catholicism and highly regarded as a sacred item. Notable saints Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II have frequently prayed the Rosary and encouraged its widespread use. But where did it come from, and why do we continue to use it today?

Despite historical disputes regarding the origins of the Rosary, a majority of theologians and Popes have accepted that it was St. Dominic who introduced the Rosary as a meditative remedy to heresy in Christendom. In 1208, St. Dominic travelled to France to preach against a heretical doctrine that took root in Europe from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries called Albigensianism. This was the idea that everything spiritual was inherently good and anything corporal and the Earth itself was inherently evil, and the creation of Satan. This radical notion gave way to the popular belief that salvation could only be achieved through physical liberation from the flesh. aid in his fight against Albigensianism. After fasting and praying for three days, a great ball of fire, accompanied by three angels, suddenly appeared in the sky, followed by the arrival of the blessed Mother Mary. It was she who answered his call for help in the form of her psalter, or prayer, which consisted of 150 repetitions of the “Hail Mary”, organized into decades by the “Our Father.” The Blessed Virgin instructed St. Dominic to preach certain mysteries or events with the psalter, specifically those pertaining to the life of Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection contradicted the Albigensian heresy. for and trust in Mary, leading them to recognize her as their mother, the mother of every believer”. It is through an intimate connection with the Mother of God that we can develop an intimate connection with Jesus.

Every day, I regularly seek solace in reflection as I spend 20 minutes praying the Rosary either alone in my room or on the road. Everywhere I go, I always have my Rosary with me as a constant reminder to anchor myself in my faith when I feel I am straying away from God.

At Toulouse, France, St. Dominic took refuge at a nearby forest, where he prayed to God for

Because of the Rosary’s connection with Mother Mary, many Christians today are concerned that excessive devotion to her may make Jesus less significant in comparison. However, in the words of Pope John Paul II, “The words ‘Behold, your mother!’... express Jesus’ intention to inspire in his disciples an attitude of love

You too can reap the benefits of the Rosary as well, but only if you dedicate yourself to this practice. If you have not already, I urge you to make it a habit to set aside a portion of your day to pray the Mysteries of the Rosary. This humbling and meditative experience can be done alone or shared with loved ones. With this powerful tool by your side, we can all better the world and ourselves one prayer at a time.