Pray the Rosary: October Devoted to the Holy Rosary

October is a special month for Catholics as it is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. On October 7th, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Rosary is a powerful devotion that allows us to meditate on the life of Christ through the eyes of His Blessed Mother. By reflecting on the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries, we can draw closer to Jesus and deepen our relationship with Him.

The History

Tradition holds that the rosary was given to St. Dominic by the Virgin Mary who appeared to him in a vision while he was at a church in Prouille, France, and presented him with the prayer beads, instructing him to use them in his preaching and teaching to combat heresy and bring people back to the true faith. The Virgin Mary instructed him on how to pray the Rosary, emphasizing the importance of meditating on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary, while reciting the prayers. 

While St. Dominic may not have received the rosary exactly as we know it today, it is clear that the prayers or "Marian Psalter" had an important impact in combating the heresies of his day, especially against the Albigensians. In 1213 the Albigensians were set to take over France and further spread their heretical teachings. However, the vastly outnumbered Catholics spent the night praying the Rosary and despite the odds, won the battle. Every Catholic in the area attributed the victory to the Rosary. 

A Powerful Tool in The Hands of a Family

For families, October is the perfect time to make the Rosary a regular part of your prayer life. Gather your children and teach them the beauty and importance of this devotion. Start small, perhaps by praying just one decade a day, and gradually work your way up to the full Rosary. Encourage your little ones to pick their favorite mysteries and share what they've learned. You can even find creative ways to make the Rosary more engaging. Here are some examples:
* Help children make their own rosaries using beads and string
* Use a coloring page to progressively color the rosary beads as you pray
* Go on a nature hike and choose 10 cool rocks to be placed in a circle for each decade
* Use a rosary puzzle as you pray to help children keep track and to encourage participation. 
* Use rosary water reveal cards to focus on the mysteries of each decade
* There are several kid-friendly books that walk through the rosary and can be read along with the prayers. 
* Make and editable rosary. For example, Chocolate Chips or M&Ms for the Hail Mary prayers and a cookie or candy for the Our Father prayers. 

“If you recite the Family Rosary, all united, you shall taste peace.” Pope John XXIII

The Mysteries Of The Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries invite us to reflect on the early life of Jesus and the role of Mary as the Mother of God. These mysteries include the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries, also known as the Mysteries of Light, were introduced by Pope St. John Paul II to shed light on the public ministry of Jesus. These mysteries include the Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.

The Sorrowful Mysteries invite us to reflect on the Passion and death of our Lord. These mysteries include the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.

The Glorious Mysteries celebrate the triumph of Christ over sin and death, as well as the role of Mary in the life of the Church. These mysteries include the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Celebrate the Holy Rosary in October

As we celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary, let us remember the power of this prayer and the intercession of our Blessed Mother. May she guide us and our families closer to her Son, Jesus, as we lift our voices in this beautiful devotion. Our Lady of The Rosary, pray for us!

"The Rosary is a long chain that links heaven and earth," - St. Thérèse of Lisieux