Week Beginning June 30, 2024
Grace
Pope Saint Pius X observes that “The Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest of all prayers to the Mediatrix of all grace; It is the prayer that touches most the heart of the Mother of God.” Saint Louis de Montfort claims: “When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer.” Our Blessed Mother promises a plentitude of God’s graces to the faithful who habitually recite her Rosary. As such, Pope Paul V refers to the Rosary as “a treasure of graces.”
Saint Louis de Montfort explains Our Lady’s ability to deliver on her assurances: “the Almighty made her the sole custodian of his treasures and the sole dispenser of his graces. She can now ennoble, exalt and enrich all she chooses. She can lead them along the narrow path to heaven and guide them through the narrow gate to life. She can give a royal throne, sceptre and crown to whom she wishes. Jesus is always and everywhere the fruit and Son of Mary and Mary is everywhere the genuine tree that bears that Fruit of life, the true Mother who bears that Son.”
Pope Leo XIII elaborates: “The recourse we have to Mary in prayer follows upon the office she continuously fills by the side of the throne of God as Mediatrix of divine grace; being by worthiness and by merit most acceptable to Him, and, therefore, surpassing in power all the angels and saints in heaven. Now, this merciful office of hers, perhaps, appears in no other form of prayer so manifestly as it does in the Rosary.” Saint Faustina Kowalska adds that “we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because she is chosen from among men and angels. Through her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through her, man became pleasing to God; Through her, streams of grace flowed down upon us” (Diary, 1746).
“Even during her life on earth, Mary appears in the gospels as distributing graces,” remarks Reverend Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. “Jesus sanctifies the precursor through her when she comes to visit her cousin Elisabeth. Through her He confirms the faith of His disciples at Cana by performing the miracle for which she asked. Through her He confirms John’s faith on Calvary, saying: ‘Son, behold thy mother.’ Through her finally the Holy Ghost gave Himself to the Apostles, for we read in the Acts (Acts 1:14) that she prayed with them in the Cenacle while they prepared themselves for the apostolate and for the light and strength and graces of Pentecost.”
Throughout the ages, many saints and religious leaders echo the importance of our continued dependence on Mary to lead us toward God. Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina states: “Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendor.” Saint Germanus of Constantinople declares, “There is no one, O Most Holy Mary, who can know God except through thee; no one who can be saved or redeemed but through thee, O Mother of God; no one who can be delivered from dangers but through thee, O Virgin Mother; no one who obtains mercy but through thee, O Filled-With-All-Grace!” Saint Lawrence Justinian says that “She has been made the ladder to paradise, the gate of heaven, the most true mediatrix between God and human beings.” Saint Bonaventure refers to Mary as “the Gate of Heaven because no one can enter that blessed Kingdom without passing through her.”
Saint Bernard notes that “Just as every rescript of grace or of pardon that is sent by a king passes through the palace gates, in the same way every grace that comes from Heaven to the world passes through the hands of Mary.” Saint Bonaventure reflects: “As the moon, standing between the sun and the earth, transmits to the earth whatever light it receives from the sun, so Mary stands between God and human beings and pours His grace upon us.” Saint Antonine reiterates that “Whatever grace the world has received has come down from Heaven through her.” Saint Cajetan asserts that “We may seek graces, but shall never find them without the intercession of Mary.” Venerable Pope Pius XII comments that “To desire grace without recourse to the Virgin Mother is to desire to fly without wings.” For this reason, Saint Josemaria Escriva encourages us to “Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.”
The first type of grace Our Lady promises to bestow upon those devoted to her Rosary is signal grace. Signal grace points us toward God’s will and guides us along the right path for our lives. This supernatural gift may be received as a visible sign or a deep interior feeling. Sudden insights, fortunate coincidences, enhanced clarity, unexplained happenings, and calmness during trials are examples of signal graces. Through daily recitation of the Rosary, we become more attuned to this divine communication and better able to trust in its power.
This week, pay attention to the messages God is communicating to you through signal graces. Think back to times when you felt at peace amidst chaos, when a stranger made a surprisingly pertinent comment, when you looked back to find something you did not previously see, when you heard a verse from scripture that answered your question, when you experienced an ah-ha moment, when you felt a sudden impulse to stay alert, when something seemed to be miraculous. Appreciate these moments as signs from God. Next, think about areas in your life where you would like to gain perspective. During your recitation of the Rosary, pray for guidance and understanding. Find the answers you seek by recognizing the signal graces that Our Blessed Mother directs toward you.
In addition to growing in grace, the Rosary helps us to grow in virtue. Pope Venerable Pius XII reveals that “Through frequent meditation on the mysteries, the soul inclines to, and grows in, the virtues they contain. It is filled with hope for the everlasting rewards and feels itself prodded gently yet firmly to follow the way of Christ and His Mother.” Indulgences are also merited through the Rosary. The Enchiridion of Indulgences states that “a plenary indulgence is granted when the Rosary is recited in a church or oratory or when it is recited in a family, a religious community, or a pious association. A partial indulgence is granted for its recitation in all other circumstances.”
Use the Rosary to sanctify ordinary moments of the day and to increase in your holiness. Cherish the gifts of the Rosary, for they are the keys to the sacred gate that leads to the eternal Kingdom.
Week Beginning June 23, 2024
Instruction
One day when I was visiting the sick, I offered Rosary beads to a patient. Her response surprised me: “The Rosary brought me back to life! How did you know I need these?” She revealed that when she fell into a coma during a previous hospitalization, her sister faithfully prayed the Rosary at her bedside. She credited the power of those prayers to her recovery, with the familiar words providing a gentle wake-up call from our Blessed Mother.
Even at the most unexpected of times, Our Lady opens our eyes, awakening us to the clarity of her saintly vision. The Venerable Fulton Sheen reflects: “The Rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the Rosary is beyond description.”
The Reverend Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O explains that “The whole purpose of the Rosary is to lead to this deep experience of Our Lady, who together with Jesus breathes the Spirit into us.” Pope Benedict XVI notes: “With the Rosary, we allow ourselves to be guided by Mary, model of faith, in meditating on the mysteries of Christ, and day after day we are helped to assimilate the Gospel, so that it shapes all our lives.” Venerable Sister Lúcia dos Santos suggests: “My impression is that Our Lady wanted to give ordinary people, who might not know how to pray, this simple method of getting closer to God.”
Pope Saint John XXIII states, “The Rosary is a school for learning true Christian perfection.” Pope Francis adds that “The Rosary is a school of prayer. The Rosary is a school of faith.” In his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope Saint John Paul II elaborates on how the Rosary is the school of Mary:
“Christ is the supreme Teacher, the revealer and the one revealed. It is not just a question of learning what he taught but of ‘learning him.’ In this regard could we have any better teacher than Mary? From the divine standpoint, the Spirit is the interior teacher who leads us to the full truth of Christ (cf. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). But among creatures no one knows Christ better than Mary; no one can introduce us to a profound knowledge of his mystery better than his Mother. The first of the ‘signs’ worked by Jesus–the changing of water into wine at the marriage in Cana–clearly presents Mary in the guise of a teacher, as she urges the servants to do what Jesus commands (cf. John 2:5). We can imagine that she would have done likewise for the disciples after Jesus’ Ascension, when she joined them in awaiting the Holy Spirit and supported them in their first mission. Contemplating the scenes of the Rosary in union with Mary is a means of learning from her to ‘read’ Christ, to discover his secrets and to understand his message. This school of Mary is all the more effective if we consider that she teaches by obtaining for us in abundance the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even as she offers us the incomparable example of her own ‘pilgrimage of faith’ (LG 58). As we contemplate each mystery of her Son’s life, she invites us to do as she did at the Annunciation: to ask humbly the questions which open us to the light, in order to end with the obedience of faith: ‘Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38).”
Journeying with Our Lady as our spiritual guide is like taking a master class in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Saint Josemaría Escrivá relays that the Church “wants to engrave upon our heart and our imagination, together with Mary’s joy and sorrow and glory, the spellbinding example of Our Lord’s life, in his thirty years of obscurity, his three years of preaching, his ignominious Passion and his glorious Resurrection.” Pope Saint Paul VI observes that “The Rosary is the Bible for those who can neither read nor write.” The Reverend Ronan Murphy simply says, “The Rosary is the Bible on a string.” As Mary leads us on the pathway of her life, we deepen our connection with her and with her Son. By following their examples, we are better prepared to acknowledge and appreciate how we are called to serve God.
Blessed Bartolo Longo remarks: “Just as two friends, frequently in each other’s company tend to develop similar habits, so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection.” It is no wonder that Saint Louis de Montfort declares that “The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them.”
His Excellency Hugh Charles Boyle comments that “No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen adds: “If you wish to convert anyone to the fullness of the knowledge of Our Lord and of His Mystical Body, then teach him the Rosary. One of two things will happen. Either he will stop saying the Rosary–or he will get the gift of faith.”
As you pray the Rosary this week, ask our Blessed Mother for your wake-up call. Allow her to open your eyes to God’s plan for your life. How can her lessons enable you receive the light and grow in the obedience of faith?
Week Beginning June 16, 2024
Intercession
“There is nothing more excellent than that numerous voices pray without interruption from all parts of the world, simultaneously lifting up supplications to the Blessed Virgin Mary as they meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary,” remarks Pope Leo XIII. The Reverend Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P. explains that Our Lady’s intercession is most efficacious, because “Mary’s mediation is of a much higher order than that of the saints, for she alone has given us the Savior, she alone was so intimately united to the sacrifice of the Cross, she alone is universal mediatrix for all mankind and…for all graces in particular.” Saint Maximilian Kolbe notes that “Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God’s heart.”
Our devotion to the Blessed Mother always leads us closer to Jesus Christ. Although Christians recognize him as the sole mediator between God and the human race (1 Timothy 2:5), “the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix” (LG 62). Pope Saint Paul VI expounds: “The maternal duty of Mary toward men in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows His power. For all the salvific influence of the Blessed Virgin on men originates, not from some inner necessity, but from the divine pleasure. It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on His mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. In no way does it impede, but rather does it foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ” (LG 60).
“Jesus Himself wishes that we should have recourse to Mary so that our prayers may have greater value through being presented by her,” states the Reverend Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P. He continues: “As Mother of all men Mary knows the spiritual needs of all men, knows all that concerns their salvation. Because of her immense charity she prays for them. And since she is all-powerful with her Son because of the love by which they are united, she obtains from Him all the graces for which she asks–that is to say, all the graces we receive.”
Saint Alphonsus Liguori asserts: “Mary having co-operated in our redemption with so much glory to God and so much love for us, Our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain salvation except through her intercession.” Saint Basil the Great encourages us to seek her intercession for all of our needs: “O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine will that she should help in every kind of necessity.” Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina adds, “May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing.”
In addition to helping us personally, our Blessed Mother delights in strengthening our petitions for the benefit of others, both the living and the dead. As we intercede for them, Our Lady extends her superabundant grace and powerful assistance in response to our pleas. Saint Alphonsus Liguori comments: “The clients of this most merciful Mother are very fortunate. She helps them both in this life and in the next, consoling them and sponsoring their cause in Purgatory. For the simple reason that the Souls in Purgatory need help so desperately, since they cannot help themselves, our Mother of Mercy does so much more to relieve them. She exercises over these Poor Souls, who are the spouses of Christ, particular dominion, with power to relieve them and even deliver them from their pains. See how important it is then to have devotion to this good Lady, because she never forgets her servants as long as they suffer in these flames. If she helps all the Poor Souls, she is especially indulgent and consoling to her own clients.”
We offer our pious Rosary prayers for the reparation of sin, relief for the Holy Souls, or whatever ills require sacred remediation. Venerable Pope Pius XII announces: “We do not hesitate to affirm again publicly that we put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils of our times.” Pope Leo XIII declares that “we are convinced that the Rosary, if devoutly used, is bound to benefit not only the individual but society at large.” Pope Saint John XXIII observes that “The Rosary is a magnificent and universal prayer for the needs of the Church, the nations and the entire world.” Servant of God Joseph Kentenich concludes: “Those who pray the Rosary do more for the benefit of the whole human race than all the orators and deputies, more than all the organizers, secretaries and writers, more than all the capitalists even if they would make their entire wealth available to the Church.”
Our Lady of Fátima instructs us to “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” This week, select an intention that benefits mankind, and humbly ask the Blessed Mother for her support and guidance. As you meditate upon the mysteries of the Rosary, also reflect on your intention with care, gratitude, and hope. Be open, be patient, and see what develops. Saint Josemaría Escrivá assesses: “Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to Our Lady, and with her, how easy!”
Week Beginning June 9, 2024
Consolation
Mothers are a source of consolation for their children. When I would fall and scrape my knees, my mom would lift me back up, bandage my wounds, and kiss my boo-boos. Although the injury remained, I felt better. When things did not go according to my sense of justice, I would complain to her, “that’s not fair!” She would smile at me, wipe my tears, and simply reply, “life’s not fair.” Certainly, that is not a lesson pre-schoolers want to hear. But something about her calm voice and honesty acknowledged my pain and comforted me, despite not having my way. She would remind me about all of the starving children, the lonely orphans, and those struggling with illness. Instantly, she shifted my mindset from a lack of gratification to an abundance of gratitude.
Saint Jerome explains how Our Blessed Mother also soothes us with her maternal love: “Even while living in the world, the heart of Mary was so filled with motherly tenderness and compassion for men that no one ever suffered so much for their own pains, as Mary suffered for the pains of her children.” When we come to her in times of trouble, she gives us the spiritual hug we need. Pope Saint John Paul II notes that “To pray the rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and His Mother.” Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina advises: “In times of darkness, holding the Rosary beads is like holding your Blessed Mother’s hand. Pray the Rosary every day, abandon yourself in the Hands of Mary. She will take care of you.”
Saint Teresa of Calcutta suggests that “If you ever feel distressed during your day–call upon Our Lady–just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’” Saint Bernard of Clairvaux elaborates: “In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.”
When we feel down, Our Lady prays with us. She picks us up and furnishes the strength we need to persevere. Her faithful experiences give us hope. Even at our lowest point when life does not seem fair, she reveals that every cross brings grace and that good things come to those who place their trust in God. Leading us through the mysteries, she redirects our focus away from ourselves and toward our Lord. Servant of God Joseph Kentenich observes that “Being familiar with it [the Rosary] configures us to Christ. Through the Rosary we become apparitions of Christ and encounters of Christ.”
Mary’s Psalter teaches us about suffering and redemption and fills us with love and gratitude. Pope Saint Paul VI states: “By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are unfolded.” The Venerable Fulton Sheen remarks: “No normal mind yet has been overcome by worries or fears who was faithful to the Rosary. You will be surprised how you can climb out of your worries, bead by bead, up to the very throne of the Heart of Love itself.”
In our chaotic world, we find stability through repetition. The soothing rhythm and reassuring familiarity of the prayers create a space for silent reflection, contemplation of important truths, and intimate conversation with God. Pope Benedict XVI shares that “The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, not mechanical and superficial but profoundly, it brings, in fact, peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each ‘Hail Mary.’”
“All the sins of your life seem to be rising up against you. Don’t give up hope!” encourages Saint Josemaría Escrivá. “On the contrary, call your holy mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul.” Pope Venerable Pius XII comments, “We put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils which afflict our times.”
Saint Augustine describes peace as the tranquility of order. Directed by our Queen of Peace, the Rosary helps us order our disordered passions and orient our lives toward our ultimate purpose of loving and serving God. This transformational process calms our mind, heart, and soul, thus facilitating inner peace. Saint Josemaría Escrivá counsels: “When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down.” Saint Anthony Mary Claret summarizes simply: “When people love and recite the Rosary they find it makes them better.”
As you pray the Rosary this week, ask Our Blessed Mother to console you through your challenges. Let her kiss your wounds, caress your scars, and heal your ills. Always carry your Rosary with you, so that it can carry you through your trials. Recall the words Our Lady of the Rosary imparts in a mystical vision to Gladys Herminia Quiroga de Motta: “The Holy Rosary is…the refuge of those who look for lightening their grief, and it is the door to enter to My Heart.” Peace be with you through your devotion to the Rosary.
Week Beginning June 2, 2024
Protection
Pope Blessed Pius IX is credited with saying, “Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.” According to scripture, the Word of God is the sword of the spirit that defends against the enemy and pierces through the darkness. The Rosary, filled with the Word of God, is efficacious as both armor and arms in the battle against evil. Because Our Lady promises her special protection to those who implore her help through the Holy Rosary, praying her Psalter is like wielding a dual spiritual shield and weapon. Saint Josemaría Escrivá observes: “A Catholic without prayer? It is the same as a soldier without Arms.”
Saint Maximilian Kolbe warns that “The conflict with Hell cannot be maintained by men, even the most clever. The Immaculata alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan.” For that reason, Pope Adrian VI describes the Rosary as “the scourge of the devil.” Saint Bonaventure maintains that “Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.” Exorcist and writer Reverend Gabriele Amorth shares: “One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism: ‘Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.’”
Servant of God Joseph Kentenich explains that “The Rosary is a sort of machine gun and atomic bomb, namely, a weapon that is far superior to all the weapons of modern warfare in overcoming the enemy of God.” Servant of God Dolindo Ruotolo elaborates: “The Rosary is a powerful prayer against Satan and against the assaults of evil. Our Church brought, and continues to bring, great triumphs because of this prayer. The decades of the rosary, from this point of view, are like the belt of a machine gun: every bead is a shot, every affection of the soul is an explosion of faith that frightens off Satan, and Mary once more crushes his head.”
Saint Louis de Monfort notes that “when people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking him. He can often overcome the prayer of an individual, but if this prayer is joined to that of other Christians, the devil has much more trouble in getting the best of it.” Group recitation of the Rosary historically provides widespread spiritual and temporal protection. Pope Leo XIII recalls how Saint Dominic implements Our Lady’s advice to defeat heresy through meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary: “Guided, in fact, by divine inspiration and grace, he foresaw that this devotion, like a most powerful warlike weapon, would be the means of putting the enemy to flight, and of confounding their audacity and mad impiety.” Pope Saint Pius V credits the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through Rosary for his Holy League’s spectacular but unlikely defeat of the Ottoman navy at the battle of Lepanto in 1571.
Pope Pius XI states: “If our age in its pride laughs at and rejects Our Lady’s Rosary, a countless legion of the most saintly men of every age and of every condition have not only held it most dear and have most piously recited it but have also used it at all times as a most powerful weapon to overcome the devil, to preserve the purity of their lives, to acquire virtue more zealously, in a word, to promote peace among men.” The Venerable Pope Pius XII testifies: “We put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils which afflict our times.”
Servant of God Joseph Kentenich refers to the Rosary as “The great remedy of modern times which will influence the events of the world more than all diplomatic endeavors and which has a greater effect on public life than all organizational ones.” For that tradition to continue, our age in its pride must not laugh at and reject the Rosary. Our Lady longs to share her blessed gifts with us, if only we cooperate. Pope Pius XI encourages us accordingly: “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…if you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.”
Saint Anselm proclaims that “It is impossible to save one’s soul without devotion to Mary and without her protection.” Saint Louis de Montfort teaches that “Where Mary is, there the evil spirit is not. One of the most infallible marks we can have of our being conducted by the good spirit is our being very devout to Mary, thinking often of her and speaking often of her.” Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina adds: “Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”
If you are struggling to resist sinful inclinations, if you need extra resilience to fight your battles, if you desire support now and at the hour of your death, call on our Blessed Mother. “Now when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side of our Mother in Heaven, by realizing how she is to us, and by means of aspirations. She will defend us and lead us to the light,” recommends Saint Josemaría Escrivá. He reminds us that “The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.”
This week, arm yourself with the Rosary and faithfully seek the protection of Mary’s heavenly mantle. As you reflect on the mysteries, find strength and hope in Christ’s victories over the wickedness in the world. “The Rosary is a fortress against evil,” remarks Saint Dominic. “It is a sign to Satan that you belong to Our Lady.”
