Make the Most of the Month of the Rosary

October 13, 2021

In his Apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Saint John Paull II wrote "Simple yet profound, it still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium, a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness" (1). Saint John Paul II goes on to explain the importance of the Rosary, it's power in our faith and our relationship with Christ, and discussed how we can use it in our everyday lives. Because of it's importance, October is celebrated as the Month of the Rosary in the Catholic faith. While the Rosary prayer was established in 1214 with St. Dominic's visit from Mary, it became significantly more popular after the Christian's victory over Islamic invasions and when Saint Pius V particularly prayed for Mary's intention to let the Christians be victorious. Saint Pius V declared October 7th the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Over 300 years later, Pope Leo XIII dedicated the whole month of October to the Rosary.

The Importance of the Prayer

The Rosary's importance is rooted in more than just the relationship between mother and child. We can become significantly closer to Christ through a devotion to his Mother, but the prayer of the Rosary can be more than that. Saint John Paul II declares that the Rosary is a prayer for peace and for family, and that Rosary is contemplative prayer in which we can learn more about Christ through Mary (6, 10, 12). Specifically, by following the Mysteries of the Rosary and contemplating on the during the decades of the rosary we can learn more about Christ's ministry with the help of His mother.

Ways to Dedicate Time to the Rosary this Month

Pray the rosary in solitude. Sometimes in silence we hear God's voice the most clearly. Find a quiet place where you won't be distracted. Maybe this is your bedroom, or your car parked in the driveway, or your walk-in pantry. Dedicate 10-minutes to pray the rosary in with no background noise or distractions, and listen to God reveal Himself to you in the Mysteries and Decades of the Rosary
Pray the rosary in community. Gather your friends or family, in person, on Instagram or Zoom, or on the phone. Go through each decade and mystery together. After you have prayed your rosary together, discuss what stood out to you, or what you think God revealed to you through this particular time in prayer.
Follow a 9 day novena to Our Lady of the Rosary. If you are trying to incorporate a Rosary into your daily schedule, beginning with a novena is a great way to start. You can say novenas whenever, or you can say them in preparation for an event or feast day.

Click here for a simple Our Lady of the Rosary Novena.