Ready to teach us about her Son...
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7, 2019): Acts 1:12-14; LK 1:46-47,48-49,50-51,52-53,54-55; LK 1:26-38
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the Gospel of Luke today, we recall our first encounter with the young Jewish woman named Mary.
“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27). From the moment of the Annunciation – and with it, the Incarnation of the Son of God – the role of the Blessed Virgin in the salvation of the world has never ceased. Her Son Jesus was the Second Person of the Trinity and, in time, it became clear that the Almighty intended her to be our mother, too. Devotion to Mary developed in the early centuries of the church and the use of the rosary became widespread during the Middle Ages. This beautiful prayer, which started as a recitation of 150 Hail Mary’s in imitation of the 150 Psalms, took the form we now know particularly through the efforts of the Dominicans.
In 1571, the Pope called on people to pray the Rosary, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect Christian forces against the navy of the Ottoman Empire. When that fleet was defeated, the Pope declared a feast in honor of Our Lady of Victory. That was later changed to Our Lady of the Rosary and is celebrated by the universal Church. The Rosary continues to be popular and now includes not only the original three Mysteries – Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious – but also the Luminous. By meditating on these events in the life of Jesus and Mary, we can nourish our love for our Redeemer and His Mother. We can ask Our Lady of the Rosary to assist our prayer life and to help us emulate the faith, hope and love expressed in each mystery.
