Reflect
Saint Josemaria Escriva said:
The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.
Over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to dive deep into the Fruits that come from faithfully praying daily the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Guided by our experiences, Scripture, and the lives of the Saints, we have contemplated our sin, our memories, and our story thus far with Jesus and Mary. Alongside our sisters in Christ, we have shared our moments of reservation with Our Lady and opened our hearts to her grace. We have been on a powerful journey as this new year begins.
Saint Pope John Paul II wrote in his 2002 Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae:
In the spiritual journey of the Rosary, based on the constant contemplation – in Mary’s company – of the face of Christ, this demanding ideal of being conformed to him is pursued through an association which could be described in terms of friendship. We are thereby enabled to enter naturally into Christ’s life and as it were to share his deepest feelings. In this regard Blessed Bartolo Longo has written: “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.
We pray that as you prayed the holy Mysteries and shared your deep feelings with one another that you had a similar experience of friendship, conversation, and communion.
The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon, but also an instrument for eternal communion with God. Venerable Fulton Sheen wrote:
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.
Let Us Pray
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
For Discussion
How has the discipline of praying the Rosary help you grow in a relationship with Our Mother Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ?
Which Mystery and Fruit of the Mystery have you experienced the strongest during this time of devotion?
Praying the Rosary
Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it!
Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary.
I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary.
Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation.
And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!
By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 30 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet