16 May 2012: When and where to pray the Rosary

The Rosary could be said any time during the day or at night; alone or with another person; as a communal prayer in a group or as a devotional prayer in church. The Rosary could be recited anywhere: kneeling, standing up or sitting down; while walking or traveling, resting or walking; even in a hospital bed. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p57 How do you recite the Rosary? The official way, when the Rosary is used as a devotional practice by a group of people or in Church, is to start with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the ‘Apostles’ Creed’, ‘Our Father’, three ‘Hail, Mary’s’, and ‘Glory be’ for an increase of faith, hope and charity; then the enunciation of the mystery, ‘Our Father’, ten ‘Hail, Mary’s’, and ‘Glory be’. Let us remember that the Rosary is very pleasing to Mary, is highly efficacious to obtain graces; and is the easiest way to honor God and the Blessed Virgin. The Rosary should be recited with faith, with a determined resolution to reform our lives and with devotion. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p57 · “The Rosary is an excellent prayer, but the faithful should feel serenely free in its regard. They should be drawn to its calm recitation by its intrinsic appeal.” -- Pope Paul VI, “Marialis Cultus” (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p51) ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary at the foot of the Cross “We find her on Calvary, praying. This is nothing new for Mary. She has always acted like this, as she fulfilled her duties and looked after her home. As she went about the things of this earth she kept her attention on God.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 241) Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Act of contrition’ said many times throughout the day asking her to offer our sorrow for our sins to Jesus crucified.” Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p309 Act of Contrition “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.” (“The New Missal for Every Day” by Rev FX Lasance, 1925, p3*) Penance “Do penance: bury your negligences, offenses and sins in the deep pit dug by your humility. Thus does the farmer bury rotten fruit, dead twigs and fallen leaves at the foot of the tree that bore them. And what was unfruitful, even harmful, makes a real contribution to a new fertility. “Learn to draw from your falls a new impulse: from death, life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 211) Atonement: “The path that leads to life.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 210) Invoking the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus in the most striking manner by proving to the world that Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of men, Judge of the living and the dead. He led men to worship a crucified God, and to crucify all the concupiscences of their own flesh. He made the cause of Jesus to triumph over all the malice of whoever opposed the preaching of his Gospel. He gave courage to women and children, making them despise a cruel death and suffer the most fearful torture for the love of Jesus. Jesus had foretold these marvellous effects of the operation of the Holy Spirit, who was to guide the Church after his Ascension. He had solemnly promised to send him to the Apostles, telling them that without his help they could do nothing; with it they would work miracles of conversion and sanctification. He desired, nevertheless, that they should ask for him and be disposed to receive him by constant and fervent prayer. The same conditions apply to us if we hope to produce any fruit in our labor for souls. Experience must have taught us that, without the help of the Holy Spirit, all our efforts are in vain and fruitless. Hence comes the practice introduced in the Church since she began, and in prayer groups, of invoking the Holy Spirit before every important undertaking; even before all ordinary actions of the day. After saying, “He will give testimony of me”, Jesus promptly added, “and you will give testimony in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We know how faithfully the Apostles fulfilled this great and glorious mission. They made known their Master’s name in all the world, and caused him to be adored despite all the opposition of men and devils. They destroyed the idols, and overthrew the temples of the heathens’ false gods. They changed the world from pagan to Christian, and founded the Church of Jesus Christ, which twenty centuries have neither changed nor shaken. Those who worked all these miracles were twelve poor, weak and ignorant fishermen. Why did Jesus choose such instruments to lay the foundations of his Church? 1) To prove that it is a divine, not a human, institution, claiming therefore our obedience and submission; 2) that our weakness and unworthiness should not deter us from undertaking great things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp276-8 • Apparition of Our Lady to St Catherine of Alexandria, whose body was discovered on the 13th of this month, on Mount Sinai, in consequence of a revelation which the Queen of heaven gave. — See her Life. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Mary appears to St. Catherine of Alexandria. 4th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine of Alexandria. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine of Alexandria (4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)