The Holy Rosary
As the month of October, the month of the Rosary comes to a close, I thought it fitting to write a bit more on this beautiful prayer that has, over the centuries, become a pillar in our Catholic Faith.
I’ll start with a brief and simple history of the Rosary, and, as my wife always says when I try explaining something and inevitably overcomplicate it, “Explain it to me like I’m 5.” So here goes…
A Brief History of the Rosary
In early monasticism monks would pray all 150 Psalms daily as part of their spirituality. The lay faithful, looking to grow in the interior life, would glean from the religious in any way they could, and adapt it to their state of life. Around the 8th century, as most lay people were illiterate, they would instead recite the Our Father in lieu of the Psalms, often keeping track on knotted cords. By the 12th century this was replaced by 150 Hail Marys, or the Marian Psalter as it was known then.
In 1208 The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic with a Rosary and instructed him how exactly to pray her Psalter meditating on 15 Mysteries from the life of her Son. This was the means by which he was to convert sinners and crush the Albigensian heresy of that time. After successfully preaching the Marian Psalter throughout his life, the devotion diminished greatly due to war, the plague, and loss of purpose and structure in the prayer. Much later, in the 15th century, Blessed Alan de la Roche, through visions of Our Lady and St. Dominic, was called to revive the devotion and started a Confraternity that would eventually be known as the Confraternity of the Rosary. By the early 16th century the devotion to the Holy Rosary had become a central lay devotion.
What Exactly Does “Rosary” Mean?
The term “Rosary” got its name from the Latin word rosarius which can be translated to “garland of roses” or “crown of roses”. Each Hail Mary is like a spiritual rose offered up to Our Lady. So when the Rosary is prayed it is like giving a bouquet of roses to Mary. As beautiful as this imagery might be, it doesn’t suffice in explaining this devotion’s popularity amongst Catholic, lay, clergy and religious alike. So what is so special about this prayer?
Isn’t the Rosary Just a Marian Devotion?
While the Rosary is clearly a Marian devotion, it is not only such. At its core, just like Mary is at her core, it is Christocentric. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour!” This is the heart of Mary. This is her only desire. This is her purpose and mission in her life, the life of the Church, and in your life.
In the early days of my conversion to the Catholic Faith, when exploring the Rosary and devotion to Mary, this passage of Scripture from her Fiat kept me grounded in the truth of who she is and what her role is to be in my life. Everything is a means to an end and the End must be God. Mary does not desire to take anything away from Jesus, but rather to take us to Jesus. What did she do upon hearing the great message of the Incarnate Word in her Virginal womb but go “with haste” to share this news with Elizabeth? She quite literally took Jesus to her. Mary always brings us to Jesus.
But Do We Have To Pray The Rosary?
No, we don’t have to pray the Rosary. It isn’t an obligation that we are bound to. I do, however, think that we should pray the Rosary. Why? Because if we don’t pray the Rosary we probably won’t (if we are being honest) spend at least fifteen minutes a day thinking about the life of Jesus; the Incarnation; His ministry; His Passion; the glories of His Resurrection.
“Well, I can read my Bible” you may say. Good, read your Bible every day. And pray the Rosary every day too. Because when we meditate on these Mysteries of Christ we aren’t doing it alone. We are doing it with the one who knew Him best. Who carried Him in her womb. Who shared blood with Him. Who carried His DNA in her body even after He ascended to Heaven. The Mother who no doubt caressed the infant back of the One whom the soldiers scourged. The Mother who kissed the hands and feet of Him who was pierced. The Mother who held the lifeless Body of the One whom she gave a Body to. Who’s Father is Spirit and Mother is flesh. His Mother, who is also, through Him, our Mother.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Thank you for joining me in this reflection. Please subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram. And please consider picking up your Rosary and praying it today. If you need one we have some available for you in our store.
Peace in Christ,
Jesse Cameron
