Our Lady of the Rosary

When our Blessed Mother appeared before the three shepherd children of Fatima in 1917, Our Lady called on Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to pray the Rosary every day. For little Francisco, Our Lady said to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, he must pray many Rosaries.

Let us ponder this message: To enter Heaven, pray very much—and the Rosary is a sweet, easy, and accessible prayer. We can take 15 minutes out of our day and pray the Rosary whenever we want and yet, for many of us, praying the Rosary remains a challenge.

Let our hearts not be troubled. Instead, as we hold our Rosary beads, imagine being in a garden with Mary, holding her hand, as our Blessed Mother shares with us her memories of the life and love of her Son, Jesus Christ. These are memories that help us understand the plan, the purpose, and the promise for our lives—that is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Open our Hearts to Mary

The mysteries of the Rosary show us the way, the truth, and the life. When we open our hearts to the Rosary, we open our hearts to Mary whose Immaculate Heart is united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the work of our redemption. Mary gently guides us into a loving bond with her Son as we strive to live a life of faith, hope, and love—fulfilling God’s will—in the midst of the challenges and responsibilities of our daily lives.

As we meditate on each mystery of the Rosary, which conveys the depth of the Gospel message, we see the steps to take for a life of holiness to begin, to develop and unfold, and to grow to fruition with the grace—the love—of God. Rest assured, so long as we truly believe in the Apostles’ Creed and in all humility, have full faith and trust in what we pray with the Our Father and Hail Mary, we are safe and secure in God’s loving hands with Mary’s prayers supporting us now and at the hour of our death.  

Dedication to the Rosary

When Mary appeared before the three children on October 13, 1917, she said, “I am the Lady of the Rosary.”  With October dedicated to Our Lady’s Rosary, let us hold on tight to Mary’s hand. Let us not be afraid and not forget that with meditations on the mysteries, we pray to God to help us imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through Christ Our Lord.

Through the Rosary, our relationship with Mary deepens, as well as our relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—enhancing and enlivening our adoration of the Holy Trinity. As long as we are sincere and earnest in our prayers, the graces of God and lessons of the Rosary will enter our hearts, minds, and souls, and guide us in our daily living—leading us to the Kingdom of Heaven.