The Holy Rosary

Sometimes people ask why we repeat the same prayer over and over. Is it just empty repetition? The Church teaches that the repetition is meant to calm our hearts so we can meditate. It is like a heartbeat.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the Rosary is actually a "compendium of the Gospel".

When we say the "Hail Marys," they are just the background music. The real focus is on the "Mystery" (the birth of Jesus, His crucifixion, His resurrection). We look at these events through the eyes of His Mother, who knew Him best.

"Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire... Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the Rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him." (CCC 2708)

The prayers of the Rosary come straight from the Bible. The "Our Father" is the prayer Jesus taught us (Matthew 6). The "Hail Mary" combines the Angel Gabriel’s greeting with St. Elizabeth’s exclamation.

Every time we pray the Rosary, we are quoting Scripture. We are fulfilling the prophecy Mary spoke in the Magnificat: "From this day all generations will call me blessed."

"Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'" (Luke 1:41-42)

1. The Rearview Mirror Reminder

In San Antonio, it is common to see a Rosary hanging from the rearview mirror. It’s a beautiful sign of our culture. But this month, don’t just let it be a decoration. When you are stuck in traffic or driving down the quiet roads of Saspamco, reach out and hold it. Pray just one decade for safety and patience on the road.

2. The Family Rosary

Father Patrick Peyton famously said, "The family that prays together, stays together." It can be hard to get everyone to sit still, so start small. Aim to pray one decade together after dinner just once a week. Let the kids take turns leading.

3. Pray for Our Mission

This October, dedicate your Rosaries to the growth and unity of our parish community. Pray that St. Anthony and OLP Mission continue to be a light of faith in our corner of Texas.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen.

The "Hail Holy Queen" (Salve Regina).

The Battle of Lepanto (1571):

Facing a massive Ottoman fleet that threatened to invade Europe, Pope St. Pius V called upon all of Christendom to pray the Rosary for victory. Despite being outnumbered, the Christian fleet won a miraculous victory on October 7, 1571.

Feast of Our Lady of Victory:

In gratitude, the Pope established the feast of "Our Lady of Victory" on October 7. His successor, Gregory XIII, later changed the name to the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Leo XIII and the "Month of the Rosary":

In the late 19th century, Pope Leo XIII (known as the "Rosary Pope") was deeply concerned by the social and political crises of his time. He wrote 11 encyclicals on the Rosary and officially dedicated the entire month of October to this devotion in 1883. 

Ancient Roots:

Prayer beads and repetitive prayers (like Psalms) existed in early Christianity, with monks using them for focus.

St. Dominic (13th Century):

Tradition holds the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic (founder of the Dominicans) in 1214, giving him the Rosary as a tool to combat heresy (Albigensians) and bring conversion, leading him to spread it.

Evolution:

It evolved from 150 Hail Marys (a "poor person's Psalter") to its current form, with Pope John Paul II adding the Luminous Mysteries in 2002. 

Daily Recitation:

Parishes often lead the Rosary before or after daily Mass throughout the month. Families are encouraged to pray the "Family Rosary" together at home.

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7):

The month’s central liturgical event, celebrated as a Memorial. Many parishes hold "Living Rosaries," where individuals represent the beads.

Outdoor Processions:

In many parts of the world, October features public processions where a statue of Mary is carried through the streets while the Rosary is chanted.

Rosary Rallies:

Large public gatherings, often organized around the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima (October 13), bring thousands together to pray for world peace and the conversion of sinners.

Missionary Focus:

Because the penultimate Sunday of October is World Mission Sunday (October 19, 2025), many use the "Mission Rosary," where each of the five decades is a different color representing a different continent.