Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This being the month of the Holy Rosary, during our time of Eucharistic Adoration, I’d like to speak to you about one of the most powerful and beloved devotions in the life of the Church: the Rosary—and why we are called to pray it regularly.
1. A Pathway to an Intimate Relationship with Jesus
The Rosary is much more than a string of beads or a repetition of prayers. At its heart, the Rosary is a meditation on the life of Christ—seen through the eyes of His mother, Mary. Each mystery we contemplate—the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous—is a doorway into Jesus’ life, His love, and His saving mission. As we pray, we don’t just recite words—we enter into sacred moments: His Incarnation, His Passion, His Resurrection. The Rosary becomes a conversation with Jesus and Mary, where we offer our hearts and listen in silence.
2. A Source of Peace in a Restless World
In the chaos and noise of modern life, we need spiritual silence. The Rosary, with its gentle rhythm and repetition, creates a sacred space for peace. It calms the mind, quiets anxiety, and re-centers our soul in God’s presence. St. John Paul II called the Rosary “a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.” He reminded us that it helps us become “conformed ever more closely to Christ until we attain true holiness.”
3. A School of Faith with Mary as Our Teacher
When we pray the Rosary, we are not praying to Mary, but with her. She leads us to Jesus. Her life—her “yes” to God, her courage beneath the Cross, her joy at the Resurrection—teaches us how to live with faith, trust, and love. As Pope Benedict XVI said, “The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, brings peace and reconciliation. It contains the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each Hail Mary.”
4. A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare
The saints have always called the Rosary a spiritual weapon—a shield against temptation, discouragement, and sin.
St. Dominic in the 13th century is traditionally credited with receiving the rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary as a weapon to combat heresy and bring people back to Christ. He preached it passionately, understanding the power of the rosary.
Centuries later, St. Louis de Montfort said, “The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God.”
Padre Pio, a mystic and stigmatist. called Rosary “his weapon,” and would pray it more than 30 times a day.
St. Mother Teresa prayed it constantly amidst the suffering she witnessed, calling it her daily lifeline.
In our own struggles—be it doubt, temptation, suffering, or fear—the Rosary becomes a battle cry of faith, placing us under Mary’s protection and leading us back to Christ’s victory.
5. A Channel of Grace, Healing, and Intercession
Mary, as our heavenly Mother, intercedes for us. When we pray the Rosary, we bring her our needs—personal, communal, and global—and ask her to present them to her Son. We see this clearly in the Marian apparitions:
In Fatima (1917), Mary revealed herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary” and asked us to pray it daily for peace and the conversion of sinners.
At Lourdes (1858), she held a Rosary and prayed it with Bernadette.
In Akita (1973), she urged Sr. Agnes, “Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary.”
Over and over again, Our Lady has one consistent message: “Pray the Rosary.” It is her invitation—and her gift.
6. A Prayer for Our Time—and All Times
The Rosary isn’t just for saints and mystics. It’s for families, students, priests, the elderly, the struggling, the searching—for everyone. Pope Francis often urges us to pray the Rosary as a way to bring Christ into our daily lives. During the pandemic, he even led the whole Church in Rosary gatherings for healing and protection.
And I’ve experienced this personally. I was blessed to grow up in a family where we prayed the Rosary every day. That simple act of faith shaped my heart, helped me discern my vocation, and continues to sustain me as a missionary priest.
Dear sisters and brothers, Rosary is not just prayer—it’s formation. It’s protection. It’s healing. It is a treasure:
It brings us closer to Jesus through Mary.
It deepens our faith and trust in God.
It offers peace, protection, and hope.
It opens our hearts to grace and intercession.
And it unites us with the Church across the world and throughout time.
So, whether you’re just beginning your journey or have prayed the Rosary for years, I invite you: Pick up the beads. Pray slowly. Meditate deeply. Let Mary lead you to her Son. As you do, may the Rosary become for you what it has been for the saints: a path to holiness, a source of strength, and a lifeline to the heart of Jesus. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us. Amen.
Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC