Mary, the Rosary and the month of May

Those of us who had the fortune to grow up Catholic often don't appreciate the richness of our spirituality and our traditions.  Such treasures have been part of our human and spiritual formation for as long back as we can remember and so they have become familiar and somewhat ordinary.  The challenge is always to keep them fresh and new.  Yet the more often you do them the more we may grow to find them a treasure. One hope I have always had is that paintings of Mary would some day depict her as a middle eastern young woman: darker skin and hair, black or brown eyes, etc.  How often does she appear as Norwegian or Swedish with blue eyes and blond hair and fair skin! Just a personal desire.

At any rate, as priest and pastor I have always found a great treasure is sharing in the journey towards the fullness of faith with our catechumens and candidates in the RCIA process over the years.  Their eyes and hearts are open to these treasures and their embrace of a new faith is always inspiring.  They keep us "on our toes" as it were and we have so much to share with them as well.

In this month of May, traditionally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, we find an ancient yet ever new Catholic tradition.  The primary prayer of this month is the Rosary.  I have clear memories of our family gathering in the evening to pray the Rosary during May before a statue of our Blessed Mother that was "traveling" through parish families. For our youth and young adults as well as for seniors and for all, the Rosary holds a special opportunity.  I think if our youth, high school age, and for our college age folks, the Rosary could be an especially strong help in their spiritual and human development.  It's application, in other words, is across all generations. 

To this day, I feel the Rosary is indeed a powerful prayer, a weapon, against temptation and helps us to remain focused on the mysteries of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.  Although we pray the traditional 10 Hail Mary's for each mystery, the Rosary is a meditation on the life of Jesus her son and Mary's role in that extraordinary life.  She shares in the joy of his birth, witnessed the wonder of his miracles and heard his teaching, she was affected by his suffering and passion and along with him, had her own passion, and then undoubtedly, though the Scriptures make no mention, saw her own Son risen from the dead, and then was rewarded in her Assumption into heaven.

I well know that the Rosary is not always an appreciated prayer and our new Catholics at Easter are not necessarily drawn to it as a source of meditation.  Yet, this month of May would be a good time to pray the Rosary more often.  Take some time to learn through its powerful simplicity.  As you explore the mysteries: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious, search the Gospel stories for these events.  While being both deeply Scriptural the Rosary is also a great tool for opening yourself to grace.

Here is a link to a listing of the Mysteries of the Rosary with Scriptural references.  I think the Rosary is both a simple and powerful family prayer.  Let each of them take turns at leading the family in a mystery.  It may indeed be a moment when the family is together and united on something far more meaningful than the present day imposed isolation created through our social media.

Mysteries of the Rosary:

https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/Mysteries-of-the-Rosary.cfm