OCTOBER: THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY

The word “rosary” comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. If you were to ask what object is most emblematic of Catholics, people would probably say, “The Rosary, of course.” We’re familiar with the images: the silently moving lips of the old woman fingering her beads; the oversized rosary hanging from the waist of the wimpled religious; more recently, the merely decorative rosary hanging from the rearview mirror.

The Rosary is Christocentric, setting forth the entire life of Jesus Christ, the ministry, the passion, death, resurrection and glory. The authentic Rosary is a happy combination of vocal and mental prayer, each of which is essential to the devotion. It is incorrect to say that meditation is “the very essence of the Rosary devotion,” for vocal recitation of the prayers is also of the essence. Meditation is, of course, the nobler element, the “soul,” while vocal prayer is the “body” of the devotion. In this month of October, let us consider this beautiful prayer of the Rosary as a means that we can use in order to draw closer to Jesus and Mary by meditating on the great mysteries of our salvation.

ROSARY WEEK at STA: OCTOBER 20th-26th

This year we are looking for seven homes of our parishioners who wish to open your home for Mother Mary’s visit. We will gather in your home to pray the Rosary, seeking Mother Mary’s intercession.* I will join you each day with my travelling little pilgrim statue of Mother Mary and end with consecration of family to the sacred Heart of Jesus and a house blessing. This has been a graceful experience. Many have told me in the past that since the home rosary and the visit of the Virgin Mother there has been peace in the homes and healing experienced among the members.

Saturday, October 26th we will pray the Rosary after the 5:30 p.m. Mass to end Rosary week in our church. For those of you who cannot join me in one our family homes of the parish, please pray the Rosary in your homes with your family members. Remember, “the family that prays together stays together”.

Imploring the blessing of Mother Mary.

Fr. Varghese Maliakkal

*If your family would like to host a “home Rosary” between Oct. 20th and Oct. 26th, please contact the Parish Office at (317) 253-1461 or email ChurchInfo@staindy.org .