So, what is it about the rosary?

If you are new to this devotion, the rosary can be intimidating and seem far away, but it’s worth pursuing for every Christian.

There are many misunderstandings about the rosary that have come about throughout the centuries.  Devotees have been accused of worshipping Mary; of being pagans; engaging in the vain repetition of prayer, and many more.

What you don’t commonly hear, however, is that the rosary is not about Mary, but that it is about reflecting on the life of Christ.  If the rosary is not about Mary, why all the Hail Marys then?  This is a fairly simple question to answer.

John Paul II was fond of the saying, “to Jesus through Mary”.  Christ helps us to understand this in the Scripture of the Wedding at Cana.  When Mary asked Jesus to enter into His ministry, He protested, saying, “My time has not yet come.”  Mary’s response?  She disregarded His balking completely, turning instead to the servers and instructing them to “do whatever He tells you.”  And Jesus, keeping every Commandment to Perfection, obeyed His Mother–and the world was never the same.  What would our contemplative life be like if Christ had reproached Mary and not performed that first miracle?  What a beautiful Mystery!  Truly, Mary opened the door to Christ and we can confidently say, “to Jesus through Mary!”

How many times have you said the Pledge of Allegiance?  Does it have less meaning for you because you say it every day, or does it instead strengthen your love of country and your fellow citizen?

Applying this understanding to the Hail Mary, we can approach this prayer with peaceful hearts and settled minds.  It’s not repetitive prayer that we are warned against, but the vain repetition.  In other words?  Engage!  Be present to Our Lord in the rosary and let His Mother take you there.  For the rosary, also known as “the School of Mary” has untold treasures just waiting to enrich the Christian heart.  It is a beautiful, edifying prayer, indeed.

For more thoughts on Mary, our Blessed Mother, we invite you to keep reading…