St Thomas Monastery, Villanova University Campus, Villanova, PA
AS THIS IS WRITTEN, we are now in the Liturgical Time of the EPIPHANY of Our Lord when Christ is manifested to all Nations....as the God made MAN. Divinity is joined to Humanity without losing any of the Heavenly. Christ as a Tiny Baby still retains all the Frailties of Humanity, yet still is Equal to God the Father in Heaven...whose Voice is heard from Heaven:..”This is My Beloved Son...in whom I am well pleased....LISTEN to Him.” These words of GOD THE FATHER are recorded in:.......MT 17:5, MK 9:7, LK 9:35, JN 1:34 & 2 Peter 1:17.
THE STAR LEADS the MAGI, the three Wise Men and Kings, who travel a great distance to find the Baby in the Manger in the town of Bethlehem. They present their Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh: Gold for His Kingship, Frankincense for His Divinity and Myrrh for His Burial as a Human being.
WE HAVE MANY REASONS today for PRAYING THE ROSARY: Wars continually rage in many parts of the world amid much Suffering and Dying. Abortion, Divorce, Euthanasia destroy countless Lives that threaten the Family, the basic Unit of Society itself, and even the Nation’s very existence!
MUCH OF THE WORLD races along with little or no thought of God or Church. VICE, that which is EVIL, is praised and paraded about as VIRTUE...along with a growing Apathy...& Permissiveness.
WE COULD LABEL the ROSARY as the New Testament in Miniature...as the Chief Mysteries of the Life and Sufferings of Christ past before us with each Decade. Anyone who Meditates on the Life and Passion of Christ will soon find his or her Life Centering more and more upon Our Blessed Lord.
MARY THE MOTHER OF CHRIST...and Mother of the Church will help us to imitate her Divine Son. in all of Her Apparitions at Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, LaSalette and Knock...Our Lady PRAYED THE ROSARY. Her common theme is PRAYER AND PENANCE in every Appearance. If we do penance....then we shall be listening to Our Lord’s Command...LK 13:5...”Unless you all do Penance...you shall all likewise Perish.”
YOU WILL NOT FIND the word “Rosary” mentioned in the Scriptures. You can show the Importance of the Rosary by quoting many Saints, Popes, Religious & Laity. WE CITE JUST A FEW HERE:
SAINT PADRE PIO: The Rosary is the “weapon” for these times; the greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary; All Graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother; Never tire of the Rosary it is Essential; Prayer shakes the Heart of God and obtains necessary Graces.
ST FRANCIS DESALES: The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.
ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN: The power of the Rosary is beyond description.
POPE LEO XIII The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining Eternal Life.
SISTER LUCIA DOS SANTOS of FATIMA: There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is that we cannot resolve by the Prayer of the Holy Rosary.
AND IF WE PRAY THE ROSARY...WE SHALL BE USING
THE VERY MEANS GIVEN BY OUR HEAVENLY MOTHER
...TO ALL HER EARTHLY CHILDREN. IT’S A GOOD KEY TO HEAVEN’S DOOR.
IT TEACHES US ...& REMINDS US OF CHRIST’S COMMANDS AND COUNCELS.
IT’S EASY....IT FITS...& IT WORKS!