The power of the Rosary, Mary: Day 298

The power of the Rosary

There are many ways to approach Mary, Venerable Pope Pius XII notes. But the Rosary holds a special place in Marian devotion, for several important reasons.

We well know the Rosary’s powerful efficacy to obtain the maternal aid

of the Virgin. By no means is there only one way to pray to obtain this aid. How- ever, we consider the holy Rosary the most convenient and most fruitful means, as is clearly suggested by the very origin of this practice, heavenly rather than human, and by its nature.

What prayers are better adapted and more beautiful than the Lord’s Prayer and the angelic salutation, which are the flowers with which this mystical crown is formed? With meditation on the sacred mysteries added to the vocal prayers, there emerges another very great advantage, so that all, even the most simple and least educated, have in this a prompt and easy way to nourish and preserve their own faith.

Truly, from the frequent meditation on the mysteries, the soul little by little and subtly draws and absorbs the virtues they contain, is wondrously enkindled with a longing for things immortal, and becomes strongly and easily impelled to follow the path that Christ himself and his mother have followed. The recitation of identical formulas repeated so many times, rather than rendering the prayer sterile and boring, has on the contrary the admirable quality of infusing confi- dence in him who prays and brings to bear a gentle compulsion on the motherly heart of Mary.

—Venerable Pope Pius XII, Ingruentium Malorum

 IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I find myself sometimes feeling that, as Pope Pius says, the recitation of prayers in the Rosary is “sterile and boring”? How might I be able to refresh my appreciation of this devotion, so that instead my soul, “little by little and subtly,” absorbs the virtues contained in the mysteries?

CLOSING PRAYER

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!

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