Today we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast that originally came from from both prayer and battle. It was established after the Christian victory over the invading Muslim Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The victory in that battle was attributed to Our Lady’s intercession after Pope Pius V asked all of Europe to pray the Rosary for protection. The odds were stacked against the Christian Europeans, but in the end they prevailed.

For some today, the Rosary is sometimes dismissed as repetitive or old-fashioned, but in actuality it’s one of the most powerful forms of prayer that we have as Catholics. Each bead draws us deeper into the mysteries of Christ’s life: His joy, His sorrow, His glory. It’s not about empty repetition; it’s about entering into relationship. Think of it as the heartbeat of a child resting on the chest of its mother, the rhythm of the Rosary places us in the quiet presence of God through Mary.

The rosary was the favorite prayer of many of the saints, including Pope St. John Paul II. He once said that through it, “we contemplate the face of Christ with the eyes of Mary.” That’s the key. Mary doesn’t distract from Jesus, she magnifies Him, she points us to Him. She teaches us how to look at His life, how to love Him more deeply, and how to follow Him more faithfully.

So today, take up that Rosary, spend some time with the Blessed Mother. Don’t just look at it as a simple devotion, but as a lifeline. Pray for peace in the world, for the conversion of hearts, for your family, for our Church.

And as you pray, remember: every Hail Mary is not just a repetitive prayer; it’s a step closer to Jesus, guided by His Mother.

Image: Praying with the Rosary, Thérèse Westby. Used under Unsplash license