From the Rector: Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
Inspired by St. Josemaria’s devotion to Mary, following are suggestions for ways that we can honor the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary during this special month dedicated to her:

Pray the Rosary daily privately or with friends and family.
“Develop a lively devotion for Our Mother.  She knows how to respond in a most sensitive way to the presents we give her.  What is more, if you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, Our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son’s path” (St. Josemaria Escriva; Furrow, no. 691).
 
Pray the Rosary during the day—try not to postpone it until the end of the day or bedtime.  
“You always leave the Rosary for later, and you end up not saying it at all because you are sleepy. —If there is no other time, say it in the street without letting anybody notice it. It will, moreover, help you to have presence of God”  (St. Josemaria Escriva; Furrow, no. 478).

If possible, use a book like “Holy Rosary” or an audio recording of the Rosary to help you enter more deeply into each mystery.
“—Have you… ever contemplated these mysteries? (…) Come with me and —this is the essence of what I have to confide— we will live the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Each day we will render them a new service. We will hear their family conversations. We will see the Messiah grow up. We will admire His thirty years of hidden life… We will be present at His Passion and Death… We will be awed by the Glory of His Resurrection… In a word: we will contemplate, carried away with Love (the only real love is Love), each and every instant of Christ Jesus”  (St. Josemaria Escriva; Holy Rosary, Author’s Note).

When praying the family Rosary, especially with young children, use a booklet or app that shows an image for each Mystery of the Rosary.


When you see an image of Our Lady, at home, on the street, in Church, direct a glance at it and send her an affectionate interior prayer or greeting.
This was a practice St. Josemaria Escriva started from a young age and that he inspired in others throughout his life: http://www.josemariaescriva.info/article/saint-josemaria92s-devotion-to-our-lady

Make a pilgrimage to a nearby church or shrine that has a special statue or painting of Mary.
St. Josemaria Escriva believed that a “local pilgrimage” with a small group of friends or family is a good way to honor the Blessed Virgin and to help us to be more devoted to her.  Traditionally, a “local pilgrimage” includes, if possible, walking to and from the shrine or walking part of the way to and from the shrine; reciting five mysteries of the rosary on the way; praying another five mysteries of the rosary at the shrine; and praying another five mysteries of the rosary on the way back.