The Etymology of the word “Religion” comes from the latin word – “Religare” which means; to bind, or to tie. It is imperative that we should understand the deeper meaning of this word for us to appreciate the activities of our parish community, one of which is: The Rosary.
Our church – the Body of Christ (Colossians 1:24) is the pillar of Truth (1 Timothy 3:15) holds one of the greatest devotions of all time – The Rosary. According to Dominican tradition, the rosary was received by St. Dominic de Guzman from the Blessed Virgin Mary through an apparition to combat the Albigensian heresy in the early 13th century.
Moreover, St. Dominic and companions were known to recite the “St. Gabriel’s Message” (Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42) on their knees in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life – a popular devotion in the 11th and 12th centuries and later praying it for 150 times which is eventually called the “Psalter of Mary”. In 1569, the Dominican Pope – St. Pius V, polished the rosary that we know today but without the “Glory be” ending each decade, it was then added by the Dominican Fathers of Sta. Maria Sopra Minerva, the following century.
The Holy Rosary was derived from the Bible as it narrates the life phases (Mysteries) of Jesus Christ in relation to the Salvation History. Non-Catholics will condemn us that we are in violation of “vain repetition of Prayer” (Matthew 6:7), but they failed to realize that what is forbidden is “Vain” or “Babbling” prayers. The rosary is never a vain or babbling prayer as it came from bible verses, we pray the Rosary not because it is a requirement in different liturgies, but we recite and promote it because it is the life of Jesus in bead form which ends to the victory of Jesus in the cross.
The Rosary is a devotion of Love, when we pray it, we commemorate the Life, Mysteries, Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and by doing so, we show Jesus and the Blessed Mother how we truly love them, it can be likened to a son, working in a wet market, accompanying her parents and helping them sell goods. In this simple analogy, we accompany our Lord Jesus and the Virgin Mary in their journey as we commemorate the mysteries of the Rosary, as we say our prayers wholeheartedly, we are offering a spiritual rose, a bouquet of Love.
If someone is bothered that we gave too much importance to the Virgin Mary because of so many Hail Marys, don’t be anxious, as St. Maximilian Kolbe said; “You can never love her (Bl. Virgin Mary) more than Jesus did.”
Litany of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
(Repeat after each invocation: pray for us.)
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace.
Lamb of God, You take away sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Your take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Written By: Bro. JC Recto, OP (Third Order Dominican)