A Month of Devotion and Prayer: Exploring the Holy Rosary

During the month of October, we commemorate one of the most valuable scriptural prayers in the Catholic Church - the Holy Rosary, to pay tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we celebrate this special occasion, we dig deeper into its roots and significance.  #HolyRosary #MonthoftheRosary 

Written by Aira Lao
Layout by Althea Ruñez   

Posted on October 29, 2021  |  5:15 PM

The month of October is known to Catholics as the month of the Holy Rosary, a month devoted to praying the Rosary in honor of the Blessed Mother. During this month, Catholics worldwide are encouraged to pick up their prayer beads and recite the Holy Mysteries every day. Although most pray the Rosary, only a few are well familiar with its origin, purpose, the meaning of each mystery, and other important information. Hence, in addition to its celebration, we examine a more in-depth view of the Holy Rosary.

The word Rosary comes from the Latin word “Rosarium,” meaning a garden of roses or a garland of roses. Praying the Rosary is no modern practice, despite not being mentioned in the Bible. Its origins are unclear, but it does date back to the 12th century. Many are familiar with the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Dominic and encouraged him to pray the Rosary. Dominic did so and even preached about it throughout his lifetime until 1221. During  World War I, the Blessed Virgin did the same thing and appeared in front of 3 shepherd children, asking them to pray the Rosary every day to end the war.

In 1883, Pope Leo XIII declared the month of October as Rosary month. He was also called the “Rosary Pope” because he wrote 11 encyclicals about the Rosary. He greatly emphasized praying the Rosary every day. Shortly after that, Pope Pius X declared the anniversary of Our Lady of Rosary on October 7, further solidifying October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. Furthermore, October 7 is not a random date itself. The Battle of Lepanto, which is a battle between Catholics and Muslims that took place on October 7, 1571, became the main reason why October 7 is named the Feast of Our Lady of Rosary. The Catholic navy was at a massive disadvantage against the Muslim fleet. Hence, Pope Pius V invited all of Europe to pray the Rosary for the victory of the Catholic fleet. Both marine armada suffered massive casualties. But ultimately, despite their disadvantage, the Catholic fleet emerged victoriously. The naval engagement led to Pope Pius V attributing the triumph of the Catholics to the works of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the prayer of the Rosary. Thus, October 7 is celebrated every year as the feast of Our Lady of Rosary. Additionally, it is because of this feast day that October is considered the month of the Holy Rosary.

The chain and order of the Rosary serve as a guide for us Catholics. Its repetition helps us meditate on each mystery, allowing us to receive clarity in our minds as we pray. We should note that the Rosary is a Christocentric prayer. Although it is a prayer of devotion for Mary, its main subject is Jesus. Remember, we do not pray to Mary, rather we ask for her intercession. The 4 groups of mysteries foretell the story of Christ from the beginning until the end. 

The Joyful Mysteries, which is recited every Monday and Saturday, speaks of Jesus’ childhood. The Annunciation refers to the Angel Gabriel telling Mary about the mission that God has given her. At this point, Joseph was actually thinking of leaving Mary as he thought that the child she was bearing was not his. Thus, the angel also appeared to him, explaining the mission that Mary had been given. The Visitation is when Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, proclaimed that Mary was bearing the Son of God. This statement is indeed seen in the Hail Mary Prayer, “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” The Nativity or The Birth of Our Lord is when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger. This event symbolizes that Jesus was to be born into this world to live a simple life, a life not lavish, where He will be raised in a household of simplicity and humility. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple represents Jesus’ purification and “To present Him to the Lord.” Lastly, The Finding of Jesus in the Temple was when Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple, conversing with the scholars who were amazed by His knowledge at such a young age. This Mystery signifies that Jesus already knew His mission as the Messiah.

The Sorrowful Mysteries, which are prayed every Tuesday and Friday, are the mysteries that encompass Christ’s suffering. The Agony in the Garden is when Jesus was praying to God, talking about His fate that was slowly approaching, He knew of His soon-to-come suffering, and on this mystery, He fully accepted it. In The Scourging at the Pillar, Jesus was captured and tortured. Then, The Crowning of Thorns symbolizes an act of mockery into Jesus’ authority and inflicting pain upon Him. The Carrying of the Cross was when Jesus had to carry a big heavy wooden cross on his back. The last, which is The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, is when Jesus was nailed onto the cross and died at 3 P.M. It is because of this why we have the 3 O'Clock Prayer. These mysteries remind us of the sufferings Jesus Christ endured for us, a way to let us know that we should not take for granted the lives we now have. 

The Glorious Mysteries talk about Jesus’ resurrection and the institution of the Eucharist, and is recited every Tuesday and Friday. The Resurrection occurred three days after Jesus' death on the cross. In The Ascension, He had given the apostles their mission and ascended into Heaven to join God. Afterward, The Descent of the Holy Spirit is when the day of the Pentecost came, and the Holy Spirit helped the Apostles speak in multiple languages and gain confidence to preach the Word of the Lord. Then, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary proclaims Mary’s ascendance into Heaven. Lastly, The Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven establishes Mary as the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, and Queen of Heaven and Earth. 

The final mysteries, the Luminous or Light Mysteries, which are prayed every Thursday, were added in 2002 by Pope John Paul II; these were included because the Pope thought something among the mysteries was missing. In turn, he decided to include mysteries that spoke of Jesus and his miracles. The first mystery, The Baptism of Jesus, marks the beginning of Christ’s mission on Earth. Then, The Wedding at Cana observes the first miracle that Jesus performed, revealing His divine origin. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God reveals God’s plan’s absolute goal, which is to transform Earth and humanity into His Kingdom. The Transfiguration of Our Lord declares the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, His victory of light over darkness. Lastly, The Institution of the Eucharist testifies to God’s eternal love for all of humanity. 

The Holy Rosary is not just a group of prayers assigned with beads to pray on specific days. It is a healing and meditative prayer. Each bead, each prayer, and each second we spend praying it all mean something. One does not even need to have any special preparation; a Rosary and our mental presence are all that is needed. It can be bought anywhere at any time with its size. It is lighter than the phones that we carry every day. It also serves as a form of protection against temptation as its very presence scares and embeds fears in demons and evil spirits alike.

Through praying the Rosary, we are reminded of Jesus’ life, His childhood, hardships, miracles, and the institution of the Eucharist. Its origins may not be fixed, but it has become one of the most common and practiced ways of communicating with God. Praying it has brought a lot of hope, clarity, miracles, and faith to us Catholics. Not only does it remind us of Jesus, but it also allows us to thank the Blessed Mother and our own mothers. We as Christians should remember and value this month as this is one of the very few months we are given a chance to devote ourselves to prayer for our spiritual needs.