Praying with Mary: The Power and Mystery of the Rosary
The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary . . .
. . . originated in 1571 after the miraculous Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto, when the faithful, at the Pope’s request, prayed the Rosary for protection against the Ottoman Empire. This triumph was attributed to Mary’s intercession, earning her the title “Help of Christians.”
The Rosary is not merely as a Marian prayer, but as a prayer to Jesus through Mary . . . a contemplation of Christ’s life, death, and glory, with Mary as our guide. The Homily explains three “crownings” of Jesus reflected in the Rosary:
1. The Crown of Grace – the Incarnation, God’s gift of salvation.
2. The Crown of Thorns – Christ’s suffering and redemptive death.
3. The Crown of Glory – Christ’s triumph in heaven.
Mary, too, receives her own three crowns:
1. The Crown of Excellence – her purity and virtue.
2. The Crown of Goodness – her maternal help and compassion.
3. The Crown of Love – her perfect relationship with God.
Finally, those devoted to Mary receive spiritual crowns:
• The Crown of Holiness, gained through imitation of Mary’s virtues.
• The Crown of a Peaceful Death, aided by her intercession.
• The Crown of Glory in Heaven, the eternal reward of the faithful.
The Rosary is presented as a spiritual weapon, a summary of the Gospel, and a path to peace and salvation through union with Jesus and Mary.
Listen to:
Praying with Mary: The Power and Mystery of the Rosary
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Art Work
One of Several Our Lady of Victory Statues at the OLV Basilica and National Shrine, Buffalo, NY, 1926
The white nine feet version on top of the main altar (not shown), which is made of marble, was blessed by Pope Pius XI prior to its shipment to NY.
