On the day of the Our Lady of the RosaryOn October 7, the Church invites us to do something very special: pray the Holy Rosary together. This prayer not only connects us with the most important moments of Jesus' life, but also gives us the opportunity to pray for those who need it most.
From the CARF Foundation we would like to invite everyone to use this powerful prayer, which St. Josemaría defined in The Way, in point 558, as follows: "The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you will be amazed at the results.
The invitation focuses on uniting the Virgin Mary with priests and future vocations. By praying the Holy Rosary, we not only pray for our own needs and those of others, but we support those who give their lives to God. Today, more than ever, your prayer can be the impetus that future diocesan priests and religious need to advance in their formation journey.
The Feast of the Our Lady of the Rosary The Feast of the Virgin of the Rosary has its origins in the 16th century, linked to the Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571). At that time, Pope St. Pius V asked Christians to pray the Rosary to ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary against the threat of the Ottoman Empire. After the victory of the Christian fleet, the Church attributed this triumph to the protection of the Virgin and established this feast in her honor. Initially called the Feast of Our Lady of Victories, it was later renamed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1573 as the Feast of the Virgin of the Rosary, reminding us of the power of this prayer and the constant protection of Mary.
On this significant date, the CARF Foundation invites you to join in prayer, praying the Holy Rosary for our priests and vocations. We ask Our Lady to protect and guide those who have generously responded to the call to serve God and the Church. As Pope Francis reminds us, "the Rosary is the prayer of the humble, of those who trust fully in the love of the Mother of God."
By praying the Rosary, we feel that we can come closer to the life of Jesus through Marywhose intercession is a way full of love and tenderness. She, with her maternal care, always guides us to her Son, listening to our petitions and presenting them before Him.
The Holy Rosary is a Marian prayer that takes on an even deeper meaning on October 7, during the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. To pray on this date, and especially during the whole month of October, is an act of love and gratitude to Mary, our spiritual mother, who always guides us to her Son, Jesus Christ. As St. Josemaría Escrivá used to say: "the Rosary is the most powerful weapon we Christians have to confront evil.
Offering it for priests and vocations is especially valuable. At the CARF Foundation, we understand the importance of these prayers in supporting the mission of forming seminarians and diocesan and religious priests. Each Hail Mary is an act of faith that can transform lives, supporting those who have given their lives to the service of God and His Church.
From the CARF Foundation we would like to invite you to join us in prayer by offering the Holy Rosary in a special way for our priests and for the vocations that will build the future of the Church. It is an opportunity for us to place in the hands of our Mother those who are already serving, and those who are in the process of formation. Follow these simple steps and offer each mystery with a heart full of faith:
As we pray the Holy Rosary, we reflect on the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. Each of these moments invites us to reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary, and gives us the opportunity to offer our prayers for those most in need.
The joyful mysteries invite us to reflect on the first years of Jesus' life and the joy of his coming into the world: the annunciation or incarnation of the Son of God; the visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth; the birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem; the purification of our Mother and the presentation of her son in the temple; and the child lost and found in the temple.
This October 7, as we pray these mysteries, we can ask Our Lady to guide and enlighten the path of seminarians and priests, helping them to grow in their vocation and spiritual formation.
The painful mysteries They fill us with hope by reminding us of all the sufferings, self-giving and love of Jesus before the resurrection and the victory of Christ over death: the prayer in the Garden of Olives; the scourging of the Lord tied to the pillar; the crowning with thorns; the cross on the road to Calvary; and the death of Jesus on the cross.
As we pray these mysteries we ask Mary to continue to inspire new priestly vocations, especially in these times when the world needs committed priests. Through her intercession, may the young people hear God's call and feel strengthened to dedicate their lives to the service of the Church and others.
The luminous mysteries highlight some moments of Jesus' public life, such as his baptism; the miracle of the wedding at Cana; the preaching and proclamation of the kingdom of God; the transfiguration of the Lord; and the institution of the Eucharist.
As we pray these mysteries, we can pray for priests who are already serving, that they may continue to lead their communities with wisdom and compassion.
With the mysteries glorious we rejoice in the triumph of Jesus over death and sin, over evil and the devil. We will meditate on his surrender on the cross that redeems us and with his resurrection opens the gates of heaven; the ascension of the Lord to heaven; the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and his mother Mary; the Assumption into heaven body and soul; and the coronation as queen and mistress of all creation.
Prayer for priestly vocations and for diocesan priests is an act of love on this feast; a gesture of faith that strengthens those who dedicate their lives to the service of God and a commitment to the future of our Church.
Pray today, and be part of this great mission!
