A Wonderful Weapon In Your Arsenal

1 Oct

“Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood.”  ~ Saint Louis de Montfort

Today, October 1st, is the beginning of the Month of the Rosary, one of the two months each year that are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This month is called the Month of the Rosary because the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on this coming Saturday, October 7th.

I remember one of my theology professors telling us one time that the rosary was essential for our toolboxes.  One of my classmates looked really confused because he thought the professor was speaking about a literal toolbox.  The student could not imagine why we would need a rosary in a box with our wrenches, screwdrivers, et cetera.

After chuckles all around, the professor told us that the rosary belonged in our spiritual toolbox.  It was an important tool, he said, and one that needed to be used on a regular basis in order to keep ourselves in good repair.

St. Louis de Montfort’s statement, at face value, may look a bit extreme.  “Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray.”  Never?  St. Louis de Montfort was so confident in that statement that he said that he would sign it in his own blood.

Yet, it is true.  The rosary is a wonderful tool that, if used regularly, cannot help but keep us close to God.  The whole importance of St. Louis’ statement lies in the proper praying of the rosary.  If the rosary is something that someone uses just because he or she has to do it, it will be meaningless.  That person can be led astray because that person is probably being distracted by all sorts of things while saying the rosary anyway.

However, if a person truly prays the rosary, that person will be meditating upon deep mysteries of the faith. That person will be invited to enter, more deeply, into the life of Jesus:  His teaching, His struggles, His suffering, His passion, His death, and His victory over death in the resurrection.

Prayed properly, the rosary will help a person cling to the path that leads to the Kingdom.  Prayed properly, a person cannot go astray.  That person will be focused on Jesus to the point of ignoring any other distraction.

This is a good month to find your rosary, to get it out, and to pray it.  This is a good month to teach the rosary to your children.  This is a good month to consider all the wonders of a loving God!

FAITH ACTION:  Pray the rosary today.  If possible, pray it together as a family.