Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - Our Lady of the Rosary
[Galatians 1:13-24 and Luke 10:38-42]"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary has considerable significance for the Dominican Family because of the involvement of the Dominican Order in promoting the rosary from at least as early as the 14th century. The traditional 15 mysteries (now augmented by Pope John Paul II with the "Luminous" mysteries) were the creation of a Dominican friar, Jacob Spengler, and the preaching/promotion of the rosary is historically traced to another Dominican friar, Alan de la Roche. The feast of the Holy Rosary was established by Pope Pius V, who was a Dominican friar! I doubt that anyone would argue much with the claim that in the Western Church the rosary is the most popular form of devotional prayer. I fear, however, that the rosary is not often used to its greatest benefit, even by those who "say it" every day and sometimes more than once a day. Anything that becomes very familiar to us can become "domesticated" and literally part of the furniture of our lives. We take it for granted. If prayer can be compared to food, the rosary is definitely "comfort" food. We often say it without thinking too much. The "mysteries" are familiar titles and the prayers are familiar prayers. We take great comfort in using it. I remember well my dad's hospitalizations toward the end of his life and his insisting that his rosary be attached to the side rail of his hospital bed within easy reach or draped around his neck. When I took him for a radiation treatment and we were sitting in the doctor's office, I looked up from my crossword puzzles to see him praying the rosary there in a wheelchair! It was his prayer of choice. When I have the opportunity, however, (as in this homily!) I like to issue a humble challenge to all who pray the rosary. Take the Mary of the gospel today as a model for saying the rosary. It means "sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to his words." How many of us take any time to reflect on those "mysteries?" How many of us would think of using different "mysteries" from the gospels (5 phrases or 5 miracles - although we might be familiar with the "scriptural rosary" with its snippets of gospel between Hail Mary's)? Most likely (and I include myself at times) we do a "Martha" rosary - a busy one, with the rest of the day crowding in on us! How many of us even reflect on the profound meaning of the words of those very familiar prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be? Maybe I'm posing too big a challenge but I can't help it. As well intentioned and devout as we may be, the rosary deserves better of us. Perhaps reflecting on it on this great feast will give us a new start! AMEN
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