Communication with Visitors* Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us! October 1 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, October for Catholics is Rosary month. It has been so for many centuries. It is a special form of devotion to the Blessed Mother of Jesus. In its original form it consists of fifteen decades but usually in its recitation, whether privately or publicly, only one-third of it is said. Since the full Rosary comprises fifteen decades, five recalling events in the Passion and Death of Christ, five recalling the Childhood events and five Easter events. The shortened form is made up of five decades of the of the above three Mysteries. Both forms of devotion have a special appeal to Catholics for their simplicity and for their close connection with events in the life of Christ upon earth. It is a way of following Christ and His Mother in their existence in this land of exile, as you recite the prayers which make up the Rosary, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory be. How deeply rooted this devotion is in the Catholic tradition we may easily gather from the numerous and various ways in which its devotees reveal their adherence to it. May their zeal prosper and bear much fruit for all of us. Michael Lapierre, S.J. * Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. Besides September, Fr. Lapierre will be doing also October and November this year. The background hymn is a certain version of "Immaculate Mary". Thank you. The latter is alive and well. He needs this time to complete an important work of evangelization. Alleluia!
October 1
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
October for Catholics is Rosary month. It has been so for many centuries. It is a special form of devotion to the Blessed Mother of Jesus. In its original form it consists of fifteen decades but usually in its recitation, whether privately or publicly, only one-third of it is said. Since the full Rosary comprises fifteen decades, five recalling events in the Passion and Death of Christ, five recalling the Childhood events and five Easter events. The shortened form is made up of five decades of the of the above three Mysteries. Both forms of devotion have a special appeal to Catholics for their simplicity and for their close connection with events in the life of Christ upon earth. It is a way of following Christ and His Mother in their existence in this land of exile, as you recite the prayers which make up the Rosary, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory be. How deeply rooted this devotion is in the Catholic tradition we may easily gather from the numerous and various ways in which its devotees reveal their adherence to it. May their zeal prosper and bear much fruit for all of us.
Michael Lapierre, S.J.
* Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. Besides September, Fr. Lapierre will be doing also October and November this year. The background hymn is a certain version of "Immaculate Mary". Thank you. The latter is alive and well. He needs this time to complete an important work of evangelization. Alleluia!