7 October is the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and October is traditionally the month of the Rosary. We are without doubt experiencing what Pope Benedict described as “a new springtime” for this prayer which has sustained Christians for almost 1000 years. It has been the favourite prayer of saints such as St Dominic and St Teresa of Avila, St Francis de Sales and Blessed John Paul II.
The Rosary is a wonderful prayer for all those discerning their vocation. Blessed John Paul II describes the Rosary as “Mary’s way – a way of faith, of silence and of attentive contemplation”. Following Mary’s way, a way of stillness and contemplation, we too can enter more deeply into the mystery of God’s will for our lives. Each one of us has our own unique vocation – that particular calling of how we are to make God’s saving love real in our time and our place. Mary is a faithful guide whose own continuing vocation is to lead us to her Son, and to help us to say “yes” to God’s will, just as she said yes to God’s invitation to bear his Son.
Earlier this year we produced a new prayer card entitled “Praying the Rosary for the Renewal of Christian Vocation” which has specific vocational prayer intentions for each decade of the Rosary. Over 25,000 copies have been distributed since May and it is wonderful to hear how helpful the prayer card has proved for so many people, young and old. If you would like your own free copy or would like several copies for your Rosary group simply email richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
