THE POPES ON THE HOLY ROSARY
As we draw towards the close of the month of the Holy Rosary, let us contemplate the words of the recent Popes on this wonderful prayer.
POPE FRANCIS:
In His message to the people of Malta on the 19th
June 2017, delivered at the miraculous Marian shrine of Ta’ Pinu (to which our Order was once much devoted, and which was much beloved of
our late Grand Prior Fra’ Fredrik), Pope Francis recommended the recitation of
the Rosary in these terms: “This prayer helps us to contemplate everything
which God, in His Love, has accomplished for us and for our Salvation, and
makes us understand that our life is united to that of Christ. When we pray it,
we carry everything to God: troubles, wounds, fears, but also joys, gifts, our
loved ones… everything to God.”
Pope Francis recounts that he himself “frequently prays the
Rosary in front of a mosaic: a little mosaic of a Virgin a Child, where it
looks as if Mary is in the centre, whereas in reality, using her hands, she
becomes a sort of ladder by which Jesus descends amongst us.
When we pray the Rosary, the Pope explains, “we address the
Virgin Mary so that she brings us closer and closer to her Son Jesus, to know
and love Him more and more. And while we repeat “Ave, Maria”, we meditate on
the mysteries, the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious moments of the life
of Christ, but also of our own life, because we are walking with the Lord.”
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee, blessed art Thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of the Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee, blessed art Thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of the Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
POPE PIUS X (1903 to 1914), wrote:
“Give me and army which recites the Rosary and I shall conquer the world.” “Of all prayers it is the most lovely, the richest in grace, that which most pleases the Holy Virgin.”
POPE PAUL VI (1963 to 1978), in his exhortation of 1974 wrote:
“The evangelical nature of the Rosary, centred upon the redemptive mystery of the Incarnation, has thus a truly Christological orientation.” The Jesus of each successive Ave Maria is that same Jesus which the succession of the mysteries presents to us one by one…” "My preferred prayer, by its simplicity and its depth.” “Let us be assiduous in reciting the rosary, both in the church community as well as in the intimacy of our families.”
May every member of our beloved Order of Malta take the Popes' message of heart in the spirit of Tuitio Fidei; we hold in our hand a sacred weapon more finely-honed than any sword; thereby shall we defeat the Enemy.
Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Ta' Pinu, pray for us.
Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God,
cast down into hell Satan and all the wicked spirits
who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(Translations: Grand Priory of England)
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