Friday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Our Lady of the Rosary

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:56-58 Humility

Mass: Gal 3:7-14; Resp Ps 111; Lk 11:15-26

Majesty and glory are His work.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

PRAY FOR US.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Welcome to the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, on the first Friday of the month of October, devoted to the Most Holy Rosary. In brief, today's commemoration, in honor of Our Lady of Victories, was instituted by Pope Pius V (1504-1572, Pontificate 1566-1572) to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. This victory was due in large part to the faithful praying the Rosary. One of the best things to do today, and throughout this month is to pray the rosary. Pope Leo XIII* gives us reason enough. Pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary, to seek for peace in her maternal goodness; showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God. And truly the Immaculate Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of God and thereby associated with Him in the work of man's salvation, has a favour and power with her Son greater than any human or angelic creature has ever obtained, or ever can gain. And, as it is her greatest pleasure to grant her help and comfort to those who seek her, it cannot be doubted that she would deign, and even be anxious, to receive the aspirations of the universal Church.

(Pope Leo XIII, Supremi apostolatus officio, 2)

*NB. Fun Fact: Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903, Pontificate 1879-1903), wrote twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters on the rosary. You can find them on www.vatican.va. In the last one, Diuturni temporis, given in 1898, the Holy Father wrote: "We have never ceased to encourage the constant use of the Rosary among Christians, by publishing every year since September 1, 1883, an Encyclical Letter on this subject, besides frequently issuing Decrees on this subject" (2). You can learn the history about the devotion to the Most Holy Rosary in paragraph 4 of the first encyclical, Supremi apostolatus officio, given in 1883. Thank you, Pope Leo XIII.

Today's photo: Gracious and merciful is the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022