From the beginning of his Papacy, Pope Francis, has been giving us a continual catechesis on the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the first day as the Bishop of Rome, he went to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and offered flowers to the Blessed Mother. Since that first trip, he has been back twice now. Just like his predecessors, he has a deep love for the Blessed Mother and continues to direct us on how we are to love her more.

This past Thursday for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass outside the Papal Residence at Castel Gandolfo. Focusing his attention on more catechesis of the Blessed Mother, he encouraged us to pray the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary everyday.  He said, “Mary joins us, she fights at our side. She supports Christians in the fight against the forces of evil. Especially through prayer, through the rosary.” Many of the great Popes and Saints of the Church over the centuries had a devotion to the Rosary.

Saint Louis De Monfort said there were 7 benefits of praying and meditating on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary – 

1. The Holy Rosary gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. The Holy Rosary purifies our souls, washing away sin.
3. The Holy Rosary gives us victory over all our enemies (St. Pio of Pietrelcina – the Rosary is the greatest weapon against the devil).
4. The Holy Rosary makes it easier to practice virtue.
5. The Holy Rosary sets us on fire with love of Our Blessed Lord.
6. The Holy Rosary enriches us with graces and merits.
7. The Holy Rosary supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow man, and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God.

This Thursday we will celebrate the Queenship of Mary. As Queen, one of her duties is to intercede for us. She is our Advocate. On this role of Mary in relation to the Rosary, Blessed John Paul II said, “When in the Rosary we plead with Mary, the sanctuary of the Holy (cf. Lk 1:35), she intercedes for us before the Father, who filled her grace, and before the Son born of her womb, praying with us and for us” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae).

During this week, I would encourage you to pray the Rosary and form a habit of praying it everyday. If you can’t pray all five mysteries at one time, it’s okay to break it up during the day. Make the effort to pray the greatest Marian Prayer and hear the call from our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Our Lady of the Rosary…Pray For Us!