Walking Through Christ’s Life with Mary – Oct 07 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 07, 2025, where he explores the significance of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, its historical roots, the power and structure of the rosary, and how its mysteries parallel stages of spiritual life, encouraging daily prayer with Mary.

Father discusses the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, originally the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, commemorating the 1571 Battle of Lepanto victory attributed to Mary's intercession via the rosary. He references St. Louis de Montfort's view that the rosary is the most powerful prayer after the Mass. Father explains the rosary as a 'rose garden,' with beads as roses forming a crown for Mary. The four sets of mysteries—joyful, luminous, sorrowful, glorious—walk through Jesus and Mary's lives, from conception to coronation. Quoting Pope St. John Paul II's Rosarium Virginis Mariae, he notes the rosary as a compendium of the Gospel, contemplating Christ's face with Mary. Father connects the mysteries to spiritual growth stages: joyful to initial conversion (purgative), luminous to virtue-building (illuminative), sorrowful to dark nights of trial, glorious to unitive stage led by the Holy Spirit, echoing Pentecost in 'Acts 2: 1-4'. He cites 'Galatians 2: 20' where St. Paul says, 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' Father describes the rosary as hand-in-hand with Mary, receiving grace from her. He advises praying meditatively or contemplatively, focusing on mysteries or presence, and to pray despite distractions. Father recommends reading Rosarium Virginis Mariae and daily rosary prayer for conformity to Christ. Regarding sacraments, he explains baptism and confirmation for the Holy Spirit to conform us to Christ, implicitly relating to 'CCC 1213' on baptism and 'CCC 1303' on confirmation's effects. This framework ties the rosary to our personal spiritual journeys.

For Further Reading
Galatians 2: 20 - NAB - Christ lives in me - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/2?20
Acts 2: 1-4 - NAB - Descent of the Holy Spirit - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?1
Rosarium Virginis Mariae - Apostolic Letter on the Rosary - https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html
The Secret of the Rosary - Book by St. Louis de Montfort - https://www.ecatholic2000.com/montfort/rosary/rosary.shtml
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1213 - Baptism as gateway sacrament - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1213
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1303 - Effects of Confirmation - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a2.htm#1302
Catechism of the Catholic Church #971 - Devotion to the Blessed Virgin - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm#971
Wikipedia - Battle of Lepanto - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lepanto
Franciscan Media - Our Lady of the Rosary - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/our-lady-of-the-rosary
Catholic Answers - The Rosary - https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-rosary

Ave Maria!

Mass: Our Lady of the Rosary - Mem - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13189a.htm
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100725.cfm
1st: act 1:12-14
Resp: luk 1:46-55
Gsp: luk 1:26-38

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1172

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