The Rosary: A Sure Way for Family Peace and Prosperity “It seems to me that a principal cause of the loss of faith is the dropping off in the practice of the family Rosary,” writes Fr. Hugh Thwaites, S.J., author of Our Glorious Faith and How To Lose It. Fr. Thwaites holds that God sent his mother to Fatima to tell us that we had to say the Rosary every day as a family. We mourn about the degradation of values among young people. We speak of a lack of vocation to religious life and to priesthood. All of these things happen due to lack of family prayer and specifically, lack of recitation of the Rosary. Pope Pius IX said, “Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.” The importance of reciting the Rosary every day is further emphasized by Pope Pius XI: “Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors." Pope St. John Paul II said, “How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening.” Sometimes we have a feeling that reciting the Rosary is something for older people, but Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI addressed youth: “Dear young people, I invite you to value this traditional Marian prayer which helps us to understand better the central moments of salvation realized by Christ.” I call upon all families to recite a Rosary every day during the month of October. Keep a special intention for the 30 days, and I am certain that the Blessed Mother Mary is going to answer your prayers. We are all certainly interested that our children keep our family traditions. One of the best family traditions our parents and grandparents had was going to Sunday Mass as a family and reciting the Rosary as a family every evening. I call upon you to join us at church at least on the special day the Rosary is dedicated for you and your family. I challenge the young children and young people to come for the Rosary to church all the 31 days. May His Name Be Glorified Fr. Tomi |