October

The Month of Our Lady of the Rosary

+J.M.J.+
©Catholic Online 2004
by Monsignor Charles M. Mangan

It is well-known that the Church “dedicates” both May and October to the remembrance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May’s commemoration is more general the Mother of God in all her splendor, whereas October’s is quite specific—Mary under her glorious title of “Our Lady of the Rosary.” This makes eminent sense. Before we venerate the Madonna, we must first know who she is. Before we lift our voices in the prayerful recitation of the Holy Rosary, which is insightfully hailed as “the Gospel in miniature,” we must know to whom we turn.

The focus on Mary during the second full month of spring may be likened to a student’s first two years at the university where he is enrolled in certain “core” classes: English, history, science, etc. October’s concentration on Our Lady and her Holy Rosary is similar to the business, philosophy or teaching-inclined collegian who “specializes” in his particular discipline during the last two years.

The Holy Rosary takes on deeper meaning when we come to acknowledge Our Blessed Mother and how she is related to her Divine Son and His Chosen Bride, the Church.

Father Luigi Gambero, an Italian Marianist priest who has considerable expertise in the study of the Fathers of the Church, identifies dozens of passages regarding Mary and her singular mission which were written in the early centuries immediately after the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought, Father Gambero demonstrates that our filial love for the Ever-Virgin Mother of the Savior and our sincere devotion to “telling the beads” are deeply rooted in the history, theology and practice of the Church.

For example, Saint Peter Chrysologus (c.380-c.450), Bishop and Doctor, whose Feast is July 30, was convinced of the necessity of devotion to Mary. He penned these words almost 1,600 years ago: “He who is not awestruck by this Virgin’s spirit and who does not admire her soul is ignorant of how great God is. Heaven trembles, angels quake, creation cannot bear it, nature is helpless—yet a girl carries God in her womb; she receives Him into herself and offers Him a dwelling place.”

For Saint Peter Chrysologus, such a truth evident in the following demands that the faithful everywhere honor that fair woman we salute in the Litany of Loreto as “the Cause of our Joy”: “Truly blessed is she who was greater than the heavens, stronger than the earth, vaster than the globe. For she alone contained within herself that God Whom the world cannot contain: she bore Him Who bears the world; she gave birth to her Father; she nursed Him Who nurtures every living thing.”

One may argue: “I don’t find anything in this text—or, for that matter, in any works of the Church Fathers—which advocates the praying of the Rosary, which is, after all, a much later development in Christian piety.”

Yes, the Rosary is a “later development.” Nevertheless, Saint Peter Chrysologus and the other Fathers of the Church lay the essential foundation. It is right and just that we invoke the Mother of the Master. She is close to Him in Paradise as she was here on earth. The Rosary is the ideal prayer. Pope John Paul II has conceded that it is his “favorite” prayer.

This excellent book, Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic thought provides salutary reflection especially in this month of Our Dear Mother whom we venerate with our Rosaries in hand.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!

Blessing of Animals 

by Kevin E. Mackin, O.F.M.

As autumn arrives, people in various places may notice something odd.

A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets.

This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures.

Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.

Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat!

That there are today over 62 million cats in the U.S. attests to the continuing affection we have for our furry, feathered or finned friends. We've even had a cat called Socks in the White House. Other popular presidential pets range from Abraham Lincoln’s Fido to Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, named Him and Her.

For single householders, a pet can be a true companion. Many people arrive home from work to find a furry friend overjoyed at their return. Many a senior has a lap filled with a purring fellow creature.

The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love.

No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated.

At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

As the prayer is offered, the pet is gently sprinkled with holy water. Believe it or not, most pets receive this sacramental spritz with dignity, though I must admit I have seen some cats flatten their ears a bit as the drops of water lightly pelt them.

But the owner is happy, and who knows what spiritual benefits may result?

Usually the Blessing of Pets is held outdoors. But I remember it rained one year, and all were invited inside St. Stephen’s Church in Manhattan. It was quite a sight to see pairs of creatures—one human, one animal—sitting in the pews. The pastor joined right in with his beagle. Noah’s Ark was never like this!

Some people criticize the amount and cost of care given to pets. People are more important, they say. Care for poor of poodles. And certainly our needy fellow humans should not be neglected.

Some people criticize the amount and cost of care given to pets. People are more important, they say. Care for poor people instead 

However, I believe every creature is important. The love we give to a pet, and receive from a pet, can draw us more deeply into the larger circle of life, into the wonder of our common relationship to our Creator.

Kevin E. Mackin, O.F.M., is a Franciscan of the Holy Name Province.
Image © 2011 Captain Jack

Prayer of Saint Francis for Animals
God Our Heavenly Father,
You created the world
to serve humanity's needs
and to lead them to You.
By our own fault
we have lost the beautiful relationship
which we once had with all your creation.
Help us to see
that by restoring our relationship with You
we will also restore it
with all Your creation.
Give us the grace
to see all animals as gifts from You
and to treat them with respect
for they are Your creation.

We pray for all animals
who are suffering as a result of our neglect.
May the order You originally established
be once again restored to the whole world
through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary,
the prayers of Saint Francis
and the merits of Your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Who lives and reigns with You
now and forever. Amen.
St. Francis of Assisi, additions added later

Prayer for Mary's Intercession by St. Francis of Assisi

Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like Thee born in the world among women, Daughter and Handmaid of the Most Highest King, the Heavenly Father, Mother of Our Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit:

Pray for us with St. Michael the Archangel and all the powers of Heaven and all the Saints before Thy Most Holy and Beloved Son, the Lord and Master.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, ...

Like Father Francis, I too have a great devotion to our Blessed Mother. As I was surfing the web, I came across a website from the Rosary Army. The Rosary Army is a non-profit Catholic organization that originally started solely as an apostolate dedicated to making, praying, and giving away all-twine knotted Rosaries and encouraging others to do the same. Well needless to say, I thought it was an awesome idea. What a great way to promote prayer and say thank you to our Blessed Mother  who has done so much for me! I watched the video and learned how to make knotted Rosaries! So far, I have given away over 35 rosaries since September.  I have become a Rosary Army Soldier! If you wish to receive a knotted rosary, please give me a call!  If you are interested in becoming a Rosary Army soldier you can visit their website:www.rosaryarmy.com

 So on this Month of the Rosary, I encourage you, to pray the Rosary everyday, enabling you to find peace and serenity in your life just I have found!

Pax Et Bonum!

Frances

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