The Rosary is a form of prayer that is suitable for all, whatever their intellectual ability, social circumstances or culture. It is essentially a way of meditating simply on the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the company of Our Lady, asking for her intercession to assist our prayers and purify them.

The fifteen mysteries of the Rosary are rooted firmly in the Gospel. We ponder how Our Lord taught us by his words, demonstrated God’s love by His miracles, and redeemed us by His redeeming sacrifice on the Cross, rising again to bring eternal life to us.

As a form of prayer, the Rosary has been particularly recommended by Our Lady. We note especially the giving of the Rosary to St Dominic, the saving of Christian Europe at various times, and the message which our Immaculate Mother gave to the children of Fatima.

In 1571, St Pius V invoked the help of Our Lady in the Rosary against the aggression of the Ottoman force which threatened Christianity. Today, we have many urgent and pressing needs for which it is right to invoke the help of Our Lady through the means of prayer that she has encouraged us to use.

One of the most powerful uses of the Rosary is to say it together as a family. The fifteen minutes that it takes are not much when we consider how much time we spend on other things, yet the benefits of praying together in this way are incalculable. May Our Lady bring many families closer to Christ through this prayer.