To be honest I have been thinking about this reflection for months. Each morning I dedicate a Rosary for peace in the Ukraine. The Rosary that I presently use was a Rosary my Grandfather, Ted Bickel, purchased in an antique store is Dodge City, KS sometime in the early 1950’s. The picture above is a stock photo and not the actual Rosary. He was on a business trip for some unknown reason and stopped at this antique store and purchase this super long rosary. It measures 28 inches from the middle of the 3rd decade to the tip of the cross. It is old and beautifully constructed with brass metal chains and wooden beads.
The beauty of an old Rosary is the number of prayers said on it and the hands of the holy people that used it to pray. When I use this Rosary, I feel the prayers of all those before me who used it. I feel blessed to use it in my daily prayers. It is only a tool but a relic of many faithful hands that have used it to give Glory to God.
We start the Rosary with the Apostles Creed. A Sunday Visitor Article from 08/12/2021 give the following quote. “Fundamentally, the creed is a profession of faith in God as revealed by Jesus, so it includes articles about each of the three persons of the Trinity and the principle truths that follow this belief. In short, the creed summarizes what Christians believe and have believed since the time of Christ. The creed is also a rule or measure of faith since its articles are rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Communities of faith around the world can be confident in their profession when they adhere to the creed espoused by the whole Church. The creed also acts as a safeguard to the Faith, defending it against challenges and heresies.”
We next say an “Our Father” from Matthew Chapter 6 which is also known as the “Lords Prayer” taken directly from scripture.
Next we say a “Hail Mary” which is derived from a number of Scriptures: Luke1: 28 “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you”; Luke 1:41-42 “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Jesus); Luke 1:43″ (Holy Mary) Mother of God” ; and goes on to say” pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. “
Then we have the scriptural Mysteries of the Rosary, The Glorious, Joyful, Sorrowful and Luminous Mysteries. They are all based on the scriptural reflections on the life of Christ.
The whole process of saying a Rosary is scriptural and meditative. It is more complex and less a mechanical prayer as it is a dynamic and holy use of prayer. When I say a daily Rosary, the whole structure draws me into the life of Christ and Mary His Mother. My Rosary might be someone’s holy relic , but it is also a tool to transport the user into the life of Christ and Mary His Mother. It is a daily journey into the life of Christ and scripture.
Don’t let the simplicity or beauty of the Rosary fool you. It is a powerful tool to focus our prayer life. It is the beginning of a life of daily prayer. As I prayed my Rosary today, I thought of all those in the past like my Grandfather and my Mother who have used these simple beads to focus their life of prayer.
My prayer today is that you focus on the complex mysteries and use of the Rosary and see it as a beautiful scriptural compliment to your daily prayer.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for peace in the Ukraine. Pray for hurricane victims and pray for Cancer victims and there caregivers.
