Praying the Rosary for Peace

By Cedric Prakash, SJ

On 13 October 1917, when the Virgin Mary appeared for the sixth and final time in Fatima, Portugal, to the three shepherd children Lucia, Francis and Jacinta, she identified herself as ‘The Lady of the Rosary’. She urged that the Rosary be prayed daily for peace in the world. Towards the end of the apparition, thousands witnessed an extraordinary spectacle called the ‘Miracle of the Sun.’

Every year, the Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the Holy Rosary, and on 7 October we celebrate the Feast of ‘Our Lady of the Rosary’. The word ‘rosary’ is derived from the Latin ‘Rosarium’, meaning a garland or bouquet of roses. It is today undoubtedly the most popular Catholic devotion in the world. The ‘rosary’ is a string of praying beads. Adherents of several major religions use it as a tool for contemplation, meditation or to stay focused on something spiritual. The Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs refer to it as a ‘japamala’ or simply ‘mala’; it is used when they chant or recite their mantras. Those who follow Islam call it ‘tasbih’ or ‘misbaha’. It has 99 beads (representing the 99 names of Allah) or are divided into 33 beads, which are cycled three times.

For Catholics, the Rosary is a set of prayer beads (totalling 59) strung together. It has five sections of ten beads (a decade) and a divider bead (totally four) for the gap. The top section has three beads with two additional divider beads. A cross or a crucifix is the end point of a rosary. Each decade of the rosary begins with the Lord’s Prayer (The ‘Our Father’) and ends with the ‘Glory’ to the triune God. There are ten ‘Hail Marys’ in each decade. The ‘Hail Mary’ (the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary) followed by the ‘Holy Mary’ (a prayer written in 1555 by the Jesuit St. Peter Canisius) is said 53 times during a set of mysteries of the Rosary).

The mysteries of the Rosary focus on the Gospel, through the life and witness of Mary. There are twenty events – five each in four segments called the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. They are:

• Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays): The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity (birth of Jesus), the Presentation in the Temple, and finding Jesus in the Temple.

• Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light (Thursdays): The Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. (These mysteries were added in October 2000 by Pope Saint John Paul II, through his apostolic letter ‘Rosarium Virginis Maria’ to encourage contemplation of Christ through His public mystery)

• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays): The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.

Mother, inspire the leaders of nations to seek paths of peace!

• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays, Sundays): The Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, and the Coronation of Mary.

Why is the Rosary an important prayer? As a daily devotion, the Rosary is meant to be a family prayer: to ensure greater spiritual depth and bonding in the family through a time-tested devotional practice. There are innumerable real life examples of how certain families, throughout the world, never missed this daily practice. One might be too tired and sleepy, but that did not matter. The family rosary was a must before one went to bed. Although there are still families who rigorously pray the rosary daily, this sadly is becoming a rarity; today the TV, which has been called ‘the idiot box’, one’s smartphone or tablet, takes centre stage.

Many families just do not seem to find the time for daily family prayer. This is a sad commentary on the fragmentation of family life. The Rosary Crusader, late Fr. Patrick Peyton used to say, “a family that prays together, stays together!”

In a nutshell, we can think of ‘Rosary’ as an acronym:

Remembrance: enabling us to remember significant moments in the life of Mary and Jesus

Openness: to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives

Synodality: as a way of proceeding, through communion, participation and mission

Availability: to understanding and responding to cries of the poor

Renewal: in matters of faith, so that we can come closer to God and his people

Yes: as Mary does, unconditionally to the will of God.

Queen of all peoples, reconcile your children, seduced by evil, blinded by power and hate!

This year, Pope Leo XIV has called on the faithful to pray the Rosary daily throughout October for world peace, reconciliation, and an end to all global conflicts. On 1 October, he began the month by praying the Rosary for peace with hundreds of children and families at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens. He placed a bouquet at the feet of Our Lady to begin the prayer. That day also was the launch of the annual global campaign (October 1–7) promoted by the Aid to the Church in Need foundation, which unites children worldwide to pray for peace, especially in war-torn regions like Gaza/Palestine, Iran, Ukraine, Manipur and elsewhere.

Three years ago, on 27 October 2023, Pope Francis presided over a special Prayer for Peace with the recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Eucharistic Adoration. His prayer concluded with these words, “Your faithful people call you the dawn of salvation; Mother, grant that glimmers of light may illumine the night of conflict. Dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit, inspire the leaders of nations to seek paths of peace. Queen of all peoples, reconcile your children, seduced by evil, blinded by power and hate. You, who are close to all, shorten our distances. You, who have compassion on everyone, teach us to care for one another. You, who reveal the Lord’s tender love, make us witnesses of his consolation and peace. Mother, Queen of Peace, pour forth into our hearts God’s gift of harmony. Amen.” The Rosary is indeed a prayer for peace. Let us pray the Rosary for peace in our families, our societies, our country and all over the world!

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