7 October 2020 - Our Lady of the Rosary - Wednesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Galatians 2:1-2; 7-14

       Today, we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary, as we hear from St Paul in his letter to the Galatians talk about his mission and challenges that he faced in his ministry to the Gentiles, to bring them the Good News and to incorporate them into the community of disciples of Christ.  Paul speaks very honestly, how after 14 years of ministry, he comes back to Jerusalem to share with the community leaders in Jerusalem the fruits of his ministry, as he knows that there are many who are still opposed in bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, especially when those Gentiles were not following the Jewish traditions.  Paul hopes that his efforts are not in vain, seeing the importance in being in harmony with the mother Church.  The leader in Jerusalem ultimately endorse his efforts, recognizing that just as Peter was called to bring Jews to Christ, God called Paul to be a special missionary to the Gentiles.  Paul mentions, too, that in his ministry, he is also called to be mindful of the poor. 

      With Paul mentioning harmony and unity, being in line with the mother Church and Church leaders, I think of Mary who we celebrate as Our Lady of the Rosary today, for Mary as our Mother alway calls us to unity and harmony.  And what better way to be united than in praying the rosary, uniting our prayers with the prayers of the Blessed Mother and with faithful all over the world who are also praying the words of the rosary. Today’s feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was established by Saint Pius V in 1573, thanking God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at the naval battle of Lepanto, where a coalition of Christian states defeated the navy of the Ottoman empire off the coast of Greece. This victory was attributed to the praying of the rosary. Many Christians can attest to the power of the rosary and how this prayer has helped them in their life of faith.  In 1716, Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church.  It is wonderful that we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary in the month of October that is dedicated to Mary and the Respect of Life.  Just last Saturday, I led two rosaries out in front of the abortion clinic in support of our Forty Days for Life, and also prayed the rosary at the bedside of a man at hospice.  Today, let unite our prayers with the prayers of the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Rosary.