Mary in the Lives of Youth -Cl. Dominic Humtsoe

attributed the victory and saving of Christianity to the rosary. It was during the same century that when missionaries went through the whole world, they took the rosary and they taught the indigenous people about the Christian faith through the rosary. Now the rosary in itself covers many forms! Yes. The one which is very common and familiar is the five-decade rosary, which we pray: the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries. This rosary is called "The Dominican Rosary." There are other forms which include the Bridgetine Rosary, the Servite Rosary, andthe Seraphic (Franciscan) Rosary.Though the rosary was given to the Dominicans, the church remains grateful to the Franciscans for the word 'rosary.' It was a vision given to a Franciscan novice where our Lady compared praying the rosary as crowning her with roses. The rosary has an endorsement not only from Saints but also from Popes. The Rosary is one of the most powerful devotional prayers of the Church! This is evident throughout its history. The major events in history include The battle of Lepanto & The siege of Malta. This powerful devotion has also transformed the lives of many people one among them was Bartholo Longo, who was ordained a satanic priest (now a blessed of the Church) who went on to build the world's greatest Shrine dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary in Pompeii in Italy. Let us look at ourselves, how do I pray the rosary? Under compulsion? Let us make maximum efforts to make this prayer our own and cherish it. Let us use the numerous indulgences which the Church offers us by these blessed beads and help the holy souls in purgatory. Cl. Winston Pinto

Mary in the Life of Jesus

Mary played an important role, in the Father`s mission, in the life of Jesus, first and foremost by accepting God`s invitation to be the Mother of his Son. The Earthly Life of Jesus began and ended with Mary, from the Annunciation to the Cross. The ‘Fiat’ marked the beginning of Jesus`s salvation ministry. Thus, Mary`s Faith in God made her see the “impossible as possible.” This was how the Angel Gabriel reassured her. When the woman in the crowd appreciated the blood relationship between Jesus and his mother, Jesus pointed out a different type of relationship that is of ‘listening to the Word and keeping it. Heavenly relationships are based on the reception of the Word. The relationship between Jesus and his Mother was not merely physical in nature, but spiritual. Mary represents the ‘good soil’ of the parable of the Sower, where the Word is received, nurtured and produced abundant fruit. Mary was always by Jesus`s side physically and spiritually. From the Annunciation, Mary was already in line with Jesus`s salvation ministry. This went on till Jesus`s passion and death. Her visit to Elizabeth marked the first sign of her union with her Son. She gave the joy of Jesus to Elizabeth. This can be seen when they had found Jesus in the Temple, for He said to them, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father`s house” (LK 2:49). They did not understand the Words of Jesus. Mary said nothing, but she

treasured his Words in her heart. In the public life of Jesus, Mary made significant appearances. This is very much known at the very beginning when she was moved with pity at the very marriage feast at Cana, and her intercession brought about the beginning of miracles of Jesus. Mary advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, her loyalty to the Father kept her in union with her Son unto the Cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, suffering grievously with her only-begotten Son. Finally, Jesus gave her a Mother to his disciple, this He did when He said, “Woman, behold your Son” (Jn 19:26). In her life, Mary reflects even on the smallest sign of God, pondering them in her heart. She is a disciple who is an active witness of that love that builds up Christ in people`s hearts, the joy of the mission that she carried upon. She gives us the same love that she has given to Jesus, for she is our Heavenly Mother given by Jesus at the Cross. As a mother, she understands her children… St Vincent de Paul says, “Each of our days is marked with the protection of Mary, who is exceedingly anxious to be our Mother when we desire to be her children."She guides us; stand by us throughout our life, in Joy or Sorrow, success or failure she is by our side always as she had been to Jesus. She is interceding for us. In the Hail Mary, we pray, "And blessed is the fruit of your womb." She gives us Jesus the fruit. St Alphonsus de Liguori says, "Whoever desires the fruit must go to the tree” which means “whoever desires Jesus must go to Mary: and whoever finds Mary will most certainly find Jesus.”

May we not be afraid to take Mary, our Blessed Mother, into the home of our hearts? She has that specific mission of loving us, received from Jesus on the Cross, to love us, to save us! Mary consoles us above all by pointing out the Crucified One and Paradise to us. DD Express 8