Saturday, October 3, 2020

The Annunciation is March 25 in the liturgical calendar. It is a principal feast of the church, and when it falls during Lent, we may observe the feast by setting aside our Lenten disciplines for the day. This year at St. Mark’s we were not able to celebrate this feast as grand as we have before. Annunciation 2019 was celebrated with a beautiful sung mass followed by dinner with a liturgical trivia night hosted by the rector. Those of you that attended might remember the following trivia question: “What five practices historically constitute full catholic privileges in an Episcopal Church?” Do you remember the answer? I will give you only one part of the answer - Marian devotions.

It has been difficult for many Anglo-Catholic parishes to keep the five privileges this year due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, Marian devotions have continued at St. Mark’s during corporate worship via Zoom as we pray the Rosary. It has also been part of my personal prayer life for many years.

In Matthew 6:7 Jesus teaches us how to pray. “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.” When you say the Rosary there are many repetitions of the Hail Mary, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Gloria Patri. They could become a heap of empty words, but there is more to praying the Rosary than just repeating the words of these prayers.

The Rosary is like a beautiful icon or statue of Mary and Child. The Blessed Mother is showing us to always look towards Jesus. Jesus shows us with his gaze to look towards his mother with love. The Rosary is a type of confession, beginning with the Apostles’ Creed. It is the prayer of Jesus, using the words of the Lord’s Prayer, taught to us by Jesus himself. The Rosary is a hymn of praise due to the Gloria Patris. The Rosary is a mystical meditation due to the repetitions of the Hail Marys, calling us to remember Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, saying yes to God’s call for each of us. And the mysteries of the Holy Rosary are scriptural, taking us through a journey of the lives of Jesus and Mary, beginning at the conception when Mary says “yes” to being the Mother of God, to Jesus’ birth, to his ministry among the people, ending gloriously with his death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification. The Rosary also celebrates the assumption of Mary, signifying the inheritance awaiting all of us when we meet Christ our true Lord.

As part of my spiritual discipline, I set aside a specific time to pray the Rosary, but I also often say it anywhere, such as when I am stuck in traffic on Likelike Highway! During such times, I use my fingers instead of rosary beads to count the decades. The reflection on the mysteries reminds me of Jesus’ love, and how wonderful it is to have a God that loves us so much. The rhythm of the prayers and the feeling of the beads or my fingers gives me a peace that takes away the stress in my life. Meditating on the mysteries gives me an opportunity to look at my life through the day. Have I been willing to say “yes” to whatever God wants from me? What miracles have I seen today? How have I been obedient like Jesus? How have I shared Jesus’ love? Have I prayed for others as the Blessed Mother prays for us sinners? Have I been forgiving to someone that has wronged me today? Have I tried to make changes in my life for Jesus, as he has given so much for me? The Rosary simply brings me closer to our Lord and the Virgin Mary.

If you have not tried praying the Rosary, I recommend you try it when it is scheduled at St. Mark’s. You do not necessarily need the prayer beads. You may use one of the many online options, or even your fingers to keep track of where you are with the prayers. There are resources such as St. Augustine’s Prayerbook, as well as pictures and diagrams that can help you with the meditations on the mysteries. After some practice you will feel more comfortable saying the Rosary. You too will be able to feel the peace and comfort of being with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary through praying the Holy Rosary.

Sandra Leialoha