The Importance of the Rosary and the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sermon notes for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, October 9, 2022
Friday (October 7) having been the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and this coming Tuesday (October 11) being the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin the sermon today was about the importance of the Rosary and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to our salvation.
We must pray the Rosary and pray it well every day but how do we do that?
Our Lord said, “See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
The Seraphim, the highest of all the angels, have as their job the adoring and glorifying of God. And because of this they are always before the beatific vision.
Is it possible to give glory to God without the beatific vision? Yes, through the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With these facts in mind then, take on the mysteries of the Rosary and pray them with greater adoration than all the rest and offer it up through Mary in glory and adoration of God.
St. Louis De Montfort in his True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin (Part II, Fifth Motive, No. 2) tells us of devotion to the Blessed Mother of God:
“This devotion is a secure means of going to Jesus Christ because it is the very characteristic of our Blessed Lady to conduct us surely to Jesus, just as it is the very characteristic of Jesus to conduct us surely to the Eternal Father.”
Also, the book Theology of Christian Perfections states, “the least action of the Blessed Virgin Mary was more meritorious than all the angels and martyrs combined.”
Mary’s intercession is so great because she is the Mother of God. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen rightly pointed out about those who are anti-Mary, that they have not attacked Mary first but Jesus.
Consider Fathers of other great movements. Could anyone name their mothers? No, only the Mother of Jesus is held in such great esteem and reverence because she, through her fiat, brought the savior into the world.
To hold to the error that Jesus was only a man is a blaspheme and is anathema to the Catholic Faith. Mary was more than a mother of a man, she was mother to the Savior, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
This was the heresy of the Assisi prayer meeting in 1986 where Jesus was held up as just one of many paths to God. But we hold in the Catholic faith the entire truth that Jesus was not just a man but the True God. Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God and is giving special graces due to her privileged position.
So, to pray the Rosary well do the following:
Go to Mary before praying the Rosary and ask her to perfect your prayers and that she might offer them up to God for you. Reflect on the first Joyful Mystery where Gabriel proclaims, “Blessed are you among women.” When Mary presents your prayers to Jesus, they are made perfect.
Mediate on the Holy Scripture. Most of the mysteries are found in the Bible. Ask the Holy Ghost and Mary to help you see and understand the mysteries. If you pray and ask for this enlightenment you will get it.
In conclusion, Mary as the Mother of God is the path that will lead you to Jesus. Through her relation to God as spouse of the Holy Ghost and mother of the Son of God, Mary is in a privileged position to intercede on our behalf, delivering our prayers to God and perfecting them. Turn to Mary through her Holy Rosary, reflect on the meaning of the Mysteries, and always place yourself, and those you love, in her protective care.