Reflections on the Rosary

By Fr. James Pierce Cavanaugh, OP

Promoter of the Most Holy Rosary Confraternity 

The Rosary is one of the most cherished devotions in the Catholic world. As the Provincial Promoter of the Rosary Confraternity, I’ve come to appreciate not only its central place in our Order’s spirituality, but its vital role in the New Evangelization. This past summer, I witnessed firsthand the power of the Rosary in the New Evangelization during the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

Alongside the Dominican Laity, Fr. Mike Ford and Br. John Steilberg, I helped to represent the Dominican Laity, the Shrine of St. Jude, and the Rosary Confraternity. Over the course of the event, we enrolled more than 200 people in the Confraternity and received pledges of 4,000 Rosaries for the intentions of the Eucharistic Congress. What stood out to me was how relevant our Dominican presence was, with our booth, along with that of the Vocations Promoters, being a central draw for many attendees, even among a veritable 'who's-who' of the contemporary American Church. 

St. Jude’s presence garnered excitement, but so did the Dominican Rosary blessing which we offered. As we celebrate the Month of the Holy Rosary, let us be reminded of the unique role this prayer has played, not only in the life of the Church, but especially in our Dominican tradition. We have a long history of promoting Marian devotion through the Rosary, and today, this prayer continues to be a bridge between the Church’s past and future. 

As we celebrate this month, let's take the cue 

of a Priestly Third Order member, St. Louis de Montfort, to "give to Jesus all we can possibly give him, and in the most perfect manner, that is, through Mary's hands." 

I invite you all to participate in my Word on Fire Institute course, "Evangelical Lessons of the Rosary"; you can even arrange for free access to the video course. Please contact me at jpcavanaughiv@gmail.com for more information.