Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice…Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Lk. 1:41-42)
St. Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, introduces to us the words that would be recited around the world throughout all future generations: the words of the holy rosary. What makes this our “secret weapon”? Were there not plenty of devout Jews praying long before there was a rosary in existence? And are there not plenty of other ways to pray? While that is all true, there is something specifically unique to the rosary that sets it apart from all other forms of prayer. Without getting into the promises associated with the rosary itself as a devotional, and without getting into a scholarly discussion about how the rosary is a prayerful way to meditate upon the life of Christ outlined in the Scriptures, there is one particularly unique aspect to the rosary that cannot be found with any other prayer, and for this reason, it is our lifeline to the Spirit.
When my mother passed away several years ago, her death came as the result of several long-term medical issues she had endured and was, therefore, somewhat expected. But when any loved one dies, there is always a “shock” at the realization that one will never see that loved one again, at least not on this side of eternity. The sorrow one feels at such loss can make it difficult to eat, to sleep, to read—and even to pray.
I remember seeing my mother lying in the casket; there were no words to be said at that moment; just tears. And as I left her side to give others a turn to view her body, I sat down on one of the seats lined against the wall. There was nothing for me to do. It was not like I could ask Jesus to heal her now, or to bring her back to life as He did Jairus’ daughter. Even if I thought Jesus would be inclined to grant such a request, deep down I knew my mom was now exactly where she wanted to be; in that, I had peace.
So, with a mournful emptiness in my heart, I grabbed my rosary and started praying silently alone. After a few Hail Marys in, my aunt said to me, “Pray out loud so we can join you.” Pray out loud? I was crying so much I could barely speak. But I did as she requested and began to lead the whole room in a tearful rosary. One by one, everyone joined in, until we were all praying together, in unison, “with one accord” (Acts 1:14).
A sweet serenity began to seep into that room and into our hearts. In that moment, I knew my mom was praying with us too.
If we ever wonder whether the rosary is simply a mindless prayer of “vain repetition” (Mt. 6:7), let us realize that the way to pray “of one heart and mind” as the early believers did (Acts 4:32) is if we are all praying the same thing. That is how the Holy Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness, “for we do not know how to pray as we ought” (Rom. 8:26). He has given us the way to pray as we ought—on a silver platter—by filling Elizabeth with the words and inspiring her to proclaim them loudly, so as to ensure that we would not forget. Then, when we pray as we ought, it is the Spirit Himself who prays in us and through us, addressing our needs in the best possible way, and blanketing our souls with His sweet serenity, calming our nerves and restoring our peace.
By praying the rosary in humble obedience, though perhaps we do not understand how this can be, the Spirit gives us the ability to understand interiorly that in the end, everything is going to be okay. The mother of our Savior is interceding on our behalf, whispering in her Son’s ear: Take care of this. This is what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as Elizabeth herself was on the day of Mary’s arrival. Suddenly, we are filled with a peace and understanding that we did not possess before, one which we have no other way of obtaining.
Elizabeth ends her proclamation to Mary with some of the most beautiful words we could possibly hear:
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. (Lk. 1:45)
Let us not just go to Mary for her help and guidance. Let us strive to be like Mary too. In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta, let us ask Mary to “lend us her heart,” and in return, let us give her ours. And then, let us believe that what the Lord speaks to our hearts will one day be fulfilled, just as it was for Mary.
Author’s Note: This article was adapted from a chapter in The Safe Haven: Scriptural Reflections for the Heart and Home (Advent/Christmas edition) and 26 Steps with the Mother of God: A Treatise on the Life of Mary.
Photo by Anna Hecker on Unsplash
