St. Patrick’s Holds Marian Procession; Rosary Explained
Blessed Mother Honored… More than 100 parishioners of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church took part in a Marian Procession through the streets of Holden on Sunday, October 30, in honor of The Month of the Holy Rosary. Children of the parish honored the Virgin Mother by offering beautiful red roses to her. A potluck dinner was held following the procession at the parish hall. Photo by Lisa Arnold
On Sunday, October 30, parishioners of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church held a Marian Procession through the streets of the Holden community, after Sunday Mass.
The procession was in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of Jesus, during the Month of the Rosary. With approximately 100 Catholics participating in the procession, parishioners wanted the community to understand the reason for the celebration.
Contrary to incorrect information that is prevalent about the Catholic faith, parishioners honor the Blessed Mother, but do not worship her. Catholics believe that worship is due to God the Father, and His Son, alone.
During the procession, Father Curt Vogel and Deacon Morgan led the celebration, as four parishioners humbly and respectfully carried the newly constructed and beautifully decorated bier, which was holding a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group processed for one mile, to honor the Mother of Jesus, while praying the Rosary.
Many protestant denominations do not understand the practice of praying the Rosary, and your Catholic neighbors wish to explain the significance of the meditation.
Catholic tradition holds that the practice of praying the Rosary as we know it today dates back to the 13th Century, when it is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic de Guzman in a vision. The practice of keeping track of prayers with the aid of beads or knotted ropes is an ancient tradition that spans several centuries and religions.
Even before the birth of Jesus, it was customary for worshippers across the globe to repeat prayers in a certain pattern and keep count of those prayers with the use of rocks or some other object.
After Christ’s ministry on earth and His glorious Resurrection, St. Paul urged believers to continue praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
The purpose of the Catholic Rosary is simple – to teach the faithful about the lives of Jesus and Mary through prayer and contemplation.
Although the purpose of the Rosary is straightforward enough, the Biblical events we are asked to focus on are called “mysteries,” because they go to the heart of Jesus’ miraculous birth, His ministry and Resurrection, and Mary’s role in salvation history.
The repetition of prayers during the Rosary is meant to block out the noise of our daily lives and encourage us to peacefully reflect on the mystery being prayed over.
The word “rosary” comes from the Latin…
See Full Story In This Week’s Image.
