The Rosary

This week’s edition of the Simply Lovely Fairs is being hosted by Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. 

Lotto Lorenzo, Madonna of the Rosary

This is the time of year where I am so eager to get back outside that spending time indoors seems almost a penance.  Fortunately for me this week looks like it will end up being sun kissed and warm.   One of our plans for the week (weather permitting) is to make a trip over to the The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother known around here as “The Grotto”. 

The Grotto is a beautiful garden of quiet and peace sat in urban Portland, Oregon.  One of the treasures of the Grotto is a Rosary garden. This garden contains a path that wonders through the grounds, around some water features with the three traditional sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious) represented, artfully rendered in (I believe bronze) relief work.   

One of the things I find ever so interesting about the Rosary is the way it is so personal.  I remember hearing a talk by Scott Hahn several years ago where he was speaking about the Church in Ephesus, how Mary live there for some time “Look there is Jesus mother, Mary.”   I found it just an amazing thought.

What would you ask her? What would you say if you suddenly had the opportunity to meet the woman who lived so close to  your God the one who gave birth to the Incarnation, who nursed Him, who was there at His first miracle and His last breath? What an astounding thing that would be.  And it is, and we can speak and ask and learn from Mary.  The Catholic understanding of death allows for there to be a connection to those who have died before us.  The communion of saints doesn’t end at the grave. 

The Rosary takes us there, through scripture and through prayer  we see Christ through His mother’s eyes.  We see him from the human perspective as a human saw him.  But not just any human, the first one to say, “Yes” to him.   

 
Francisco de Zurbarán, Madonna and Child