Prayer
October - The Month of the Rosary
October is a special month in the Catholic Church because it is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The Rosary is a beautiful prayer that helps us think about the life of Jesus and Mary. As we pray with the rosary beads, each bead reminds us of a prayer, and each group of ten beads (called a decade) helps us reflect on an important moment in Jesus’ life, known as a “mystery.”
When Mary appeared to children in places such as Fatima and Lourdes, she asked them to pray the Rosary. She promised that this prayer would bring peace to our hearts and to the world. Today, we still pray for peace — in our families, in our school, and across the world. When we pray even one decade of the Rosary, we are joining millions of people everywhere who are praying for peace too.
The Rosary is often called Mary’s gift to us because it helps us grow closer to Jesus and reminds us that we are never alone. Each time we pray, we ask Mary to pray with us and for us.
During October, you might like to pray one decade of the Rosary at home with your family. Even a few quiet minutes of prayer can fill our hearts with peace, joy, and the love of God.
How to Pray One Decade of the Rosary
- Start with the Sign of the Cross
- Say one Our Father
- Say ten Hail Marys
- Say one Glory Be
- Finish with the Sign of the Cross
The Rosary ends with 'Hail, Holy Queen,' which comes from the ancient tradition of monks concluding their communal prayer with the Salve Regina (a Latin chant of the Hail, Holy Queen). Reminded that Jesus is given to us through his Mother Mary, we give thanks to God for Mary’s participation in all of the saving events of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection.
Let us Pray,
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this,
our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.