Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As May begins, a month when traditionally the Catholic Church honors Mary the Mother of Jesus, Pope Francis has encouraged all the Catholic faithful to embrace the month-long Marian devotion as they rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary.
“I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually. You can decide according to your own situation, making the most of both opportunities,” Pope Francis stated in a letter addressed to all the faithful, Saturday April 25, 2020.
He observed that the directives given by governments in various countries due to Coronavirus pandemic including “staying at home” is an opportunity for families to strengthen their spiritual life together.
“The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view,” The Pope said and added, “It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family.”
In the letter the Pope states, “contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial.”
Explaining about his letter to the faithful in a video clip a day later the Pope said, “Our Mother will help us confront with more faith and hope this trial that we are living.”
Pope Francis has also included two prayers to Our Lady to be recited at the end of the Rosary though the month of May.
The first prayer is an entrustment of oneself to Mary for her protection during the pandemic while seeking the grace to be conformed to the will of God.
The second prayer seeks Mary’ intercession for the sick, the families affected and those in the frontline of the combat against the disease and are risking their lives to serve others, more especially the doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers.
