Men need to pray and lead rosaries

Amid the normalcy of Jewish life in the hidden years of our Lord with the Holy Family, the prayer and worship life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph no doubt was as divine as it gets.

With St. Joseph as God’s chosen spouse of the Mother of God and the pillar of families, his example as our spiritual father guides us to work toward being more diligent in our prayer lives. His leadership asks us to do this in faith, with hope and love.

We aspire with much love in our prayer devotion as spiritual fathers to lift our hearts and raise our minds to God in prayer, bringing glory to domestic life. As St. Paul writes about the many “things” of love, “it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:7).

One of the most popular readings chosen by couples in the sacrament of matrimony, this “love chapter” perhaps gives us a glimpse of St. Joseph’s love for Jesus and the Blessed Mother, as protector of Christ and chaste guardian of the virgin. Striving to exhibit that kind of love is an important reason the rosary needs to be a regular devotion in every man’s prayer arsenal. It complements the contemplative qualities of spiritual motherhood to deepen love for Christ — starting and abiding at home.

Hence, our archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen prayer intention for October emphasizes the embrace of family life in the month of the Most Holy Rosary: “That families enliven the holy rosary in their daily practices — no matter how turbulent their lives may become — continuing to hold fast to their faith through the intercessory prayers of the Blessed Mother, which always lead us to Jesus.”

There are many reasons and needs to partake in this beautiful, biblical and powerful prayer of the Blessed Virgin. It is a transforming devotion that speaks of the joy, sorrow, light and glory of the Gospel messages that we can learn and live in our hearts. And Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, provides her love and prayers throughout — enhancing our knowledge of Jesus and bringing us closer to him.

Yes, all men, women and children need Mary to get to know Jesus better. A man especially needs her intercession through the rosary to assist him in being a better man and spiritual father — in a contemplative, yet active manner.

Imagine the example Mary was to St. Joseph as he worked to provide, protect and lead the Holy Family. We have the advantage of knowing and benefiting from this and much more — two centuries later — through the rosary and journey of mysteries.

Opportunities abound to be a stalwart rosary prayer warrior or leader. As I write, I’m listening to “Rosary Live” — one of many rosary apostolates accessible through social media — that people can pray with their family, friends or individually. A close friend of mine hosts it each evening (sometimes with his family members) reaching a broad and active audience. Hundreds of rosary advocates offer up their prayers for strength, healing and conversion — among many other petitions. There are many other small and large group rosary ministries and vigils in which people can pray and ask for the formidable intercession of the most powerful woman in the world.

In one of his many dynamic presentations, Blessed Fulton Sheen describes our Blessed Mother as “The Woman I Love.” He presents Mary figuratively as “God’s dream.” He explains vividly how God preexisted his own mother, and “therefore he would try to make her just as perfect as he could.” Immaculately conceived — “the new Eve” — she became the mother of God as a young girl because she promised through an angel to give God a human nature. Jesus became one of us as God incarnate, and St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother raised him as he “advanced in wisdom and in age and in favor before God and man” (Lk 2:52).

This truth of sacred Scripture, among many truths of our Lord and Savior that witness to his life, passion, death and resurrection, are found by praying the mysteries of the rosary. It is a powerful prayer men need to pray, lead and love.

Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Learn more about the Catholic Watchmen.