We are all quite familiar with the saying, "the eyes are the windows of the soul." Upon meeting a familiar face or a complete stranger, we can learn a great deal about a person’s state of mind simply by observing their eyes. When we live closely with someone over time, we come to understand their inner dispositions at any given moment through that same penetrating gaze. No one spent more time gazing upon her son Jesus than Mary did, so her insights into his life—both as a child and as an adult—are invaluable, since she witnessed all the events of his life.
The rosary enables us, through Mary’s eyes, to walk closely with her and experience what it was like for Jesus to be human, with all its joys, sorrows, and frustrations. Mary reminds us in each decade of the lessons Jesus’ life teaches, guiding us as she journeyed with him on his earthly pilgrimage. One of the great gifts God has given us is imagination, and the rosary offers the opportunity—through Mary’s vision—to be present with her as she experienced these sacred events. In this way, time is erased, and her hands guide us through the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption.
In the Joyful Mysteries, she shares with us how God asked her to accept His will so that when great sorrow came, she would have the courage to endure the greatest suffering humanity can inflict. Yet the rosary does not end in sorrow; it culminates in the meditation on the Glorious Mysteries, which present to us the hope of Resurrection and eternal life in the presence of God.
As our fingers slip from one bead to another, let us find strength in Mary’s example to grow in acceptance, perseverance, and hope in our daily lives. To understand the significance of praying the rosary, we need only recall how often Mary has advocated for it—pleading with her earthly children at Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; Akita, Japan; Cuapa, Nicaragua; and Pompeii, Italy. Her message was always one of peace and conversion. In every case, Mary presents the recitation of the rosary as a powerful means of drawing closer to her Son.
As Pope Leo recently reminded us, merely owning a rosary—or displaying it—is not its essential purpose. Rather, it is meant to deepen our understanding of what it means to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Since contemplatia aliis tradere (meaning “to hand on to others the fruits of contemplation”) is a central part of the Dominican charism, the rosary and our meditation on its sacred mysteries should enable us to grow spiritually and share with others the richness of God’s inexhaustible love for us.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our congregational founding under the patronage of Our Lady of the Rosary, may we remain faithful to this devotion. The old saying, "repetition is the mother of all learning," reminds us that through the recitation of the rosary, we can deepen our vision and understanding of both the Incarnation and the Redemption—the very foundation of our faith.
– Sister Helen R. Boyd, OP
Sister Helen lives at Dominican Convent, actively contributing as a member of the Life Enrichment Committee, co-chair of the Mission Outreach Committee, and a preacher of the Word.