Increase our faith – the Apostles asked Jesus. They understood how important their faith was. Today when we listen to the Gospel we may reflect on how we treat our faith. Is it our primary focus or rather is it a secondary concern or an afterthought? Does my faith have a real influence on my life or rather does my life affect my faith? These and similar questions may help us to treat our faith seriously.

A few days ago, we began the month of October; a Marian month dedicated in a special way to Our Lady of The Holy Rosary. Every day numerous people throughout the world pray the Rosary. According to pious tradition, in 1214 the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, through an apparition of the Blessed Virgin. Through the influence of Pope Leo XIII, often called the Rosary Pope, this simple prayer was spread widely. He issued 12 encyclical and 5 apostolic letters on the Rosary, instituted the custom of daily Rosary prayer in the month of October and added the invocation Queen of the Most Holy Rosary to the Litany of Loreto. Pope St. John Paul II in 2002 recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries to the 15 Rosary mysteries, so now we have 20 mysteries of the Rosary.

In keeping with this theme, this Monday we observe the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1571, Pope Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate the victory over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto. 2 years later, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title of the feast to the feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1716, Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church and in 1960, Pope St. John XXIII changed the title to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

On Friday, October 11th, we hold the memorial of Saint John XXIII, Pope. His pontificate, which lasted less than 5 years, presented him as a true image of the Good Shepherd. He summoned the Second Vatican Council and was called the Good Pope. John XXIII died on June 3rd, 1963 and was canonized on April 27th, 2014 along with Pope John Paul II. His liturgical memorial is held on the day when the first session of the Second Vatican Council was opened.

Finally, Today we welcome in our parish the Heralds of the Gospel!

Our Lady of the Rosary – pray for us!

God Bless

Fr. Peter