Mary teaches us to pray

During the apparitions in Lourdes and Fatima, the Virgin Mary was seen holding a rosary. These visions might suggest that Mary prays the Rosary to herself, which would be very strange given her characteristic humility.

Mary actually does not pray to herself—she is showing us how to pray. Here is the testimony of Saint Bernadette about Mary’s apparition in Lourdes:

"The Blessed Virgin passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers, silently. She joined me only to recite the Glory Be at the end of each decade. Mary insisted that we also "pray for those who live in sin."

In Fatima, ... Mary asked the children to recite the Rosary every day, "to end the war and bring peace to the world." There, too, she added, "Make sacrifices for those who live in sin."

It is obvious that the Virgin holds the rosary in her hands to encourage us to pray the Rosary. She does not recite all the Ave Marias, but kindly accompanies us, guiding our hesitant hands. Mary is an excellent teacher, and as Pope Francis so aptly says: "The Rosary helps us to pray, and to keep the faith!"

Philip Kosloski - Aleteia