The Rosary is often the only method for persecuted Christians to hang onto the Faith and pass it down to their children

On a journey to Kyrgyzstan two years ago as part of my work with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ work to aid the Church in formerly Soviet countries, I met an elderly woman who had witnessed the brutal communist takeover of her village.

Soldiers burned down the church, shot the priest, and religion was outlawed from that point forward.

This woman would secretly gather the villagers in her home after dark and they would pray the Rosary together.

They had no priest, no sacraments, no Scriptures, and very little hope for the future.  

Meditating on the mysteries, praying the “Our Fathers” and the “Hail Marys” gave them hope, grace, courage, and perseverance.

The Rosary was the only method these persecuted Christians had to hang onto the Faith and pass it down to their children.

This reflection is leading to a request to you from me. If you do not already do so, I encourage you to start praying the Rosary on a daily basis.

It only takes about 15 minutes, it is profoundly efficacious in both our understanding and practice of the Faith, it is an assured path to greater holiness and love, the saints all promote it, and Mary herself promises that it will help us in our problems and sorrows, as we make our way to the Father’s house.

(...) Imagine if every Catholic in our diocese was praying every day for the evangelizing fruitfulness of our efforts to prepare our already engaged Catholics to go forth and witness the love of Christ to those who have no practical relationship with the Church.

Enlisting the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this ongoing effort will ensure the graces we need to be missionary disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishop Donald J. Hying, October 6, 2021

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