Some Good Advice From Fr. Corapi

October: The Month of Mary and the Rosary

The month of October is one of my two favorite months. May is the other one. As you know the Church dedicates the month of October to Our Blessed Mother and the Rosary. The Church celebrates October 7th as the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast day has a long history, one worth knowing about. A very productive undertaking would be for you to look this up on the internet (Google, Yahoo, etc.) to learn about the history of this important celebration in Church history.

It is my personal opinion, one which is in accord with the mind of the Church, that you will profit very much by praying the holy Rosary every day. The prayer of the Rosary is the prayer of the holy Gospel, the Good News Who is Jesus. My best piece of spiritual advice to you, no matter who you are, president or plumber, priest or king...PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY! You will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.

Fr. John Corapi

As long as we are on the subject of praying the Rosary I would like to bring up a suggestion I 1st mentioned 2 years ago in a post on San Giuseppe. In it I talked about an encyclical, Quamquam Pluries, that Pope Leo XIII issued to spread greater devotion to St. Joseph. As a part of that effort he called for a special prayer to be said at the end of the Rosary during the month of October. He said: "We prescribe that during the whole month of October, after the recitation of the Rosary a prayer to St. Joseph be added and that this custom should be repeated every year."

Over time the prayer fell out of general use. But it doesn't mean it can no longer be used. In fact it should be prayed now more than ever. & not only during October. It should be said after the "Hail Holy Queen" & the "Rosary Prayer". (See How To Pray @ EWTN).

Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St. Joseph
To Be Said After the Rosary

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength.

O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

(Slightly different translation here)