In a way, it is to be expected. His mother had chosen to become Protestant and had brought along the children with her. And Protestants are well versed in all the things they can wage against the Catholic Faith. That was why, they were called Protestants. (First used during the Diet of Speyer in 1529). Martin Luther, though, had a devotion to Mother Mary and believes in her special role in God's plan. The Rosary is biblical and I'm sure bible readers would be aware of that but then, it is the one verse of the bible "vain repetitions" that is their case against the Rosary.
In Fatima, Mother Mary asked the children to pray the Rosary daily. Is it conceit on her part? Oh no! The humble handmaid of God knows that it is something that everyone can do. It is going through the Bible through the different events in the life of Jesus Christ. When Father Benedict Groeschel was bedridden years ago, almost dead and paralyzed from the auto accident, it was his fingers that could move to pray the Rosary. In the devastating earthquake in Baguio in 1989, one survivor prayed the Holy Rosary amidst the rubbles and almost imminent death. St. Bernadette Soubirous (visionary of Lourdes), though, uneducated can pray the Rosary as a child. Dominican missionaries in China was able to bring the Gospel to the Chinese through the Holy Rosary. Catholics in the Nazi death camp pray the Rosary by marking the wall. A mother prayed the Rosary using the fingers of her infant child as she lulls the child. Anyone can pray the Rosary.
Admittedly though, it is a difficult prayer to make in our world where we could go through many informations in an instant. Commercial messages are repeatedly sent to us through television in seconds. We want to keep busy in our body and mind. And here is the Rosary, 15 to 20 minutes for one mystery or one hour for the four mysteries. A few minutes that would require a stillness in one's body, mind and heart. Still, the distractions in the mind would come. So many thoughts would sneak in. Or when we finally can make way to a stillness of mind, it is the body that falls into slumber. Yes, for a few minutes to have our body, heart and mind solely focused in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not easy. Yet, this REPETITIOUS ATTEMPT is not in vain. In a way, the Holy Rosary is a pilgrimage into the Holy Land and beyond where ever you are. The steps may fumble now and then, but it gets us in the way. We will always remember the joyous, sorrowful, luminous and glorious life in the salvific plan of God. Difficult it may be, we have Mother Mary to pray with us. God, truly is so generous and compassionate with us.
