Some non-Catholics fear the Rosary because they think praying to Mary takes our focus off Jesus.
There’s no need to worry about that. Here’s why.
The Rosary is ultimately about Christ.
Yes, we say 53 Hail Marys when we pray the Rosary. But this prayer honors Christ by recognizing His glory made manifest in His mother. Plus, in each Hail Mary, we praise our Lord and Savior by saying, “And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
The other prayers of the Rosary speak directly to God. The Mysteries encourage us to reflect on significant episodes from the life of Christ, including His birth and resurrection. In fact, the Rosary forces people to speak to and think of Jesus more than many other prayers.
As Pope John Paul II said in his encyclical on the Rosary, “The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium.”
Jesus loves Mary more than anyone else can.
He was the perfect Son AND He created His mother full of grace. No matter how much we love Mary, Jesus will always outdo our love. Plus, a devoted son loves it when other people praise his mother. How many men smile with pride when someone compliments their mom’s cooking?
Jesus gave us Mary to be our mother.
In John 19:26, we read: “When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” Christian tradition has always understood this passage to mean Jesus was giving His mother to the entire Church.
Hopefully, this eases any concerns about robbing Jesus of honor. Mary is perfectly united with her Son. Any honor we give her, she gives to her Son.
Let us continue to confidently say our Rosaries in honor of Our Lady and in worship of the Lord God Almighty!
