The ‘What is a man without the rosary?’ challenge is an initiative that encourages all men to pray the rosary, and is carried out twice a year, in the months of Our Lady, May and October. It takes it inspiration from a Croatian initiative found at Muževni Budite.
The goal of this initiative is to challenge men (#krunicachallenge) to pray the rosary daily throughout the year, but in particular challenge men to recite the rosary daily for the months of May and October. Apart from instilling devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and meditating on the life of Christ, this initiative aims to ultimately inspire and facilitate the recitation of the rosary in its home and rightful place – that is in the family. Numerous saints have stated and inspired the faithful to recite the rosary in the family home to obtain peace and blessings on the family. Pope Saint Pius X states:
“The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God…and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary.”
—Pope Saint Pius X
In addition to obtaining peace and graces in the family, as stated on “Muževni Buditie” website, the rosary can be prayed for different intentions during those months, and it is important for men, and in particular fathers, to name that intention, let their families know and lead by example. The Holy Rosary should always begin with stating a specific intention, or petition. We should always strive to pray for that which is beneficial for ours or someone else’s salvation. As a father leading the family in the Rosary, you can state an intention and also ask each person praying a decade to state a particular intention. This way, we teach our families to not only worship and praise God and honour Mary, but also to seek God’s help and the intercession of Our Lady and the Saints in prayer for our needs and the salvation of souls.
Are you up for the challenge for the month of May, the month of Mary, to pray the rosary every day so that, through Mary’s intercession, you may surrender your lives even more to God, of which He will surely make a masterpiece?
The fruits of frequent and devout rosary prayer recitation has been spoken and written about by many saints, popes, but also by lay people. Our Lady of Fatima requested it be prayed daily. The following is a selection of a few quotes about the rosary, followed by instructions on how to pray the rosary.
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” -Saint Padre Pio
“Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.” – Blessed Pope Pius IX
“The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.” – Saint Francis de Sales
“Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.” -St. Padre Pio
“Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” -St. Padre Pio
“The holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.” -St. Josemaria Escriva
“Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary’s which purifies the monotony of your sins!” -St. Josemaria Escriva
“For those who use their intelligence and their study as a weapon, the Rosary is most effective. Because that apparently monotonous way of beseeching Our Lady as children do their Mother, can destroy every seed of vainglory and pride.” – St. Josemaria Escriva
“You always leave the Rosary for later, and you end up not saying it at all because you are sleepy. If there is no other time, say it in the street without letting anybody notice it. It will, moreover, help you to have presence of God.” – St. Josemaria Escriva
“The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labours.” – Pope Pius XI
It is evident from the above quotes that the rosary is one of the most powerful weapons that the Catholic man has. Faithful and devout recitation of the rosary, meditating on the life of Christ and His Mother and forming the centre piece of family prayer is the intention of this challenge. This is a call to all Croatian men. All men who profess faith and fidelity to Christ, who honour His Mother, the Blessed Virgin and who are faithful soldiers of the Holy Catholic Church.
What are you waiting for? Pick up your rosary in hand and take up the challenge. Need more inspiration. I will leave you with instructions on how to recite the rosary at the end of this blog and the following quotes from St Louis de Montfort, a champion of spreading daily devotion of the rosary:
“Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day become a formal heretic or be led astray by the devil.”
“Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood.”
“If you would suffer with patience the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you would obtain courage and strength to conquer the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer. If you would mortify your own will with all its inclinations and appetites, be a man of prayer. If you would know the wiles of Satan and unmask his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live in joy and walk pleasantly in the ways of penance, be a man of prayer. If you would banish from you soul the troublesome flies of vain thoughts and cares, be a man of prayer. If you would nourish your soul with the very sap of devotion, and keep it always full of good thoughts and good desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen and keep up your courage in the ways of God, be a man of prayer. In fine, if you would uproot all vices from your soul and plant all virtues in their place, be a man of prayer. It is in prayer that we receive the unction and grace of the Holy Ghost, who teaches all things.”
—St. Bonaventure
Take up this daily challenge today!
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