Reason #4 - to grow in holiness
The 4th reason to pray the rosary is to grow in holiness. What does that mean?  

First of all, what does the word "holy" mean, anyway? In essence, the Old Testament tells us that being holy means to be "set apart for a special task."  Note - that does not mean "set above."  The word holiness gets a bad rap these days, as it often conjures up images of puritanism, fastidiousness and self-righteousness.  

True holiness, however, has a very different aim. Ultimately, holiness means taking on the attributes of God, both personally, in our own lives and decisions, and colletively, as a society. This understanding comes from the book of Leviticus, where God tells the Israelites "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." Leviticus 19  What we often forget, though, is that God has a specific way in which the people will become holy.  God tells them how they are to act in their relationships, in the way they interact with the created world, and also how they will act towards him.  So, we see that the most important part of being holy involves being obedient to the Word of God. 

In fact, when Jesus walks on the earth, this is the one thing he does better than any other person.  He is continually seeking to do the will of his father. History has known great preachers, like Jesus. There have been great leaders of new movements as well. The Old Testament even records certain people who were able to manipulate the elements, such as the magicians in Egypt. But no one comes close to Jesus in following the will of his Father, even when following that will is profoundly difficult. Why is obedience so important to Jesus?

Jesus sums it up for us in Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect." When Jesus says these words, it is in the context of a larger framework, called the 5 Discourses.  And what do you think the point of the 5 DIscourses is? You guessed it - being holy! Jesus again reaffirms the teachings of his Father from the Old Testament, and takes them even further. 

Being obedient to the word of God allows us to become holy.  It gives us a framework to understand and a scaffold to lean into.  We incarnate the attributes of God. His mercy, patience, lovingkindness, justice, wisdom and peace become more and more apparent in us.  

In the walk through the mysteries of the rosary, from Jesus' annunciation to his birth, death, resurrection and ascension, we end with the Assumption and Coronation of Mary, Mother of God, Queen of the Universe. In Mary's coronation, we see human holiness on display, the fullness of God shining through.  Just imagine if we all tried to be like Mary, obedient to the Word of God. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all took the call to holiness a little more seriously? Just imagine how and our lives, adn the world,  might change.  

Reason #3: to draw down graces and apply them to our lives
There's a well known song that we sing at Mass.  You've probably heard it.  The refrain goes something like "We become what we receive!  Amen. Alleluia!"

The belief that an ordinary created object, like a bunch of random wheat and a few grapes, can become something radically different - while still maintaining its original form - is foundational to the Catholic understanding of the created world. We certainly proclaim that this mystery takes place in the Mass.  Some pretty ordinary stuff - wine and bread - become divine, through the participation of humans (which we call "the work of human hands"), the ministry of the priest, and of course, the presence of the Trinity. 

Even if we don't fully understand how this exactly happens during the celebration of the sacraments, we profess that belief. That's why we say "Amen," which translates to "I believe." But what about outside of the sacraments?

The same principle certainly applies!  Just as we are called to "become what we receive" when we participate in the sacraments, praying the Liturgy of the Hours or the rosary offers us similar benefits. 

As we pray the rosary, we've already noticed a physiological change (Reason #1) and an elevation of our hearts and minds through contemplation (Reason #2), so now we are in a position to be more receptive to the graces made available to us. This can be very specific. For example, if your family struggles with peace and harmony, the Joyful Mysteries are of great benefit.  Since the Joyful Mysteries invite us to meditate on the life of the Holy Family, we can also ask that our families receive the graces that were present in the daily life of the Holy Family. Surely Joseph knew great stress and anxiety, as he protected and provided for Mary and Jesus. Who better to ask for help in these areas than Joseph?

If you or a loved one is struggling with work issues, be sure to pray the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday. These 5 mysteries detail Jesus' own public life, where he lived out the work he was called to do.  Ask Jesus to walk with you in your own vocation, to grant you clarity, courage, and the wisdom to see the way forward.

Do you often encounter mockery?  Ask for assistance in this area when you pray the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery, the Crowning of Thorns, when Jesus was mocked.   Jesus suffered all these things so that we would not have to suffer them alone.  We are able to draw from the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the graces that we need for our own lives, in our own particular circumstances.  

But as Pope Francis said in "The Joy of the Gospel," time is greater than space.  We have to allow plenty of time for the changes we pray for to occur, and do our best not to get downhearted if nothing happens right away.  After all, God took 6 days to create the cosmos in the beginning, and Jesus was born as a baby.  The proper use of time is always part of God's plan. 

While we wait for our prayers to be answered, we can continue to think over how our lives, in their own way, mirror the events that we meditate on in the rosary and consider how we can draw down those graces, and apply them where they are needed.  

Today we begin our 5 week journey of unpacking "5 Great Reasons to Pray the Rosary." Here's Reason #1.

​Reason #1: For the physiological changes that take place in the body. 
 One of the first, and most basic benefits of praying the rosary is the physiological changes that take place in the body.  When one prays the rosary, a slower heart rate is noticeable. Breathing also slows down and becomes more rhythmical, and those are just a couple of the benefits. This has been well documented.   

We especially recommend the rosary to those who struggle with anxiety and nervousness.  It can be enormously helpful to youths, especially when they are going through a growth spurt. As their young bodies and brains grow, not everything matures at the same rate. It is normal for them to feel confused and even separated from themselves, as though they aren't sure what is happening. You might see a reocurrence of night terrors and bad dreams.  Although these emotions are part of growing up, they can be disturbing and even frightening to young children.   Falling asleep praying the rosary can be very comforting and soothing - and help ease them into a better sleep as they teach their bodies how to unwind and power down. 

Of course, not just the young, but people of all ages can experience the healthy benefits of intentionally slowing down and breathing deeply.  The rosary is a source of comfort and physical help to all who make meditation and reflection a habit, as it greatly helps in stopping the flow of cortisol and stress-reaction hormones, replacing them with serotonin and other helpful, feel good hormones.  

The Rosary Foundation (www.erosary.com) also  lists these benefits:

• improved rate of breathing, improves respirator functions
• boosts the immune system and helps protects against sickness
• increases energy levels and fights chronic fatigue
• helps lower blood pressure
• alleviates muscle tension and aids relaxation
• helps with migrane headaches
• increases levels of serotonin
• helps with coping with disease
• aids with the termination of physical addictions
• promotes restful sleep

 And those are just the physical benefits! Tune in next week for the 2nd Great Reason to pray the rosary.