Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Published by Dominican Nuns Ireland in Reflections (Dominican) · 7 October 2025
Tags: Rosary, Our, Lady, Visitation, Life, Joy

There are many more mysteries that could be contemplated than just the twenty mysteries of the rosary, that we have received. It is the mystery which is the second of the joyful mysteries - the Visitation of Our Lady to Elizabeth - which will be considered here.

A Happy and Blessed Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary to you all!

The mystery - the event - of the Visitation is quite a powerful one to pray and reflect on, and there are many icons which tell the story, but this one was written here, just this past summer, and you are invited to look at the faces of the two saints and to behold their joy.

'My soul magnifies the Lord' - these words spoken by Our Lady could so easily have been uttered also by Elizabeth, yet although they weren't hers, she certainly lived them with faith. What lesson, with the help of this icon - can contemplation of this particular mystery teach us? I think beauty, joy and wonder.

See the beauty and joy expressed in their faces.

See their eyes, which not only look on each other, but seem also to be gazing interiorly: wrapped in contemplation of the wonder of the life each bears in her womb. The wonder that they have been entrusted with such a gift.

It is, unfortunately, not always received as good news and joy when a woman learns that she is expecting a baby. The situations and circumstances in which a woman finds herself are many, and can cause anxiety, fear, anger even ... so many overwhelming emotions. Yet here is Mary, young and unmarried, who according to law could be 'justifiably' stoned to death for her situation: bringing untold shame on her betrothed, on parents and family; exposed to the ignorant judgement and condemnation of neighbours who will take delight in gossip. And here, also is Elizabeth: advanced in years, and exposed to the ignorant judgement and ridicule of neighbours, maybe even family, who see only that she is drawing shame on herself and her kin, too old and out of her senses to be expecting a child. And yet they encounter one another with joy, magnifying the Lord.

As we pray this mystery, a mystery that celebrates and rejoices in the sheer wonder of new life (even from its earliest moments) we might hold in our prayers the petition, that newly expectant mothers and fathers will always have some one who - no matter what the circumstances - understands them and encourages them to rejoice and to welcome their child. When it seems that the whole world is derisive and condemnatory, may they know the support and strength of some one who helps them to be courageous and joyful, to see the gift.

In St Paul's letter to Timothy, which we heard last Sunday, he reminded him that he had been 'trusted to look after something precious' and to 'guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.' May we ever bear in mind and heart the amazement that God - who is so far beyond our comprehension, so much more wonderful than we can ever understand - trusts Himself to us, in the most precious gift of life. When we feel that we have not even one who can support, encourage and strengthen us, may He grant us to remember that He does, and that He is with us - even in us.

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