Each mystery of the rosary calls Catholics to a different virtue. The Joyful Mysteries call Catholics to acquire the virtues of humility, charity, love of God, sacrifice and a desire to spread the glory of God. The Sorrowful Mysteries call Catholics to true repentance for sins, self-denial, moral courage, patience and perseverance. The Glorious Mysteries call Christians to faith, hope, passion for God’s word, desire for a holy death and a greater love for the Virgin Mary.
The way to achieve those virtues is by praying the rosary and striving to live the virtue through our words and actions. Recently, I was praying especially hard with the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery. This details how Jesus carried His cross. The virtue associated with this mystery is patience. To be quite honest, I have found myself being extremely impatient with myself and others, and when faced with a task that seems to take a long time, I grow bitter towards myself and let that bitterness seep into my words and actions.
But for me, like everyone, there is hope. I believe I can overcome my impatience by answering the call of the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery. I see the mystery as a reminder that success is achievable and that everyone, even the Son of Man, has to be patient. Christ had to endure difficult, often painful trials in order to achieve His ultimate goal of saving the world from its sins. He had to endure whips, torture and condemnations from the very people he was trying to save. This mystery inspires me to ask for patience and face the trials that come my way. If Jesus could endure torture to achieve His goal, I can endure difficulty to achieve mine.
The rosary can be a tool of spiritual learning and a means of self-improvement. In the same way the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery helps me acquire patience, the other mysteries can help Catholics acquire the virtues that the rosary (and God) calls them to have.
Although it sounds sentimental, I believe the mysteries of the rosary are tools to inspire me to live a holy life. They inspire me to strive for so much. They inspire me to have a better relationship with God and strive for virtues like patience, love and perseverance. Above all, they help me in my quest to be all I can be spiritually.
As we approach the end of October, the month of the holy rosary, I encourage everyone to discover the mysteries of the rosary, accept its call to virtue and attempt to achieve our full spiritual potential.
(Mair, 18, is a journalism student at Carleton University in Ottawa).
Seeking virtues in the rosary
By Scott Mair, Youth Speak News
I first learned about the rosary in my Grade 9 religion class. My religion teacher said the rosary was one of the most important parts of the Catholic faith and was strongly critical of anyone who tried to downplay its importance. He said the rosary was an excellent sign of one’s prayerfulness and devotion to God.
While I agree that it was certainly a sign of devotion, I felt he failed to share with us an important point: the rosary is a tool that Christians can use to live a virtuous life — by meditating on the mysteries of the rosary.
While I agree that it was certainly a sign of devotion, I felt he failed to share with us an important point: the rosary is a tool that Christians can use to live a virtuous life — by meditating on the mysteries of the rosary.
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