The well-known, loved, and admired 50-year stigmatic, Saint Padre Pio, was known to have demanded something that may have shocked the listener: “GIVE ME MY WEAPON!” Why would such a prayerful, holy, and peaceful Friar, Franciscan, and priest be requesting a weapon? The Beatitudes! Is not one of the Beatitudes, “Blessed be the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”? (Mt. 5:9) The reason for this insistent request was because the Modern saint had in mind a different type of weapon—this weapon: the most holy Rosary!
(Read I Samuel 17)
The young Shepherd David, taken from the fields where he was tending his flock, would be engaged in a mortal battle. He volunteered to fight one of the most ferocious, audacious and malicious enemies in the Philistine army—the giant Goliath. It was almost certain, the victory of Goliath and the death of the young and inexperienced Shepherd David. Goliath had all to his advantage. He had the height of a giant, a huge and sharp crescent sword, a shield-bearer to protect him, and years of experience of war victories underneath his army-belt. David had nothing more than a slingshot and a few stones, but he had something, rather someone, that Goliath did not have—God on his side.
THE OUTCOME OF THE BATTLE. David ran to the line of battle, entrusting himself to the presence, power and protection of God. He pulled out a stone, placed it in a slingshot, and hurled it with all his strength. The stone took off like a bullet and riveted itself in the forehead of Goliath the giant, who fell to his knees and lost consciousness. David thereby took the sword from the fallen giant and swiftly decapitated him. A startling, surprising, and even shocking victory.
MODERN INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE TWO STORIES.
My friends, never have we been living in more tempestuous, turbulent, and trying times as the present. The modern Goliaths that we must confront and conquer might be considered countless. Materialism, Consumerism, Hedonism, Dogmatic and Practical Atheism, Indifferentism, New Ageism, Satanism, and Moral Relativism—all can be numbered as the modern Goliaths. They are insidious but fierce; they are both ruthless and persistent; finally, they are toxic and deadly in all ways imaginable.
THE REMEDY: THE WEAPON, ARMOR, SHIELD AND SPIRITUAL BOMB—THE ROSARY.
To overcome these powerful enemies, we must wield and implement the most Holy Rosary. The great English novelist, Charles Dickens, stated: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” So it is! It could well be that we are living in the worst of all times. However, these can be the best of all times if we make the firm decision to draw close to God through the most powerful intercession of Mary, under the title Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. The following will be our game-plan or our strategy.
1. DAILY. Make sure that you pray the most Holy Rosary, now more than ever, all the days of your life.
2. FAMILY-ROSARY. If possible, pray the most Holy Rosary in the context of your family.
3. DOMESTIC CHURCH. The family is indeed the Domestic Church. Father Patrick Peyton reminds us with these immortal words: “The family that prays together stays together.”
4. SET TIME. Do not pray the Rosary only when you feel like it. If such, you will feel less and less the desire to pray the Rosary. Rather, have a set time to pray the Rosary on a daily basis.
5. BEFORE MEALTIME. A suggested time for the family? Right before dinner. The family is gathered together, candle lit, Rosaries in hand, go for it! All is done in 15 minutes!
6. PLACE. Have a set place to pray the Rosary. Hopefully at home there is a prayer-corner or Oratory that the family knows is the prayer-place.
7. LEAD THE MYSTERIES. In the family rosary, each person can lead a mystery and offer their own individual intention. Become engaged and involved in the prayer process!
8. APOSTLE OF THE ROSARY. Become an Apostle of the Holy Rosary. Spread this prayer that Mary loves so much.
9. GIVE ROSARIES AND PAMPHLETS. Have in store many Rosaries, as well as Rosary pamphlets, to give away free of charge to as many people as you meet. Many will not pray the Rosary because they do not know how. Teach them
10. THE DYING. When someone is about to pass from this life to the next and go before the Judgment seat of God, let us help them. Bring a priest! Pray the Chaplet and pray the most Holy Rosary. What a beautiful way for someone to pass from this world to the next.
May the words of Pope Leo XIII encourage us to pray the most holy Rosary now and always! “The Rosary is the most excellent prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying.”
