Mary’s Family Album

Have you ever thought of the rosary as Mary’s family album filled with snapshots of her life joined with Jesus? A book of memories, of sorts, recalling both good times and bad. We know from scripture that Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. (Lk 2:19, 2:51)) The rosary is our invitation to join our memories with Mary’s memories and to have a heart like hers. In doing so, our memories become sanctified and changed.
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When we reflect on our lives, the good times and bad, we can’t always pull it all together. The rosary helps us to see the big picture. We can relate our memories and experiences to Mary’s joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious memories. The more we ponder Jesus and Mary’s lives, the better we get to know them.

Thus, it is fitting that we look through Mom’s photo album to better understand what’s going on in the family.

During the month of the Holy Rosary and beyond, we can contemplate daily those snapshots of Mary’s life joined with her Son by praying and meditating on the mysteries contained in the rosary.

Credit: This vision of the rosary as Mary’s family album is from a transcendent homily delivered by Fr. Henry Stephan at St. Gertrude Church in Cincinnati. While I tried my best to relay Father’s Aquinas-like wisdom, one can only write so fast in the margins of Magnificat. 🙂 Thank you for the inspiration, Fr. Henry!