Friends of the Rosary, The Lord, who is all love, has revealed to the nations His saving power, as we say in the Psalms today. "Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love," wrote Saint John in his first letter (4:7-10) We can be faithful, charitable, and even follow all the commandments, but if we lack love we fall really short. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God," St. John explained. Ave...

Friends of the Rosary, As disciples of Christ we have been chosen out of the world by Christ Jesus. When we act out that belonging, we can change the world. It won't be an easy. The battle has been won, but the war continues. The struggle is ongoing. As Jesus said to his disciples (Jn 15:18-21), "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;but because you do not belong to the world,and I have chosen you out of the...

Friends of the Rosary, Today is the Feast of the Apostles Philip and James. Like Sts. Peter and Andrew, St. Philip was from Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was crucified at Hierapolis in Phyrgia, where he had preached the Gospel. He introduced St. Bartholomew (Nathaniel) to Christ, telling him that Jesus was the one whom Moses and the other prophets had foretold. Christ declared to St. Philip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…I am the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn 14:8, 11). James...

Friends of the Rosary, The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. The Easter season ends on Pentecost, May 19, represented by the liturgical color white — the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity, and innocence. These are some of the most relevant feasts and solemnities: May 3: Philip and James, ApostlesMay 9 or 12: Ascension Sunday or the Seventh Sunday of EasterMay 13: Our Lady of FatimaMay 14: Matthias, ApostleMay 15: Isidore the FarmerMay 19: PentecostMay 20: Blessed...

• The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! Friends of the Rosary, St. Joseph has two feast days on the liturgical calendar. The first is March 19—Joseph, the Saint Husband of Mary. The second is May 1—Joseph, the Worker. Today, the Holy Catholic Church presents us the example of Saint Joseph the Worker to all laborers. This is a feast day established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to Christianize the concept of labor and give all workmen a model and a protector. The husband of...

Friends of the Rosary, Today is the Memorial of St. Pius V (1504-1572), a Pope known for his deep prayer, fasting, and love for the truth. As Pius V, he worked to implement the Tridentine reforms, promulgated the first Roman Catechism, and formalized the mysteries of the Rosary. He organized European monarchs to defend Christendom against the Ottoman Empire, culminating in the victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1572, which he credited to the Rosary. To Protestantism, which had proclaimed...

Friends of the Rosary, Today is the Memorial Day of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), virgin and Doctor of the Church and a leading saint in the fourteenth century who acquired great influence with her life of prayer, extraordinary mortifications, and the spread of her spiritual writings. She was a tertiary in the Dominican Order, favored with visions from age of seven. Her miracles and ecstasies were remarkable. A helper and a consoler in every need, her reputation of sanctity soon...

Friends of the Rosary, In today's passage in the Gospel, Lord Jesus declares that He is the vine and we are the branches. In other words, He is the power and energy source we live in — the source of supernatural life on us. If we separate from the source, we die spiritually. If we are connected to it, we will live forever. Jesus said to his disciples (Jn 15:1-8): "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,and everyone...

Friends of the Rosary, In honor of Mary, the Immaculate Mother, we praise and thank the Lord through the Joyful Mysteries we pray today. And we continue reading John 14. In today's Gospel (Jn 14:7-14), Lord Jesus reveals the coinherence that obtains within the very existence of God. He says to his disciples: "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe...

Friends of the Rosary, At that time, Lord Jesus summarized in a few words the meaning of our human existence (Jn 14:1-6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.” He explained to the disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.You have faith in God; have faith also in me.In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places.If there were not,would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for...

Friends of the Rosary, Today is the Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist, the author of the second Gospel, a Jewish Christian baptized and instructed by St. Peter. The Gospel of Mark, written in 50 A.D. for Roman Gentile converts, records St. Peter’s preaching about Our Lord. It rarely quotes the Old Testament and carefully explains Jewish customs, rites, and words. It excels in portraying Christ’s and His hearers’ emotions and affections. St. Mark accompanied St. Paul and his cousin St....

Friends of the Rosary, Jesus cried out and said, as we read today (Jn 12:44-50): "I came into the world as light,so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,I do not condemn him,for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world." In this passage of the Gospel of John, Jesus made clear, once again, that he and the Father are one. God from God, Light from Light, as we say in the Creed. Christ is the...

Friends of the Rosary, People who do not believe are not among the Lord Jesus’ flock. They refuse to be part of the Kingdom of God. These are truly blind and, sadly, do not manage well their free will.They might be dominant in our society. At that time, Jesus the Good Shepherd said to the Jews (Jn 10:22-30) in Jerusalem during the feast of the Dedication, as we read in the New Testament today: “You do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and...

Friends of the Rosary, Jesus said — as we read today (Jn 10:1-10): “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved.” “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Lord Jesus is calling every one of us by our name. The Good Shepherd knows what’s hidden in our hearts, and He is leading us out to our salvation and communion with Him. We are invited to avoid following strangers, thieves, and robbers. They come to slaughter and destroy our souls. Only the Author...

Friends of the Rosary, Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is the Good Shepherd Sunday — Lord Jesus guarding, guiding, protecting, and watching over his flock.Jesus said (Jn 10:11-18): "I am the good shepherd.A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." "I am the good shepherd,and I know mine and mine know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;and I will lay down my life for the sheep." Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You! To Jesus through Mary! Here am I, Lord; I come...

Friends of the Rosary, Today, we see in the Gospel of John John (6:60–69), at the end of its sixth chapter, how many disciples of Lord Jesus abandoned Him and returned to their former way of life. "The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe," said Jesus. When He asked whether the Twelve would leave too, Peter answered, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are...

Friends of the Rosary, Easter is a time of rejoicing for every Christian. It’s a time for thanking and praising our Holy God. Christ's resurrection caused and guaranteed our own. Our eternal joy has been won for us by Christ. The enigma of human existence has troubled agnostic philosophers and scholars down through the ages and still today. But this mystery finds its explanation in the risen Jesus. Physical death is not the end for man, with all his intellect, talents, and God-given...

Friends of the Rosary, Christianity and the Catholic Church — the continuation of Christ’s work among us — has existed for almost two thousand years. It’s the longest institution that has ever existed on earth. Without the Holy Spirit and the certainty of the Resurrection — that we celebrate on Easter — our faith would be worthless. "If Christ has not risen," St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:17, "vain is your faith, for you are still in your sins." But "Christ has risen from the dead, the first...

Friends of the Rosary, And He will deliver us from the perils of eternal death, to enjoy the endless happiness of Heaven. We pray today’s Glorious Mysteries from San Diego, CA. By following the example of the risen Christ, we prepare ourselves to imitate His humility. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we might not at first recognize that Christ Jesus is alive and walking with us. But through constant prayer, especially the Rosary of Mary, we will open our minds to Jesus. He will...

Friends of the Rosary, People often complain when they experience injustice and wickedness. Also, James and John once wished that Jesus would call down fire from Heaven and destroy the sinful cities. However, this is the spirit of the world, not the spirit of Christ. “The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save" (Luke 9:55). In the proper time, God will impart divine justice, in His own way. For the present, He allows weeds to grow among the wheat. Our mission is to follow in...

Friends of the Rosary, Our spiritual life is based — or it should be based — in one single premise: “Believe in the One sent by God the Father.” The risen Jesus gives us through his disciples another critical advice—as we read today (Jn 6:22-29) “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” This way, when we start the third week of Easter, we are invited to seek what’s above, avoiding to think from an earthly...

Friends of the Rosary, Today, on the Third Sunday of Easter, while we celebrate the risen Jesus we pray hard for peace in the Middle East. Yesterday, Iran fired hundreds of exploding drones and missiles in its first direct attack on Israel after years of a shadow war. We invoke Our Lady of Peace, the Blessed Mother, so people open their minds to Jesus and understand the necessity of peace in the world. Jesus, the Prince of Life and Peace, is more alive than ever and is on our side. "Peace...

Friends of the Rosary, Christ Jesus, who demonstrates his authority over nature, comes to save us, encouraging us not to be afraid. As we read today (Jn 6:16-21), Jesus walks on the stirred sea heading into the boat with the terrified disciples, and says to them: "It is I. Do not be afraid."  In the Scriptures, the sea was something to be feared. Water was a symbol of danger and chaos. The boat, with Peter and the other followers, is evocative of the Church, which moves through all types...

Friends of the Rosary, Jesus' multiplication of bread and fish, feeding a crowd of 5,000, is the only one of the miracles included in all four of the Gospel accounts. This miracle greatly influenced the understanding of the first Christians of the Lord's identity and mission. This passage — we read about it today in the Gospel — was followed by Christ's Bread of Life discourse, in which He explained his teaching on the Eucharist to the crowd. He drew the connection between the miraculous...