FAMILIES MUST restore the practice of praying the rosary to feel the spiritual peace brought by the Virgin Mary, a tranquility Catholics should first experience in their homes, a Dominican priest said.
Santisimo Rosario parish priest Fr. Glen Mar Gamboa, O.P. called on Catholics to share Mary’s unconditional love to their families and peers and emulate the water she cared for her son.
“I hope that in your homes, you can bring back the tradition, bring back the devotion of praying the rosary together as a family. What for? Because in the family is where you should first experience peace. Not elsewhere, not from anyone else, not from what you possess,” Gamboa told devotees during the misa mayor for the Fiesta del Santísimo Rosario on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Citing how Mary carried Jesus from his birth to His death as an example, Gamboa said the rosary could be a weapon for believers when they ask the Blessed Virgin for help in their “silent battles.” Mary’s presence serves as a reminder that one is not alone during trying times, he added.
“So when we pray the rosary, Mary’s presence is always there and Her presence gives us hope,” the parish priest said.
“There is hope that no matter what hardships we face in life, no matter how heavy our struggles may be… we know that we will overcome them, and our aspirations will be fulfilled because there is a Mother who guides us all.”
Gamboa said devotees take part in the feast because they have encountered love and peace brought by the Lord and hope given by Mary. He encouraged Catholics not only to pray the rosary in celebration of their victories but also to remind themselves of Jesus’ and Mary’s love and sacrifice for them.
The Dominican priest emphasized that devotion must involve not just remembering Mary’s miracles, but also sharing one’s encounters with the Lord to others.
“Let us remember the hope, peace, and love that the Lord shares with us… and let us spread devotion to the rosary, especially within every family, which God has claimed as His own,” he added.
The misa mayor was part of the celebration of the feast of the University’s patroness, the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary or Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario.
It was followed by a procession of the images of the Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario and 15 saints, including Jesus’ foster father St. Joseph, Order of Preachers founder St. Dominic de Guzman and UST patron St. Thomas Aquinas. F
