Family Rosary | The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands
Growing up in Uganda, I came to learn early on in life the praying of the Rosary. Our family was active in the Church, and we had regular family prayer. Uganda is 41% Catholic, and it is the land of the Ugandan Martyrs, whose feast day on the universal Church calendar is celebrated as the Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions. The Catholic Church in Uganda is vibrant with full Churches, full seminaries, and full convents. The Catholic Church in Uganda runs some of the top schools and the best healthcare institutions in the country.
The Rosary is an Important Anchor
There is a growing desire among public leaders to publicly identify with Catholicism. Politicians such as the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, and the leader of the main Opposition party who are Catholics wear their Rosaries as accessories on top of their suits or dresses!
For a country that has a traumatic political history, the Rosary has been an important anchor in the lives of many Ugandans. It has given hope and meaning amidst extreme human rights violations, encouraged people amidst extreme poverty, and constantly reminded people about the presence of Christ and the maternal care of Our Blessed Mother. The Mysteries of the Rosary speak to every season of our life, whether it be joy, sorrow, mission, or triumphs in life. Hidden deep in the Rosary is a treasure trove that Ugandans have always turned to through every season of their lives.
Having grown up in Uganda, where the Rosary was the go-to prayer, I have turned to the Rosary and its Mysteries when navigating different seasons of my personal and ministerial life. I remember the early mornings and late nights when I turned to the Sorrowful Mysteries, days when I turned to the Joyful Mysteries, times when I turned to the Glorious Mysteries, and times when I turned to the Mysteries of Light.
I am convinced that some devotions in the Church will wane or even disappear at some point, but the Rosary will remain evergreen!
Venerable Patrick Peyton, known as "The Rosary Priest," devoted his priestly life to encouraging family prayer, especially the Rosary. This October, for the Month of the Holy Rosary, Family Rosary (an apostolate founded by Father Peyton) and Catholic Mom have teamed up for this daily series dedicated to the Rosary.
