29th Sunday in Ordinary Time--October 18, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we continue in this month of the Rosary, I would like to share a little more. Last week I listed each set of the Mysteries of the Rosary of our Blessed Mother. The rosary is spending time with Mother Mary going through her photo album of Jesus’ infancy. Luke the evangelist was also known to be a painter. It is a pious belief that Mary sat in pose for him while he painted her image. I can just imagine Luke listening to Mother Mary sharing her memories with Luke as he painted. I wonder if that is why Luke’s Gospel contains so much more detail of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. These accounts of Mother Mary’s memories that she held in her heart are so vivid. As I watch the snap shots of Mother Mary’s memories go by I pray – “Hail Mary, full of grace, …” These mysteries are of God Almighty coming to us in the most humble of ways; a pregnancy, a visit to her cousin Elizabeth, the birth, the Jewish custom of presenting the first male child to the Lord in the temple, and what happens to many children, they get lost and parents franticly look for them. Mary fully embraced God coming close to her. She most humbly received and cared for the infant Jesus and all that it entailed. As I watch these scenes form Mother Mary’s photo album and pray the “Hail Mary’s,” I cannot help but think how I am embracing God coming close to me. How do I humbly receive and care for Jesus in my life and all that it entails. These thoughts are what help me grow in imitation of Mother Mary as I contemplate the life of Jesus through her eyes. As Mother Mary was called to bring Jesus to the world, so too am I, so too are you. Every Monday and Saturday I learn more how to embrace my God, the Word of the Father made into flesh, coming to me and how I must bring Him to the world today. I invite you to consider extending your meditation on the Rosary in a different way so as to learn how to make it into a visit with Mother Mary and let her bring you into her experience so that you may also live the life of Jesus in your own life. Take the next four weeks, dedicating each week to one set of Mysteries. For example, take the Joyful Mysteries for this week and pray only one decade a day. Monday is the Annunciation. First meditate on the actual scene of the Archangel Gabriel sent by God to Mary. What it must have been like? Place yourself there as an observer. How would you have responded under the same circumstances? What did this whole event mean in the scheme of human salvation? Now, how open are you to God coming close to you today? Are you ready for what He is asking you to do? Can you respond like Mother Mary did? Have you responded like Mother Mary has? Are you ready and willing to take Jesus to the world? Have you brought Jesus with you to the world? Are you caring for Jesus attentively in your life? Are you nurturing your relationship with Jesus every day? What do you need to do in order to live out this Joyful Mystery? After all this contemplation, they you Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Glory Be. Tuesday, do the same with the “Visitation.” Wednesday, do the same with the “Birth of the Lord.” and so on… with each set of Mysteries for four weeks. Then return to the traditional way, but now with a depth to your prayer.

 

May God grant us victory with the help of Mary,

Fr. Steven J. Guitron