By Katie Ascough - 25 September, 2020
Archbishop Eamon Martin
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, has called for a Family Rosary Crusade against COVID-19 during the month of October. October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary because we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary each year on 7 October.
“I invite families all over Ireland to pray the Rosary together at home each day for God’s protection during this time of coronavirus,” said the archbishop. “These past six months have reminded us of the importance of the ‘domestic Church’ – the Church of the sitting room and kitchen – the Church that meets every time a family stands or kneels down, or sits down to pray together!”
Archbishop Martin pointed out that the “vocation of parents [is] to be the primary teachers and leaders of their children in faith and prayer”, which is precisely why he is calling for the Family Rosary Crusade against COVID-19; that is, he is asking families to pray the Rosary, or even a decade of the Rosary, together each day during October. He recommends that families pray for themselves, their loved ones and for all those whose health or livelihood is being seriously impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
The archbishop is also inviting families to spread the word online. He said, “Using the #FamilyRosaryCrusade or #OctoberFamilyRosary hashtags, please feel free to share a picture or a short sound clip of your family saying a ‘Hail Mary’, ‘Our Father’ or ‘Glory Be’ on social media.”
Archbishop Martin’s inspiration for the Rosary Crusade came from a visit to the Missionaries of Charity in Armagh who reminded him of what Mother Teresa, St Teresa of Calcutta, once said: “Cling to the Rosary as the creeper clings to the tree – for without Our Lady we cannot stand.”
Rosary resources will be available on www.catholicbishops.ie for those who would like to take part in the Family Rosary Crusade during October.
