Seeing Christ Through Mary’s Eyes

May 1, 2024

The practice of praying the rosary gives us the perspective and strength to face challenges and trust in the Lord

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

May 1, 2024

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

In the late afternoon, if the weather is nice and there is still daylight, I will often take my dog, Bayley, on a long walk — about 3.5 miles. It is certainly one of my dog’s favorite activities, and it’s something I enjoy too. A long walk is not only good exercise; I find that it clears my head of the anxieties of the day.

But not always. Years ago, when I first started taking long walks, I would use the time to mull over problems and challenges. Before long, though, I found that doing so defeated one of the prime benefits of walking; as I strode along, rolling over in my mind whatever it was that was worrying me, my mind and heart grew more cluttered, not less. In fact, I returned home more worried than ever.

I happened to mention this to my spiritual director, and he asked me why I would waste such a valuable opportunity to really clear my mind and heart. “Why don’t you pray the rosary while you walk?” he asked, adding, “I mean the whole rosary, all four sets of mysteries — the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious.”

St. John Paul II described the rosary as a prayer in which we see Christ and the saving events of his life “through the eyes of Mary.” As I pray the rosary on my walks, repeating the Hail Mary over and over again, Christ himself comes more clearly into focus. Instead of stewing about problems and worries, my mind and heart are elevated to contemplate all that the Lord said and did for the world’s salvation — and for mine too! With Mary’s help, I am reminded how deeply the Lord loves me, what an undeserved grace it is to be an adopted son of the heavenly Father, and indeed what a grace and joy it is to serve the Church. Along the way, I also remember those who have asked me to pray for them. As for my problems and worries? I commend them to the Lord together with the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This doesn’t mean that I’m entirely free of distraction as I walk along the city streets. There is plenty to divert my attention — a flashy new car, a helicopter overhead, maybe the unpleasant scent of marijuana. But the rosary always pulls me back to Christ and his mother.

And strangely enough, something else often happens. As I make my way through the mysteries of the rosary, I am amazed to find that I have been given a new perspective on my challenges and opportunities. Surrounded by Mary’s prayers, problems don’t loom so large. And more often than not, at the end of my rosary walk, I see a way forward, if not a solution to whatever I am facing. For me, the mantra “Keep Calm and Carry On” doesn’t work. “Keep Calm and Pray the Rosary” is better.

As I make my way through the mysteries of the rosary, I am amazed to find that I have been given a new perspective on my challenges and opportunities. Surrounded by Mary’s prayers, problems don’t loom so large.

As supreme chaplain, one of my duties is to bless rosaries — a lot of rosaries — for, as you know, a rosary is given to every Knight of Columbus to help him grow in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. But owning a rosary is not enough. Pope Francis once asked those attending his weekly audience if they carried a rosary. Many held them up for him to see. But he challenged them further: “Do you pray the rosary?” It is a challenge we should make our own. A deep love for Our Lady is an essential part of our spiritual lives as Knights.

Over the years, I have acquired many rosaries. Some I purchased, others were given to me, including those the pope often gives to visitors. I sometimes give rosaries to others, especially when I visit them in the hospital. But there is one rosary that is particularly special — the one that my father received when he became an active Knight of Columbus many years ago. For it was from him that I first learned to pray the rosary.

Metal bucket at draw-well in European village.

Seeing Christ Through Mary’s Eyes

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