A Word from the Pastor

October 7, 2022

October is the month of the Holy Rosary and October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Praying the rosary is a cherished part of our Catholic tradition that goes way back. This prayer actually finds its roots in the liturgical prayer of the Church. In the medieval period, there was a desire to give the laity a form of common prayer similar to that of the monks in the monasteries. Monastic prayer was structured around the Psalter—the recitation of all 150 psalms from the Bible. At that time, however, most laity could not afford a Psalter, and most could not even read.

As a parallel to the monastic reading of the 150 psalms, the practice developed among the laity of praying the Our Father 150 times throughout the day. This devotion came to be known as “the poor man’s breviary.” And the laity eventually were given beads to help them count their prayers.

Marian devotion followed a similar pattern. Gabriel’s words, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28), sometimes were read in the monasteries at the end of a psalm, showing how the psalms found fulfillment in the New Testament with the coming of Christ through the Virgin Mary. Some laity began to recite these words in the manner of the Our Father—150 times, while counting their prayers on beads. In repeating the words of Gabriel, they were reliving the joy of the annunciation and celebrating the mystery of God becoming human in Mary’s womb.

The monks also had the custom of adding a phrase from the New Testament to the end of each psalm to identify it with a mystery from the life of Christ and his Mother. To simplify this practice for the ordinary Christian, the number of mysteries was reduced to fifteen, with 10 Hail Mary’s linked to each mystery. That parallels the 150 psalms of the monks. For many centuries the number of mysteries remained at 15 until Pope John Paul II added five more mysteries – the Luminous Mysteries– in 2002.

The mysteries of the rosary are there for our meditation while we recite the decade of Hail Mary’s like a mantra. St. John Eudes gives us an idea about meditating on mysteries. He said that every mystery of the life of Jesus or Mary has two dimensions: 1) the exterior dimension (the actual historical event) and 2) the interior dimension (what was going on in the heart of Jesus or Mary when the event took place). The exterior dimension is finished and unrepeatable. But the interior dimension is something that we can imitate in our own lives.

For example, in meditating on the Annunciation to Mary, we might recall how wonderful that event was for Mary and we can thank God for Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan. But meditating on the interior dimension invites us to go deeper and consider the interior sentiments or feelings of Mary at that moment; e.g. her docility to God’s plan, her humility, her recognition that she was God’s servant, and so on. Those interior elements we can try to replicate in our own hearts and minds. We can pray that God will give us the grace to live these virtues as we reflect on the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Take some time during this month of October to pick up your rosary and pray it with devotion. Try to delve deeper into the mysteries we recall.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron 

[email protected]

Deacon Ed Moser



The Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon Ed Moser will be on Thursday, October 13, at 10:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church.

All are welcome to attend.

Called to Serve Moms in Need as Way to Respect Life

This short reflection connects our personal call as Christians to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy with care for moms and respect for life.

Nada te turbe

These beautiful words of St. Teresa of Avila were put to music by the community of Taizé in France.

WHY THE CHURCH OPPOSES PROPOSITION 1

40 Days for Life

Once again, we observe 40 Days for Life from Wednesday September 28 to Sunday November 6. It is 40 days of prayer & fasting for an end to abortion. You’re also invited to peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood, 1964 Via Centre, Vista (south of In & Out Burger). If you’d like more information – and especially if you’d like to volunteer to help, please contact go to 40daysforlife.com/vista

Pope Francis Makes Dramatic Appeal to Putin to End the War in Ukraine

In an extraordinary move, reflecting his profound concern at the danger of an escalation of the seven-month-old war in Ukraine and the potential use of nuclear arms, Pope Francis used his Sunday Angelus address to call for “an immediate ceasefire” to that war. Usually the Pope offers on the Sunday readings but he decided to devote his entire talk to the war in Ukraine.

He called on the president of the Russian Federation “to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the sake of his own people.” It was the first time that he has publicly appealed to the Russian president, even though observing protocol he did not call Vladimir Putin by name but rather by his official role as head of state. He also called on the Ukrainian president “to be open to serious proposals for peace.” He did not call Volodymyr Zelenzky by name either.

You can hear the entire brief talk in this video. 

Catholic Trivia



"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.

1. In addition to the Blessed Mother Mary, which saint is closely associated with the praying of the rosary?
2. What are the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary?
3. What are the five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary?
4. What are the five Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary?
5. What are the five Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary?