Saturday 20th - Sunday 28th September 2025
- bostallpark
- Sep 25
- 8 min read
TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
HOME MISSION SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II (part 13)
The opening and closing
37.At present, in different parts of the Church, there are many ways to introduce the Rosary. In some places, it is customary to begin with the opening words of Psalm 70: “O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me”, as if to nourish in those who are praying a humble awareness of their own insufficiency. In other places, the Rosary begins with the recitation of the Creed, as if to make the profession of faith the basis of the contemplative journey about to be undertaken. These and similar customs, to the extent that they prepare the mind for contemplation, are all equally legitimate. The Rosary is then ended with a prayer for the intentions of the Pope, as if to expand the vision of the one praying to embrace all the needs of the Church. It is precisely in order to encourage this ecclesial dimension of the Rosary that the Church has seen fit to grant indulgences to those who recite it with the required dispositions.
If prayed in this way, the Rosary truly becomes a spiritual itinerary in which Mary acts as Mother, Teacher and Guide, sustaining the faithful by her powerful intercession. Is it any wonder, then, that the soul feels the need, after saying this prayer and experiencing so profoundly the motherhood of Mary, to burst forth in praise of the Blessed Virgin, either in that splendid prayer the Salve Regina or in the Litany of Loreto? This is the crowning moment of an inner journey which has brought the faithful into living contact with the mystery of Christ and his Blessed Mother.
Distribution over time
38. The Rosary can be recited in full every day, and there are those who most laudably do so. In this way it fills with prayer the days of many a contemplative, or keeps company with the sick and the elderly who have abundant time at their disposal. Yet it is clear – and this applies all the more if the new series of mysteria lucis is included – that many people will not be able to recite more than a part of the Rosary, according to a certain weekly pattern. This weekly distribution has the effect of giving the different days of the week a certain spiritual “colour”, by analogy with the way in which the Liturgy colours the different seasons of the liturgical year.
According to current practice, Monday and Thursday are dedicated to the “joyful mysteries”, Tuesday and Friday to the “sorrowful mysteries”, and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday to the “glorious mysteries”. Where might the “mysteries of light” be inserted? If we consider that the “glorious mysteries” are said on both Saturday and Sunday, and that Saturday has always had a special Marian flavour, the second weekly meditation on the “joyful mysteries”, mysteries in which Mary's presence is especially pronounced, could be moved to Saturday. Thursday would then be free for meditating on the “mysteries of light”.
This indication is not intended to limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations. What is really important is that the Rosary should always be seen and experienced as a path of contemplation. In the Rosary, in a way similar to what takes place in the Liturgy, the Christian week, centred on Sunday, the day of Resurrection, becomes a journey through the mysteries of the life of Christ, and he is revealed in the lives of his disciples as the Lord of time and of history.
CONCLUSION
“Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain linking us to God”
39. What has been said so far makes abundantly clear the richness of this traditional prayer, which has the simplicity of a popular devotion but also the theological depth of a prayer suited to those who feel the need for deeper contemplation.
The Church has always attributed particular efficacy to this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary, to its choral recitation and to its constant practice, the most difficult problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our Lady of the Rosary was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation.
Today I willingly entrust to the power of this prayer – as I mentioned at the beginning – the cause of peace in the world and the cause of the family.
Peace
40. The grave challenges confronting the world at the start of this new Millennium lead us to think that only an intervention from on high, capable of guiding the hearts of those living in situations of conflict and those governing the destinies of nations, can give reason to hope for a brighter future.
The Rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace, since it consists in the contemplation of Christ, the Prince of Peace, the one who is “our peace” (Eph 2:14). Anyone who assimilates the mystery of Christ – and this is clearly the goal of the Rosary – learns the secret of peace and makes it his life's project. Moreover, by virtue of its meditative character, with the tranquil succession of Hail Marys, the Rosary has a peaceful effect on those who pray it, disposing them to receive and experience in their innermost depths, and to spread around them, that true peace which is the special gift of the Risen Lord (cf. Jn 14:27; 20.21).
The Rosary is also a prayer for peace because of the fruits of charity which it produces. When prayed well in a truly meditative way, the Rosary leads to an encounter with Christ in his mysteries and so cannot fail to draw attention to the face of Christ in others, especially in the most afflicted. How could one possibly contemplate the mystery of the Child of Bethlehem, in the joyful mysteries, without experiencing the desire to welcome, defend and promote life, and to shoulder the burdens of suffering children all over the world? How could one possibly follow in the footsteps of Christ the Revealer, in the mysteries of light, without resolving to bear witness to his “Beatitudes” in daily life? And how could one contemplate Christ carrying the Cross and Christ Crucified, without feeling the need to act as a “Simon of Cyrene” for our brothers and sisters weighed down by grief or crushed by despair? Finally, how could one possibly gaze upon the glory of the Risen Christ or of Mary Queen of Heaven, without yearning to make this world more beautiful, more just, more closely conformed to God's plan?
In a word, by focusing our eyes on Christ, the Rosary also makes us peacemakers in the world. By its nature as an insistent choral petition in harmony with Christ's invitation to “pray ceaselessly” (Lk 18:1), the Rosary allows us to hope that, even today, the difficult “battle” for peace can be won. Far from offering an escape from the problems of the world, the Rosary obliges us to see them with responsible and generous eyes, and obtains for us the strength to face them with the certainty of God's help and the firm intention of bearing witness in every situation to “love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14).
To be continued.
PARISH NOTICES
DEATH. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Rita Carrier who was a parishioner here at St. Thomas More for many years. Rita was a devout Catholic, an active parishioner volunteering as the parish secretary for many years, was a key member of the flower arranging team, a eucharistic minister and active member of the parish social club. Rita and her husband Roy regularly attended the 9am Mass on Sundays until she became ill. Her funeral will be on the 1st October at 12 noon.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES- begins on Wednesday, 4th October, and henceforth every Wednesday, till Easter 2026. Venue: Church Porch Time: 7:15pm.
Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
UPCOMING EVENTS
RETROUVAILLE MARRIAGE SUPPORT. Holiday periods can be very stressful for marriages and couples often suffer in silence. Does your relationship need some TLC? Need help with deeper issues? Next programme starts 17th October. For more information visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk or call 07887 296 983
DAY OF PRAISE & WORSHIP – 4TH OCTOBER. Following the wonderful event at Aylesford on Pentecost Sunday this year, we are delighted to invite you to a Day of Celebration at St. George’s Cathedral on Saturday 4th October from 10:15am to 5pm to give thanks for the blessings we have all received during this Jubilee Year of Hope. Archbishop John Wilson will be presiding and preaching at Mass at 11:15am. The day will include Adoration, rosary, confessions, testimonies, praise and worship, bookstall and prayer ministry led by Catholic evangelist Ros Powell. Please see the poster in the porch for more information or take a leaflet.
LEGION OF MARY PRAESIDIUM FUNCTION 28TH SEPTEMBER @ 12 NOON. We are glad to invite all parishioners to the first Marian celebration hosted by our Bexleyheath Legion of Mary in honour of Our Lady's feast. Please join us after 11am mass in praying the Legion rosary, sharing in devotion to Mother Mary & other Legion prayers, followed by snacks in the church porch.
DAY FOR READERS & EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST. The day retreat for parish Readers & Eucharistic Ministers is on Saturday 18th October at St. Stephen’s Church, Welling. Please inform the parish office if you are able to attend as soon as possible. Please bring a packed lunch.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO ST. JUDE’S SHRINE, FAVERSHAM – 25TH OCTOBER 2025. The parish has organised a parish pilgrimage to St. Jude’s Shrine in Faversham, Kent on Saturday 25th October. The coach taking pilgrims from the Church costs £10 per adult & £5 per child under 14 years old.
BLESSING OF ANIMALS ON ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI FEAST DAY – 4TH OCTOBER 2025
Blessing of Animals and pets will be by 11:00am in the Church porch. On a donkey’s back, Jesus fled to Egypt with Mary and Joseph. On the back of a donkey, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Come let us bless our animals and pets!
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
LUNCH CLUB. The next lunch club gathering will be on the 2nd October at 12.30pm in the hall. New members always welcome.
LEGION OF MARY. Now every Friday at 11:15am in the porch. New members welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 20th September
R St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon & Paul Chong Ha-sang & companions
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
G TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Rita Carrier RIP
Sunday 21st September G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. John Joe Corbett RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Anthony Filugelu RIP
Monday 22nd September
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 23rd September
W St. Pius of Pietrelcina
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 24th September
W Our Lady of Walsigham
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Maurice Braganza RIP
Thursday 25th September
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Friday 26th September
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Ferdie Rodrigues RIP
Saturday 27th September
W St. Vincent de Paul
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
G TWENTY SIXTYH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Alicia & Godwin Rodrigues RIP
Sunday 28th September G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Clinton Nunes WB
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Adams Afegbai RIP
(5yr Ann.)