Saturday 6th - Sunday 14th September 2025
- bostallpark
- Sep 5
- 8 min read
TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME– CYCLE C
SUNDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II (part 12)
Silence
31. Listening and meditation are nourished by silence. After the announcement of the mystery and the proclamation of the word, it is fitting to pause and focus one's attention for a suitable period of time on the mystery concerned, before moving into vocal prayer. A discovery of the importance of silence is one of the secrets of practicing contemplation and meditation. One drawback of a society dominated by technology and the mass media is the fact that silence becomes increasingly difficult to achieve. Just as moments of silence are recommended in the Liturgy, so too in the recitation of the Rosary it is fitting to pause briefly after listening to the word of God, while the mind focuses on the content of a particular mystery.
The “Our Father”
32. After listening to the word and focusing on the mystery, it is natural for the mind to be lifted up towards the Father. In each of his mysteries, Jesus always leads us to the Father, for as he rests in the Father's bosom (cf. Jn 1:18) he is continually turned towards him. He wants us to share in his intimacy with the Father, so that we can say with him: “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). By virtue of his relationship to the Father he makes us brothers and sisters of himself and of one another, communicating to us the Spirit which is both his and the Father's. Acting as a kind of foundation for the Christological and Marian meditation which unfolds in the repetition of the Hail Mary, the Our Father makes meditation upon the mystery, even when carried out in solitude, an ecclesial experience.
The ten “Hail Marys”
33. This is the most substantial element in the Rosary and also the one which makes it a Marian prayer par excellence. Yet when the Hail Mary is properly understood, we come to see clearly that its Marian character is not opposed to its Christological character, but that it actually emphasizes and increases it. The first part of the Hail Mary, drawn from the words spoken to Mary by the Angel Gabriel and by Saint Elizabeth, is a contemplation in adoration of the mystery accomplished in the Virgin of Nazareth. These words express, so to speak, the wonder of heaven and earth; they could be said to give us a glimpse of God's own wonderment as he contemplates his “masterpiece” – the Incarnation of the Son in the womb of the Virgin Mary. If we recall how, in the Book of Genesis, God “saw all that he had made” (Gen 1:31), we can find here an echo of that “pathos with which God, at the dawn of creation, looked upon the work of his hands”.(36) The repetition of the Hail Mary in the Rosary gives us a share in God's own wonder and pleasure: in jubilant amazement we acknowledge the greatest miracle of history. Mary's prophecy here finds its fulfilment: “Henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). The centre of gravity in the Hail Mary, the hinge as it were which joins its two parts, is the name of Jesus. Sometimes, in hurried recitation, this centre of gravity can be overlooked, and with it the connection to the mystery of Christ being contemplated. Yet it is precisely the emphasis given to the name of Jesus and to his mystery that is the sign of a meaningful and fruitful recitation of the Rosary. Pope Paul VI drew attention, in his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus, to the custom in certain regions of highlighting the name of Christ by the addition of a clause referring to the mystery being contemplated. (37) This is a praiseworthy custom, especially during public recitation. It gives forceful expression to our faith in Christ, directed to the different moments of the Redeemer's life. It is at once a profession of faith and an aid in concentrating our meditation, since it facilitates the process of assimilation to the mystery of Christ inherent in the repetition of the Hail Mary. When we repeat the name of Jesus – the only name given to us by which we may hope for salvation (cf. Acts 4:12) – in close association with the name of his Blessed Mother, almost as if it were done at her suggestion, we set out on a path of assimilation meant to help us enter more deeply into the life of Christ. From Mary's uniquely privileged relationship with Christ, which makes her the Mother of God, Theotókos, derives the forcefulness of the appeal we make to her in the second half of the prayer, as we entrust to her maternal intercession our lives and the hour of our death.
The “Gloria”
34. Trinitarian doxology is the goal of all Christian contemplation. For Christ is the way that leads us to the Father in the Spirit. If we travel this way to the end, we repeatedly encounter the mystery of the three divine Persons, to whom all praise, worship and thanksgiving are due. It is important that the Gloria, the high-point of contemplation, be given due prominence in the Rosary. In public recitation it could be sung, as a way of giving proper emphasis to the essentially Trinitarian structure of all Christian prayer. To the extent that meditation on the mystery is attentive and profound, and to the extent that it is enlivened – from one Hail Mary to another – by love for Christ and for Mary, the glorification of the Trinity at the end of each decade, far from being a perfunctory conclusion, takes on its proper contemplative tone, raising the mind as it were to the heights of heaven and enabling us in some way to relive the experience of Tabor, a foretaste of the contemplation yet to come: “It is good for us to be here!” (Lk 9:33).
The concluding short prayer
35. In current practice, the Trinitarian doxology is followed by a brief concluding prayer which varies according to local custom. Without in any way diminishing the value of such invocations, it is worthwhile to note that the contemplation of the mysteries could better express their full spiritual fruitfulness if an effort were made to conclude each mystery with a prayer for the fruits specific to that particular mystery. In this way the Rosary would better express its connection with the Christian life. One fine liturgical prayer suggests as much, inviting us to pray that, by meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary, we may come to “imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise”. (38) Such a final prayer could take on a legitimate variety of forms, as indeed it already does. In this way the Rosary can be better adapted to different spiritual traditions and different Christian communities. It is to be hoped, then, that appropriate formulas will be widely circulated, after due pastoral discernment and possibly after experimental use in centres and shrines particularly devoted to the Rosary, so that the People of God may benefit from an abundance of authentic spiritual riches and find nourishment for their personal contemplation.
The Rosary beads
36. The traditional aid used for the recitation of the Rosary is the set of beads. At the most superficial level, the beads often become a simple counting mechanism to mark the succession of Hail Marys. Yet they can also take on a symbolism which can give added depth to contemplation. Here the first thing to note is the way the beads converge upon the Crucifix, which both opens and closes the unfolding sequence of prayer. The life and prayer of believers is centred upon Christ. Everything begins from him, everything leads towards him, everything, through him, in the Holy Spirit, attains to the Father. As a counting mechanism, marking the progress of the prayer, the beads evoke the unending path of contemplation and of Christian perfection. Blessed Bartolo Longo saw them also as a “chain” which links us to God. A chain, yes, but a sweet chain; for sweet indeed is the bond to God who is also our Father. A “filial” chain which puts us in tune with Mary, the “handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38) and, most of all, with Christ himself, who, though he was in the form of God, made himself a “servant” out of love for us (Phil 2:7). A fine way to expand the symbolism of the beads is to let them remind us of our many relationships, of the bond of communion and fraternity which unites us all in Christ.
To be continued.
PARISH NOTICES
VOCATION PROMOTERS THANKS.
Thank you to all those who helped make the Vocations Celebration such a success. A special thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents both on the day and in the preparation.
BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSINGS.
All students will be blessed at all Masses next weekend to help support them during their new school term. Students are invited to bring along an item that they will be using for their education which will be blessed (e.g. a book, an item of stationary etc.). Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARISH FAMILY FUN DAY – 14TH SEPTEMBER 2025.
There will be a BBQ, games, bouncy castle, ice cream truck, stalls and much more for all the family to enjoy. At the end of the day, the parish social club will be open in the hall who will be having a family pub quiz. All are welcome. If you would like to have a stall or can donate cakes and refreshments please email bostallpark@rcaos.org.uk. Donations for raffle prizes, bottles and more can be brought to the house and left with Melissa or the parish priest. If you are able to volunteer in any way, please contact the parish office. Please see the poster in the 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.
DAY FOR CATECHISTS – 20TH SEPTEMBER.
The annual Diocesan Day for Catechists on Saturday 20 September is for all catechists in our parish, including those involved in Liturgy of the Word for Children, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and the RCIA process. Join us at St George’s Cathedral, SE1 6HU from 10am. Registration and workshop choices can be found at aec.rcaos.org.uk/day-for-catechists-2025
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO ST. JUDE’S SHRINE, FAVERSHAM – 25TH OCTOBER 2025.
The parish is organising a parish pilgrimage to St. Jude’s Shrine in Faversham, Kent on Saturday 25th October. There will be a coach taking pilgrims from the Church which costs £10 per adult & £5 per child under 14 years old. Please speak to the parish priest if you have any questions or can help to sponsor any pilgrims who are unable to finance their pilgrimage
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
MMC WEBINAR - 7th September @ 7:15pm on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 87971246953 Passcode: 585828
UCM MEETING.
The next meeting of the UCM will be on Saturday 20th September in the hall. New members are welcome.
LUNCH CLUB.
The next lunch club gathering will be on the 18th September at 12.30pm in the hall.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Monday at 7pm in the porch.
New members welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 6th September
W Memorial of the BVM
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. K. C. George RIP (22nd Ann.)
G TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Sunday 7th September G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Christian Pereira TG PI
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Assumpta TG
7.15 p.m. MMC Webinar
Monday 8th September
W The Nativity of the BVM
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 9th September
G Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Joshua Ilo TG on his birthday
Wednesday 10th September
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Thursday 11th September
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Priests & Vocations to the Priesthood
Friday 12th September
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Saturday 13th September
W St. John Chrysostom
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
R THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
6.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Sunday 14th September R
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Gladys Adelu TG on her birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
12 Noon. Family Fun Day