October is the month of the Holy Rosary

                                             "Virgin and Child with a Rosary" by Murillo


In 1883, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical dedicating the month of October to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.  Pope Leo XIII is known as "the Rosary Pope" because he promulgated 11 encyclicals regarding this devotion.  In 1884, Pope Leo XIII further decreed that during the month of October five decades of the rosary were to be prayed daily in all parish churches and in all churches dedicated to the Mother of God.   Sadly, this practice appears to have died out.


Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.