It may come as a surprise to you, to know that in the original Mass of the Rosary as celebrated by Dominicans, the Gospel text is that of the Sower who goes out to cast seed on the earth. Much of the seed comes to nothing as it falls on bad ground. But the seed planted on good soil brings forth a rich harvest. Jesus was speaking of how the word of God should be received. The picture with these thoughts was sent to me by two good friends from the USA-- Barbara and Stephen. They have produced several superb pictures illustrating the hands of Priests and Preachers.
The early Dominicans saw the Rosary as a practical and fruitful way the Mysteries of the Kingdom. They would have been conscious of the words Jesus added to the Parable of the Sower: To you is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom. For them, the Rosary was the Gospel on its knees. The Hail Mary-- at least the first part of it is nothing more, nothing less that a proclamation of the Good News that the Lord is with each one of us-- as he is with Mary. Praying the Rosary, might be compared to turning over the pages of the Gospels and taking them to heart.
email: hartygabriel@yahoo.co.uk
