The rosary is an ideal tool for spiritual warfare. When the Israelites marched against their enemies, they carried the Ark of the Covenant with them, blowing trumpets announcing the Lord’s presence: “So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.’ And he said to the people, ‘Go forward; march around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord'” (Joshua 6:6-7). In the Lord’s presence, accompanied by the obedience of the Israelites, the city fell (6:21).
Our Blessed Mother is the Ark of the New Covenant. God the Holy Spirit overshadowed and then indwelled Mary at the Annunciation. At that time Mary’s womb became the dwelling place of the presence of God (Luke 1:35). Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail…And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery” (Revelation 11:19; 12:1-2).
When we pray the rosary, we bring Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, with us into battle against sin and death. The Israelites marched around Jericho each day for a full week; it fell on the seventh day (Joshua 6:15). Their obedience and consistent daily prayer–each day of the week–was rewarded. We can be assured of our ultimate victory when we offer our prayers to Jesus through Mary in this way.
Some people find it hard to pray the rosary consistently. That’s okay! We can come to the Lord in our poverty and cry out, “Lord, teach us to pray!” (Luke 11:1). In our trust and obedience, He will teach us to pray the rosary, an amazing spiritual weapon that is prayed with our fingers: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).
What spiritual battle is God calling you to personally? Who is the Lord calling you to pray for through Mary?
Jesus, teach me to pray! I desire to pray to You daily through Your Blessed Mother in the Most Holy Rosary. Lead me and train my fingers for your spiritual battle.