Celebrating the Rosary

Students gather in St. Victor Church for prayer and reflection during the Month of the Holy Rosary, honoring Mary through community worship and devotion.

Honoring Mary, Growing in Faith

Every October, the Catholic Church celebrates the Month of the Holy Rosary — a time set aside to honor Mary, reflect on her example, and deepen our relationship with her son, Jesus. At St. Victor School, a Catholic elementary and middle school in San Jose, the Rosary isn’t just a tradition; it’s a way to bring our community together in prayer, reflection, and love.

Living the Rosary Together

This month, our campus came alive with faith as students, teachers, and staff gathered for our annual Living Rosary Prayer Service. Forming a giant circle across the schoolyard, each student represented a bead of the Rosary, joining their voices in prayer as the decades unfolded. It’s one of the most moving traditions of the year — a visible reminder that every prayer, no matter how small, becomes part of something beautiful when offered together.

Beyond this special service, prayer continues all month long. During each weekly school assembly, we pray a different mystery of the Rosary, helping students reflect on the life of Jesus through Mary’s eyes. In religion classes, every grade is taking time to honor Mary — learning who she was, how Jesus cared for her, and how we, as Catholics, continue that care by living her example of faith and compassion.

The Rosary also offers something deeply relevant to our modern world: a way to pause, breathe, and practice mindfulness through prayer. Each decade becomes a rhythm of calm and focus, inviting stillness and reflection — much like modern meditation, but centered on Christ. Studies have shown that praying the Rosary can foster mindfulness and emotional peace, offering the same benefits as meditation while grounding the heart in faith (Catholic News Agency, 2023; Loyola Press, The Rosary as a Tool for Meditation).

Why We Honor Mary

Mary’s “yes” to God changed the world. Her courage and trust teach us what it means to say “yes” to God’s plan in our own lives.Through values-based Catholic education, our students learn how Mary’s example shapes their faith and daily life.

To celebrate Mary is to celebrate something uniquely Catholic — our faith’s deep recognition of a woman whose bravery transformed history. While the Ten Commandments lay the foundation of God’s law, Jesus expanded on them through The Beatitudes, offering a new way of life centered on mercy, humility, and peace (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1716–1724). Mary embodied those virtues:

• She was pure of heart, trusting God fully.

• She was merciful, caring for others before herself.

• She was a peacemaker, bringing Christ’s love into the world.

By praying the Rosary, we remember her steadfast faith and meditate on the mysteries of Christ — moments of joy, sorrow, light, and glory that help us understand the fullness of God’s love. When we pray together as a school community, we not only honor Mary but also strive to live as she did — with openness, courage, and compassion.

Why It Matters for Families

For families exploring Catholic education, traditions like the Living Rosary show what makes our community unique. Prayer and mindfulness aren’t separate from learning — they shape how our students focus, reflect, and care for others. When faith is lived, not just taught, children grow into thoughtful, grounded young people ready to make a difference in the world.

What It Means to Be a Charger

Honoring Mary helps our students live out what it truly means to be a Charger — faith-filled individuals who live the Gospel each day. Her unwavering “yes” to God shows the kind of courage we hope to nurture in every student: the confidence to trust, to lead with love, and to act with conviction even when it’s not easy.

Through prayer and reflection, our students see that following Mary’s example means living with purpose and grace. As they pray the Rosary, they also practice mindfulness — learning to slow down, breathe deeply, and focus their hearts on God’s presence. By living The Beatitudes and embracing Mary’s model of discipleship, Chargers discover that true faith is active — shown in how we love, serve, and persevere.

In Mary’s courage, Chargers find their model for faith; in her humility, their guide for leadership; and in her steadfast trust, their path to becoming the people God calls them to be.