Trinity Heights to host Trilingual Rosary for Peace

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)
Posted Oct. 3, 2002

Pope Pius V declared Oct. 7th as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary in 1571.

At that time, the pope had urged devotion to the rosary in spiritual preparation for the Battle of Lepanto. In this battle, Christians defeated the Muslim military threat to Europe. Pope Pius V then proclaimed the feast day in honor of the victory.

Even today people throughout the world continue to honor that feast day and recognize October as the month of the rosary.

A Trilingual Rosary for Peace in honor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6 p.m., Oct. 6, at Trinity Heights in Sioux City.

According to Sheryl McGowen, a member of the devotional committee of Trinity Heights, the trilingual rosary will be prayed in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

"They will each pray a decade of the rosary in their language," she explained.

McGowen pointed out that members of the Catholic Vietnamese community have gathered to pray the rosary the first Sunday of the month for quite some time.

"We are more or less joining them," she added.

Those who attend the event will gather in front of the St. Joseph Center. There will be a short opening prayer with an explanation as to why they are observing the feast day. They will process to the Mound of Mary, singing Immaculate Mary.

Msgr. L.M. Ziegmann, spiritual director of Trinity Heights, will deliver a brief homily following the trilingual rosary.

The service, which is expected to last no longer than an hour, will end with a procession as the people sing Prayer of St. Francis. If the weather permits, candles will be lit at the close of the event.

Pope John Paul II said, "On account of the present international situation, I have invited individuals and community to pray the rosary for peace. I also renew this appeal today, underlining at the same time that the rosary is the contemplation of Christ in his mysteries, in close union with the Blessed Virgin Mary."

The pope said the rosary was a prayer that helps people to stay in Christ's company, to know him better, assimilate his teaching, and live his mysteries.

One of the Catholic Church's newest saints, Padre Pio, is known to have referred to the rosary as "the weapon" against evil.

October is the month in which Our Lady of Fatima asked people to pray the rosary for peace. As they gather on Oct. 6 in honor of the feast day, McGowen pointed out that they were fulfilling the requests of Our Lady of Fatima.

Trinity Heights also sponsored the family rosary on a daily basis starting in May, the month of Mary, through August.

"It was a grand success," said McGowen. "Every night of the summer at 7:30 people were there to pray the rosary." Based in part on the response to the summer rosary services, the committee at Trinity Heights knew many people were strongly devoted to the prayer.