The month of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated in October, giving Catholics around the world cause to celebrate by praying the mysteries of the rosary that was revered by many popes, including Pope St. John Paul II.

“Let us #PrayTogether with the children of every continent who today are reciting the Rosary for peace in the world,” Pope Francis tweeted recently. “Let us entrust to Our Lady’s intercession the suffering people of Ukraine and other people who are suffering due to war, violence and misery. #1millionchildrenpraying” 

The rosary is often recited with the help of a string of rosary beads. Britannica explains that the rosary consists of five decades, or sets of 10, prompting the person to offer 50 Hail Mary prayers. The decades are separated by larger beads, which guide people to say the Our Father prayer. 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says the rosary is based on scriptural events and begins with a person reciting the Apostles’ Creed. The Our Father begins every mystery and comes straight from the Gospel. The Hail Mary prayer is said to replicate what the Archangel Gabriel said to Mary at the Annunciation. 

There are four sets of mysteries that surround Christ’s journey on earth. The mysteries are: Glorious, Joyful, Sorrowful, and Luminous. Pope St. John Paul II added the Luminous mysteries in 2002. Christians often meditate upon a particular set of mysteries from the life of Jesus Christ while praying the rosary. 

The Glorious Mysteries, said on Sundays and Wednesdays, are the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary. The Joyful Mysteries, said on Mondays and Saturdays, are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Christ, the Presentation in the Temple and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. The Sorrowful Mysteries, said on Tuesdays and Fridays, are the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning of Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion and Death of the Lord. The Luminous Mysteries, said on Thursdays, are the Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist. https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary

October serves as the month of the Rosary because of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary is celebrated on Oct. 7. 

The Diocese of Allentown recently posted on Twitter about the feast of the Rosary: "#Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day: October 7 Patronage: Rosary, Various Dioceses across the world. Mary, Queen of the Rosary, help us through your Most Holy Rosary to place before your Son all our needs and seek His assistance. #Catholic #Saints #OurLady."

Also celebrated as Our Lady of Victory, Pope Pius V dedicated Oct. 7 to the Rosary after the victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Pope Pius V implored all Christians to pray for victory at the Battle of Lepanto and the Christian forces miraculously won. Pope Pius V also officially added the second part of the Hail Mary and the Glory Be prayers. 

Catholic News Agency (CNA) says Pope Leo XIII increased the popularity of the Rosary from his personal devotion as well as his 11 encyclicals he wrote on the Rosary. CNA says Pope St. John Paul II said, "in which we meditate with Mary upon the mysteries which she as a Mother meditated on in her heart (Lk. 2:19.).”