The most difficult part of starting a prayer journey is taking the first step . . .
Just Do It!
During his first Saturday morning talk, the priest, a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, explored Marian devotion by dispelling commonly held misconceptions. Protestants wrongly believe that Catholics worship Mary, and even practicing members of the faith discount praying to Mary, because, “Jesus is all that matters.”
“That’s what Mary thinks,” Fr. Corapi said, agreeing with the latter statement in an ironic fashion. “The Virgin Mary has one thing in mind. — bringing you closer to her son. All authentic Marian devotion begins with Jesus Christ, centers on Jesus Christ, and ends with Jesus Christ. So don’t be afraid of it.”
An allegiance to Mary is something the priest has shared with audiences since his first guest appearance on EWTN’s “Mother Angelica Live” many years ago. At the end of the program, his interviewer asked a compelling question: If he had one thing to say to millions of people, what would it be?
“I could have said a lot of good things,” Fr. Corapi explained, remembering he could have asked listeners to read the Bible, make a holy hour, or build a church. “What I said was ‘pray the rosary,’ and I’d give the same reply today. When you say the rosary, you do all those other things.”
The prayer of the rosary is so powerful because it’s the prayer of the Gospel. It’s an argument the Catholic apologist uses to explain the uniquely Catholic practice to members of other Christian denominations.
“When they listen, they can’t dispute it, and many of them end up praying the rosary. I’ve gotten Southern Baptist pastors to pray the rosary this way,” he confided to the amused audience. “They do it because they’re good men who love God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. It makes sense.”