BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

MARIETTA--At the 27th annual archdiocesan Rosary Rally, Archbishop John F. Donoghue described the loving obedience of the Blessed Mother as she agonized watching Jesus at Calvary and how the Catholic Church was conceived in her maternal love.

The event to honor the Mother of God, with the theme “America: Pray You Return to Christian Values,” was held the bright autumn afternoon of Oct. 11 at Holy Family Church. Archbishop Donoghue led the prayers, assisted by Deacon Al Gallagher. The rosary was recited outdoors on the church lawn and was followed by a holy hour in the church. Approximately 300 people, many of whom have attended annually, gathered.

The rally opened with a procession carrying an image of Our Lady of Fatima through an honor guard formed by members of the Knights of Columbus Charles Greco Assembly. Welcoming remarks were given by master of ceremonies Deacon Bert Berding of St. James Mission, Madison, and Jim Conrads of the Serra Club led a prayer for vocations.

Father Ed Thein, pastor of Holy Family, prayed that God would inspire leaders with moral values, that Our Lady would bring all protection and for an end to abortion and addictions that destroy people’s dignity. As the archbishop recited the rosary, parishioner Flora Sautel read the five glorious mysteries.

Holy Family choir members sang “Immaculate Mary” with flute accompaniment while attendees formed a procession and carried the Marian statue into the church. “Ave Maria” was sung by parishioner Julie Marr.

Following exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by the archbishop, worshippers entered into deep moments of silent adoration.

As one does in contemplating rosary mysteries, Archbishop Donoghue reflected on the high cost of Christ’s sacrifice and how Mary shared in it. The archbishop said that upon crucifixion Christ’s seamless cloak was given to soldiers as a common possession, as done with condemned criminals under Roman law, which reflects how the church brings the protection and faith of the Gospel into a rough and cruel world.

The archbishop, describing the unity of Jesus and Mary at the cross, said, “The mystics of the church have also seen the depth of the shared suffering between Our Lady and her Son as He hung there on the cross--the unity of their own lives in everything that He had experienced as a human being, from the moment of His physical conception until now, the moment of His extreme humiliation, suffering and death...Our mother in faith continued to choose to be a part of the life of her Son no matter the cost, no matter the pain.”

He said that Christ was in complete control at his death, teaching us by it, and that his words to Mary, “Woman, behold thy son!” and to the disciple, “Behold, thy mother!” are the immaculate conception of the church formed in Mary’s love.

“And so the love of Mary the Mother is held up as the principal lesson for all who would learn to love Jesus, her Son--and we are bid, just as St. John was, there at the foot of the Cross, to cherish and to remain near to her, for she is our mother and our principal guide...Let us try to adequately thank Him for all these things He did for us and let us humbly ask Mary, the Mother of our belief, to teach us how to do it,” he said.

Archbishop Donoghue incensed the Blessed Sacrament after which he processed among attendees blessing them with it.

Father Thein thanked the archdiocesan Rosary Rally committee, the archbishop, the Knights of Columbus, the choir and others who helped plan the event, which concludes Holy Family’s 25th anniversary year-long celebration of spiritual, social, service and study activities.

Father Thein later added, “I was delighted that we closed our year of celebration with the final ‘s,’ the spiritual, and with the opportunity to celebrate our Blessed Mother.”

Attendees expressed devotion to Mary and described the hope and protection she brings.

Planning committee member Bill Weller, a parishioner of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, who has attended the rally for 20 years, noted how Mary, in the majority of her apparitions, has emphasized the rosary.

“I consider her the most blessed of all saints because she was chosen to be the Mother of God. And who else could have more influence with Jesus than His own mother,” Weller said.

“We are asking the Blessed Mother to help us to return to Christian values...I think it’s sort of appropriate at this time when the president is in a mess and the country is having a moral decline...right in the midst of impeachment proceedings,” Weller said.

Holy Family parishioner Roy Thompson, 35, said he recently began praying the rosary daily and that he attended the rally to better understand its mysteries.

He said afterward he realized how he needs Mary and that the reflection on her suffering would help him cope with loss in his own life.

Brenda Costner of Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, attended the event with her family and said they regularly recite the rosary together.

“We as a family have a devotion to Our Lady...This is a way of showing our devotion to Our Lady and asking her to bring us closer to her Son. She’s been so good to us,” Costner said. “She’s an integral part of our family. We dedicate, we consecrate our family to her protection always.”