A dear priest sent this to us recently. Feels like the perfect thing for today's feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The devil and his minions seek to set up strongholds from which they launch attacks against followers of Christ and those they love and serve. Jesus taught us “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against” His Church (Mt. 16:18).

This is commonly interpreted to mean that the Church passively endures the assaults of the devil with the assurance that he shall not prevail. But that’s not true. What it means is the Church lays siege to these strongholds of darkness set up against Her and the gates protecting them shall come down like the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6).

The weapon for mounting the assault is the Rosary.

In praying the Rosary, the words of Gabriel to Mary are repeated over and over, “Hail Mary, full of grace.” This salutation recalls the moment “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14) in the womb of Mary.

Every recitation of the “Hail Mary” is like a battering-ram smashing up against the “gates of the netherworld” and the strongholds they protect. Is it any wonder why the devil hates the Rosary?

So, pray the Rosary. Wield “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). Pray that the strongholds of darkness set up against you and your loved ones will be demolished and destroyed through the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who gave her own flesh and blood to the Son of God for the salvation of the world.

The gates of the netherworld cannot prevail against Jesus Christ or the woman who bore Him. Pray the Rosary.