October is a time to celebrate the meaning of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when Catholics take time to 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 said on Twitter. “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 typically recited with the help of a string of rosary beads. Britannica says the rosary consists of five decades, or sets of ten, that represent saying the Hail Mary 50 times. The decades are separated by larger beads, which call for Our Father prayers. 

The rosary is based on scriptural events, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says, and begins with the Apostles’ Creed. The Our Father begins every mystery and comes from the Gospel. The Hail Mary represents the Archangel Gabriel’s words to Mary at the Annunciation.

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

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

Catholic News Agency (CNA) says October is the month of the Rosary because of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary on Oct. 7. 

The Florida Catholic Bishops tweeted in recognition of that celebration: "Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!" and included a quote from Pope Leo XIII which reads, "It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary.”

That day is also celebrated as Our Lady of Victory, as 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. 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.).”