Editorial
October nears, a time to focus on praying the rosary and standing up for life
We are about to begin October, when the Catholic Church in the U.S. marks Respect Life Month. October is also traditionally a month during which the faithful around the world are encouraged to pray the rosary, meditating on the lives of Jesus and his Blessed Mother.
For those unfamiliar with the history of the rosary, Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century promoted the Marian prayer dating to the Middle Ages by issuing several encyclicals on the devotion, earning him the title “The Rosary Pope.”
In “Supremi apostolatus officio” (“On Devotion of the Rosary”), his first encyclical on the devotion published in 1883, Pope Leo encouraged the practice of praying the rosary. He called it “an effective spiritual weapon against the evils afflicting society,” and noted, “It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublesome times to fly for refuge to Mary, and to seek for peace in her maternal goodness; showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God” (#1, 2).
In his 1884 encyclical “Superiore Anno,” Pope Leo officially dedicated the entire month of October to the Queen of the Rosary, urging the faithful to pray it daily to counter societal troubles and spiritual indifference.
Through the centuries, shepherds of the universal Church have encouraged devotion to the rosary.
During a general audience on Oct. 1, 2025, Pope Leo XIV said, “As we begin October, the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, I invite you to pray the rosary every day for peace in the world.” He had previously noted, “The rosary is one of the most powerful devotions entrusted to us by Our Lady, and in these turbulent times, it remains a sure path to peace, conversion, and deeper love of Christ.”
Our Blessed Mother, in her appearance to the children at Fatima, urged the daily recitation of the rosary for world peace.
As we begin Respect Life Month next week, we encourage Catholics to pray the rosary each day for the protection of all life from conception to natural death. Whether it is as a family, with friends or on our own, offering this devotion to our Blessed Mother offers a great witness of faith.
There are other opportunities in the coming weeks to stand up for life.
The archdiocese’s annual Respect Life Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347. N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis. All are invited.
Parishioners throughout central and southern Indiana are also invited to participate in the annual Life Chain, which will take place at various locations around the archdiocese on Oct. 4, including from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on N. Meridian Street between 12th and 16th streets in downtown Indianapolis. Check with your parish or see the Sept. 11 issue of The Criterion for other Life Chain locations.
Finally, the fall 40 Days for Life campaign began on Sept. 23 and runs through Nov. 1. A campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful activism, 40 Days for Life is held in the spring and fall with the purpose of turning hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life and bringing an end to abortion. Why not take part?
Two locations in the archdiocese are participating: Indianapolis and North Vernon. Following is information on the campaigns.
North Vernon: The campaign will take place at North Vernon City Park, 604 N. Street. To sign up for one or more hours, go to 40daysforlife.com/en/northvernon.
For more information, contact Tim O’Donnell at 317-372-0040 or idipsumsapere@att.net.
Indianapolis: The campaign will take place in front of the Planned Parenthood facility at 8590 Georgetown Road. Parking is available along Georgetown Road; do not park in the Women’s Care Center parking lot or at the industrial complex across from the Planned Parenthood facility. To sign up for one or more hours during the Indianapolis campaign, go to 40daysforlife.com/en/indianapolis.
The Knights of Columbus will again hold an overnight prayer vigil at this location from 6 p.m. on Oct. 2 through 6 a.m. on Oct. 3. All are invited to join for any amount of time.
For additional information on the Indianapolis campaign, contact Robert Burton at 40daysforlife.indy@gmail.com.
To find other 40 Days for Life campaigns outside of the archdiocese, go to 40daysforlife.com and select “Locations.”
Respect Life Month offers a reminder that God created all things and all humankind. Let us pray, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that our petitions during October and beyond help convert hardened and uniformed hearts in building a culture of life.
—Mike Krokos