Letran RSO and CPAG Officers gathered at the Aranzazu grounds for Rosarium 2025. Photo by Jehoshieba Santiago | The LANCE.
The Letran Student Council together with the Religious Affairs Division and the Letran Youth for Christ, held its yearly tradition Living Rosary “Rosarium” at the Aranzazu Grounds on Nov. 14.
United with prayers, Letranites once again whisper their intentions though the pleas of Mary to Jesus. Reflecting on the Sorrowful mysteries, the Teatro de Letran re-enacted the passion and death of Jesus.
During the recitation of the Holy Rosary, student leaders gathered on the grounds, forming a “living rosary” as they held candles and rosaries in a symbolic act of prayer.
This tradition traces its roots to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1826, when Pauline Marie Jaricot introduced the concept of the Living Rosary within the Mission Society.
She envisioned it as a simple yet meaningful devotion accessible to ordinary believers—those she fondly described as “coarse-grained Christians” in her homeland—guiding them to Mary through the “bonds of the rose.”
Pauline designed the Living Rosary as a “breviary of the poor,” a form of prayer open to all. Her initiative carried three key goals: to help those who struggle with prayer to find their way back into it; to confront the moral and social challenges of society through united prayer; and to build communities rooted in missionary solidarity.
With the growing moral and social challenges that Philippine politics are facing today, this year's rosarium centered its intentions on truth and accountability under the theme “Rosarium: Growing Grace to Uproot Corruption.”
During each inter-mystery of the Holy Rosary, student leaders offered silent prayers; both for those implicated in corrupt practices and for the many individuals and communities harmed by these abuses.
“Terrorism of injustice”, this is how Carlos Miguel Teodoro, a second-year BS Psychology student, describes the corruption and irregularities he sees today and upholds its intentions during the said prayer rally.
He shared that praying the Holy Rosary gives him strength in moments of hardship: “No matter what the situation is, God is always there to listen to our cry,” he said.
Teodoro added, “Sa bawat pinagdaraanan natin, there are Black Saturdays, but there are also Easter Sundays. Lahat tayo may pinagdadaanan, pati ang bansa natin. Kaya, we need to continue to thrive and pray harder.” He also connected his reflection to Colegio's mission as a Dominican institution “with a special devotion to Mary.”
For him, this devotion calls the community to stand firm in faith and follow Mary’s example of embracing God’s will—an example he believes everyone should strive to emulate though praying the holy rosary.
This narrative connects to the story of how the Holy Rosary was entrusted to Saint Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers.
According to tradition, Saint Dominic retreated into a forest near Toulouse after seeing how deeply sin had taken root among the people, preventing the conversion of the Albigensians.
For three days and three nights, he prayed unceasingly, seeking guidance. During this time, the Blessed Mother appeared to him, accompanied by three angels.
She asked, “Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wishes to use to reform the world?”
Saint Dominic replied humbly, “Oh, my Lady, you know far better than I do. Next to your Son, Jesus Christ, you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation.”
In this time of uncertainty, Saint Dominic’s encounter with Mary stands as a living testimony that praying the Holy Rosary can help guide people on reform the anxieties of society.
Praying the Holy Rosary draws us into its timeless message—first entrusted by Jesus to Mary, and through her to Saint Dominic: “A weapon that the Blessed Trinity wishes to use to reform the world.” From the days of EDSA I to our present time marked by uncertainty and dishonesty, the Rosary continues to speak clearly: “Use it in times of darkness.”
As Padre Pio beautifully reminds us, holding the Rosary is like holding the hand of Mary herself, who gently leads us to Jesus—the true Peacemaker and Redeemer.