The Diocese of Lansing is in the middle of a 54-day rosary, that began Sept. 15 and ends Nov. 8, to fight the abortion movement, specifically Proposal 3 which is on the ballot in November. 

"Dear Friend, Happy Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Welcome to Day 1 of our 54-Day Rosary Novena,” Bishop Earl Boyea said on Facebook. “Today we pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. From now until Nov. 8, let us ‘fight like heaven’ in order that life and love prevail over those powers who will ‘fight like hell’ to impose a culture of death upon us. Below is your Day 1 beginners guide. Ave Maria!” 

Part of the 54-day prayer cycle occurs in October, which is the month of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where Catholics around the world focus on 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 tweeted. “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” 

Britannica describes the rosary is a series of prayers recited with the help of a string of rosary beads. The rosary consists of five decades, or sets of ten, that represent 50 Hail Mary prayers. The decades are separated by larger beads, which represent Our Father prayers. 

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

The rosary’s mysteries surround Christ’s journey on earth. There are four mysteries: Glorious, Joyful, Sorrowful, and Luminous, the most recent one that was added by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002. 

Christians can choose to meditate upon a particular set of mysteries from the life of Jesus Christ while praying the rosary. 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. 

October represents the month of the Rosary because of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary on Oct. 7, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA). That day is also celebrated as Our Lady of Victory. 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 was devoted to praying the rosary, which added to its popularity. He also wrote 11 encyclicals about 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.).”