Fifteen Promises of the Rosary~The Fourteenth Promise

     The Fourteenth Promise to those who faithfully pray the Rosary is that they are beloved children of Our Blessed Mother, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.  A sweet memory for me is slipping into slumber to the calm voice of my parents or grandparents as they told me one of many favorite bedtime stories. Many are the times I have fallen into a deep sleep while praying the Rosary. At these times, I feel as though our Holy Mother, is comforting my soul by telling me the story of Jesus. With each telling, a new understanding unfolds or a much needed insight is conveyed. Contemplating the life and virtues of Jesus as I pray the Rosary, opens my heart to receive the graces vital to living a Christian life. Surrendering my will to Jesus with childlike faith predisposes me to be showered with the beauty and truth of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

     At that hour the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who thinkist thou is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus, calling unto Him a little child set him in the midst of them and said "Amen I say to you. Unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this Little child, he is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven. And he that receiveth one such little child in my name receiveth me."

From the Gospel of Matthew

Chapter 18 Verses 1 through 5

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

A Priest's Love for Mary

Throughout his life as a priest, 

his love for Mary grew. 

He shared this miraculous love 

by remembering everyone's prayer needs, 

and blessing all of us with encouragement and hope.

His message to us was 

that praying the Rosary 

is the answer for every difficulty 

the world presents to our families.

His grace filled love for Mary 

melodiously echoed throughout the sanctuary 

as he lead us in praying the Rosary.

Dear Father,

Thank you for being such a wonderful priest. 

May your retirement be a happy and blessed one.

a closer union

     The month of August is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. As Catholic Christians, all of our actions must be carried out in a spirit of respect, honesty, fairness and charity. We are so often "the only Bible" that is read by those in our midst. Our behavior is a powerful expression of the extent to which our hearts are united to Christ. We are recipients of the Blessed Sacrament. Lord, please help us to be generous vessels of Christ's love for all of mankind. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the conduct of participants in and observers of sports (general intention) and those people who aspire to Live the Gospel(mission prayer intention). Saint Francis of Assisi said to preach the Gospel with our actions, and "if necessary use words". Lifting our Hearts to Jesus in all our actions, may we inspire and draw all whom we encounter to a closer union with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

"By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, 

if you have love for one another."

2 John 13:35

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

in His image and likeness

     The Month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus, who died for the salvation of all people who follow Him in sacrificial and holy love. Our heavenly Father created us in His image and likeness because of His infinite love for us. Lead by the Holy Spirit's inspiration and charity, our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the world's indigenous peoples (general intention) and the people of Latin America and the Caribbean (mission prayer intention). Lord, please help us to always remember that the faces of people of all races and cultures magnificently radiate the glorious beauty of our almighty and perfect Creator. Let us join hands helping those in need to carry their burdens as we journey together towards our eternity with God.

     "Lift up your eyes on high and see who hath created these things, who bringeth out their host by number and calleth them all by their names, by the greatness of his might and strength and power not one o them was missing. Why sayest thou, O Jacob and speakest O Israel. My way is hid from the Lord and my judgment is passed over from my God? Knowest thou not or hast thou not heard~the Lord is the everlasting God who hath created the ends of the earth. He shall not faint nor labour, neither is there any searching out of His wisdom. It is He that giveth strength to the weary and increaseth the force and might to them that are not. Youths shall faint and labor and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall take wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:26-31

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

humbly and obediently

     The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for respect for women (general intention) and for increased devotion to the Holy Rosary (mission intention). We pray that our daughters will be surrounded with beautiful Rosary prayers, and that they may enjoy lives of charity, virtue and love. Let us protect and educate our sisters and daughters to be respected and loved as intended by our Heavenly Father. In all words, actions and intentions may Jesus help us to humbly and obediently emulate Our Blessed Virgin Mary. 

 

"Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, 

the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

selfless generosity

     March is dedicated to Saint Joseph, a simple carpenter who selflessly and generously protected and provided for Jesus and Mary. Unemployment, underemployment, malnutrition, inadequate health care, lack of education, familial discord and economic hardship, plague families worldwide. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for families in difficulty (general prayer intention) and for persecuted Christians (mission prayer intention). Lord, please help us to always reach out with selfless generosity to our brethren in need.

     "When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry and shall satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not fail."

Isaiah 58:10-11

unity

     The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for peaceful unity among all people in the Name of Jesus. The general prayer intention is for inter religious dialogue and the mission prayer intention is for Christian unity. 

     Saint Paul's words, in his letter to the Ephesians, reflect this beautiful sentiment. "I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called. With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. One body and one Spirit as you are called in one hope of your calling. One faith, one Lord, one baptism."

Epesians 4:1-5 

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Loving Jesus with the Heart of Mary~ Papa Francisco en Filadelfia 2015

I was so inspired by the humility of these young people who publicly and without ceasing, reverently prayed the Rosary.

Saint Jude ~ God's Will

Trustingly accepting and lovingly obeying

the holy and perfect will of our Almighty Father

with all our mind, heart and strength

...our greatest need...

"Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, 

faithful servant and friend of Jesus,  
the Church honors and invokes you universally, 
as the patron of difficult  cases, of things almost despaired of, 
Pray for me,I am so helpless and alone. 
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. 
Come to my assistance in this great need 
that I may receive  the consolation and help of heaven 
in all my necessities, tribulations, and  sufferings, 
particularly -(make your request here)
- and that I may praise  God with you and all the saints forever. 
I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, 
to be  ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God 
and to always honor you as  my special and powerful patron, 
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you." 
Amen

Humility, Love, Obedience

  Mary's humility, love and obedience to Our Blessed Lord are unparalleled. God's design leaves no other avenue of fully imitating Jesus without Mary. If God wanted Jesus to simply appear to us, He'd have just dropped Him off on a mountaintop. We have been so blessed by the wondrous journey of Mary's Immaculate Conception, the miraculous conception of Jesus, the Nativity, the upbringing of Jesus and Our Lady's never interfering with His becoming the Sacrificial Lamb. We too, are molded by Mary. It is impossible to truly obey Jesus without imitating Mary.

(Icon written by a Secular Carmelite) 

     The life changing power of praying the Hail Mary is immeasurable. This ancient and beautiful prayer, the words of which we find in scripture, keeps the focus away from the ego and directs the soul to Our Blessed Lord. I am certain that the sound of these lovely words, spoken by the Archangel Gabriel and Saint Elizabeth~even when we pray the Hail Mary mentally~causes the devil to cringe. This prayer pokes holes in his agenda to distract us from God's love.

   We are never without help whenever we pray the Rosary. Our guardian angels even help us to pray. Through this prayer, we experience God's miracles in our lives...the greatest miracle being a personal relationship with Jesus!

Hail Mary full of grace

The Lord is with thee

Blessed art thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Pray for us sinners

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen