Nine Day Bread and Water Fast September 29-Ocotber 7, 2026

Dear Friends,

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor 9:23-27).

Our spiritual life requires training. If we would like to do as St. Paul challenges us and "Run so as to win," then we must follow his advice and "exercise discipline." 

It has been a yearly tradition within the Children’s Rosary to do nine days of prayer and fasting in the fall. This year it will begin on September 29 and end on October 7. We hope many will want to join us. Bread and water fasting is very effective as a means of sacrifice. Some may not be able to fast on bread, and this is okay. Prayerfully discern what is the best fasting for you. In the past, we have had adults and children join this fast. We do ask that you prayerfully consider what is safe and reasonable for you and your family. Some may be able to do a traditional bread and water fast. This is unlimited bread and water. Others may find another thing in their life that would be a great sacrifice to give up for that period. One of the most important things when one begins a fast is the disposition. One must approach fasting as an act of love to God. 

Some may want to do this fast but have not fasted before and wonder if they could complete the nine days. What I have found is that the first two days are the hardest. In many ways, the fast becomes easier as you go along.

Please accept this humble invitation to join these 9 days of fasting. It is an invitation to help to rid yourself of all the things holding you back spiritually. ~Blythe 

I would like to also offer a unique opportunity. For those joining the Children's Rosary 9 days of prayer and fasting I will be praying each day for you in front of a first class relic of the True Cross. The intention card below will remain with the relic for 9 days as the fast continues. In this way you are united in prayer to Our Lord's Cross.

How to Participate:

The Fast will begin on September 29, the Feast of the Archangels, and conclude on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7. 

1) Pray one Rosary each day, meditating on the life of Christ 

2) Fast for nine days 

3) Every day, please offer the rosary and the fast for the following intentions: 

*Lord, please purify our souls from the attachments of the world. Jesus, we surrender all we have; please take control of our lives and our families. May Jesus be born in our hearts and may He renew us. May the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and actions and renew our soul. May our hands be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world. May the members of the Children’s Rosary also be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world and gather a great many souls, especially young people, for Our Lord. *Personal Intentions (      ) *May all that Our Lady wishes to accomplish through us and the Children’s Rosary be accomplished all for the glory of God. *May the book, Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, be an instrument to bring a great many souls to Jesus through His Mother. *For a special Children’s Rosary intention. *In thanksgiving.

Beatification Mass of Archbishop Fulton Sheen

We were excited to have a member of the Children's Rosary team at the Beatification Mass of Archbishop Fulton Sheen today. Trese Gloriod, who has been an integral part of the Children's Rosary through her creative and graphics talents, attended the Mass in St. Louis. We are grateful to Trese for praying for the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary at the event. She also prayed that Bl. Fulton Sheen would intercede to help spread the Children's Rosary.

First Cross Country Children's Rosary Live Streamed

We were excited to allow people to unite with the Cross Country Children's Rosary on September 15, 2026. 

This was the first time we had a live stream available. Sixty members of the Children's Rosary from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Johannesburg, South Africa prayed with 19 children from St. Francis Xavier School in Birmingham, Alabama USA. The children absolutely loved the experience and they hope to pray again together.

Link to watch the lives stream video

First Meeting of the Children's Rosary in Kendal, England

We received this lovely note from the Children's Rosary group leader in Kendall, England. They had their first meeting on September 6, 2026. 

"For where two or three are gather in my name, there am I among them" (Matthew 18:20). We celebrated the first Children's Rosary in Kendal on 6th September, a very beautiful time of prayer for the 2 families that joined Fr Hugh, our parish priest and myself. We followed the format that you have used over the years beginning with Consecrating our group to The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary. We prayed the Joyful Mysteries. One of the young people was happy to take the lead in opening the third decade of the Rosary. This was very powerful. This was not led by myself or Fr Hugh but inspired by the Holy Spirit. The 3rd Joyful Mystery, Our Lord's Nativity. The Children's Rosary was 'born' in Kendal. One of the children was initially unsettled and crying. Her mum was juggling 2 children both under 3. The Children's Rosary is a place of welcome. I didn't want mum to question if it was right she should be here. I then remembered the pack that Sinead had provided and the rosary balloons. Again I think inspired by the Holy Spirit. We can't see the Holy Spirit but we see the impact.  I blew the balloon up but didn't 'tie' it off. I released the balloon, which like the Holy Spirit, it blew where it willed. This instantly detracted the young girl, she stopped crying and collected the balloon. She returned and sat on mum's lap. I could see mum also now relaxed and knew she along with her children was welcome. Within a few minutes the little girl was also placing flowers at the feet of Mary. Thank you to all who helped create the Children's Rosary, putting together the packs and especially the Children's Rosary balloons! The families who joined shared they enjoyed the prayer and will share with friends. We will continue to advertise via our parish newsletter and continue with personal invitation. The gospel from St Matthew on this Sunday was however perfect and confirmed that God's timing is always perfect, "For where two or three are gather in my name, there am I among them."

Join Us for the Cross Country Children's Rosary September 15, 2026

Children's Rosary groups from Namibia, South Africa and the United States will pray together at 10:30 AM ET on September 15. 

September 15 is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. We are excited to have this special event on this Feast. 

Consider uniting in prayer. The event will be livestreamed on the Children's Rosary YouTube channel and on the Children's Rosary Facebook page. 

Mass Offered on September 13, 2026 for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

A Mass was offered today for the Holy Souls. Currently the Children's Rosary has four monthly Masses offered. On the first of each month, a Mass is offered for seminarians that they will grow in holiness and lead us in love, on the first Saturday a Mass is offered for renewal of family prayer, and on the 25th of the month a Mass is offered for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. Additionally We have a monthly Mass offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory on the 13th of each month.

The Catechism is clear that we should help them. "In full consciousness of this communion  of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and 'because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins' she offers her suffrages for them." Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective". (CCC958)

St Carlo Acutis, who was recently canonized, was known for his strong devotion to the Holy Souls in purgatory. The Children's Rosary also has made it a priority for many years to help the Holy Souls and seek their intercession.

The Children's Rosary at St. Elias Parish in Lebanon Honors the Nativity of Mary

The Children's Rosary at St. Elias Rihaniyeh Parish, Lebanon held their Children's Rosary today. They closed the meeting with a cake in honor of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was celebrated yesterday. Fr. Youssef Abi Zeid said they chose to put a candle indicating 2042 years. This was as an estimate assuming Our Blessed Mother was 16 when Jesus was born. A special thank you to Lili who brought the cake and to Marie-Ange the Children's Rosary group leader at the parish. 

The children took turns placing roses beneath an image of Mary during the Rosary.