Faith

 "All things are possible to him who believes."(Mark 9:23)
At his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia on Dec 22 2011, Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI cited an "ethical crisis" and a "crisis of faith" as the cause of the financial and economic crisis in the West.  This crisis of faith results in a triumph of selfishness over social responsibility.  

Jesus encountered a lack of Faith while he was on earth,  as the gospel from today describes.  "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?"(Mark 9:19) The disciples had brought a man with his sick son possessed by an evil spirit which they had been unable to cast out.  Jesus tells the father who beseeches him for help, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."(Mark 9:23)  The man responds "I believe; help my unbelief!"(Mark 9:24)

This reading gives us such hope that with total faith anything is possible.  Even when we have little faith if we acknowledge our complete dependance on God and call upon his pity He in His love will reach out and pick us up. The man in the gospel acknowledges his lack of faith and Jesus makes up for his inadequacies and his son is healed.
Faith is a gift.  It is one of the fruits of the rosary.  It is the fruit of the first Glorious Mystery: the Resurrection. It is the most important fruit of the rosary.  The second most important fruit is grace of a happy death which is associated with the Fourth Glorious Mystery: the Assumption of Mary. We must pray to strengthen our faith.  When our faith deepens the Lord can work greater and greater things in us.  
When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."(Mark 9:29)  How powerful is prayer!  Through prayer we can increase our faith and ward off evil.  To pray more is a decision. To pray better is a grace.  The more we pray the better we will pray. 
Below is a beautiful story of a small boy with immense faith.  May it inspire you...
http://www.godvine.com/The-Inspirational-Story-of-Garvan-Byrne-a-Must-See-731.html
To recite a prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas, "Lord grant us an unconquered heart that no hardship can wear out". 
May the children's rosary and all who are associated with us experience a deepening of faith and find that they possess an unconquered heart.  May the Spirit of Prayer descend upon us that we may have a desire to pray more and the grace to pray better.  Thank you Lord for your Love and Mercy. Amen