100 Novenas!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son, Jesus, cleanses us from all sins.(John 1:7)

Today I feel the world is good. There is a fellowship among us.  Even nature is singing.  The sky is blue and clear.  We are living in a blessed and special time.  With our rosaries in hand we are setting out as the extended hands of Mary and her Son.  Yesterday we reached 100 novenas being said to Saints for the intention listed below.  Seven days ago 63 novenas had been initiated or completed.  I reached out to God and all of you for help.  In seven days an additional 43 novenas were started.  Our total today was 106.  Over twenty people are saying these novenas from as young as 7 to some in their late 80s.  Individuals are saying the novenas from coast to coast. The Holy Spirit is at work and the impossible seems possible.  Just 7 days ago we hoped to have another 81 novenas said by Divine Mercy Sunday.  After the 43 novenas were started we only need  38 more to reach our goal.  It is my hope we will far exceed our goal.  It seems that when we ask God for help he always exceeds our expectations. 

When the inspiration first came to dedicate the second year of the children’s rosary to renewal of family prayer a flood of ideas entered my heart.  An idea that as families set out to renew family prayer they would need a Bible to read with their children. It seemed natural to provide the Bible that we use which has been so loved by our three children.  It also felt important that families have spiritual help as they renewed prayer and scripture reading in their homes.  As Jesus sent out the disciples two by two a desire to individually call upon saints to choose a family, individual or priest in their spiritual journey  was born.  As some members of the children’s rosary are living a consecrated life or do not have children the idea came to have the children make hand made bookmarks to be used in reading of scripture.  As saints would be randomly assigned to bookmark or Bible this would allow the Saint to choose the person or family they desired to lead.   

This experience of reaching out to strangers across the world is new to me.  To expose inner thoughts and prayers for the whole world involves a trust.  It is based in a trust in Jesus that as this endeavor has been consecrated to His Sacred Heart and His Mother’s Immaculate Heart, He will bring good from it.  Early in this endeavor friends within the children's rosary would call and we would begin discussing the plans for our anniversary rosary.  Initially there were many questions such as “ what are the bookmarks for?” and  “who says the novenas?”.  I worried that no one really understood what in my own heart seemed so clear.  With faith I continued. Knowing that the Lord, if it was his desire, would make the mission clear to people and bring fruits from it.  As more people began saying novenas it was as if the breath of the Holy Spirit was blown through the group.  Individuals who at first seemed unsure soon became excited.  They told me later that they felt wonderful saying the novenas and as they were doing their first novena they kept adding on a second, third, fourth and fifth novena all to different saints.  Members began sharing the prayer mission with family across the country.  Those who started told their spouses.  As it initially seemed difficult to explain the whole goal of this endeavor I am awe struck that now others are sharing it with friends and they are in turn telling others.  All of a sudden everyone seems to understand what we are doing.  As a I watch this from my view I can see that all is happening by the grace of God.  None of what has occurred could have been brought about by human intervention alone.  Daily I thank God for continuing to support and Bless this effort by connecting all of us together in the light and allowing us to have fellowship with one another.  

I am accutely aware that many prayers were said, some by individuals I may never meet that resulted in an awakening of my faith.  The prayers they said were sent up to Heaven and through grace a seed placed in my heart as a child grew deeply.  It is my prayer today that our prayers may provide a quenching drink of water to the seeds that sit dormant in so many hearts today.  As spring continues to unfold and the trees and bulbs break out of their dormancy may individuals across the globe awaken to a time of solidarity.  A time when we all desire to be the extended hands of Jesus and his Mother.  Amen

The intention being prayed for in over 100 novenas:

MAY THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY, THEIR FAMILIES, THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY INCLUDING OUR PRIESTS, OUR BISHOP AND OUR HOLY FATHER THE POPE BE THE EXTENDED HANDS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER AND HER SON.  MAY WE GATHER A GREAT MANY SOULS ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE LORD.  MAY WE EXPERIENCE RENEWAL OF FAMILY PRAYER AND SPREAD IT ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN A SPECIAL WAY WE ASK EACH SAINT TO CHOOSE AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR A PRIEST, ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CHILDREN’S ROSARY GROUP TO LEAD IN THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. DEAR SAINT PRAY FOR OUR EXTENDED GROUP THAT WE MAY EMBODY THE VIRTUES YOU EXEMPLIFIED HERE ON EARTH.