Children's Rosary turns 1

A Look Back Over the Past Year

One year ago a small group of children and their parents met for the first children's rosary in the lower chapel of St. Thomas Apostle Church in West Hartford, CT USA.  We came before the Lord and consecrated ourselves and our children to Our Lady and Jesus.  We came with Love for Mary and a desire to have her guide us to her Son.  As the most perfect of mothers she heard us and has been leading us by the hand this past year.

Reflecting on the families that have come to join our rosaries I can see that the Lord hand selected each child and family.  Many of our first members were children with disabilities.  These children through their love and purity shine like diamonds before the Lord.  We thank the Lord for each child and each miracle that occurred when they were created and then brought into this world.  Our youngest member was barely walking when we began last year.  It is beautiful to see children grow in their faith and love for their heavenly Mother Mary.

Fr. Murphy praying with the children

The children's rosary has grown and I am happy to say that I do not know the ages of our youngest and oldest members.  Only God knows how many people have in their heart told the Lord that they want to join our group.  My prayer is that there are many members spread across the globe that have read about our group and chosen to unite themselves with us.  We began by teaching our children the rosary and praying it with them.  The Lord in his generosity has blessed this effort and put a desire within the children to continue to increase their time in prayer each day.  Some of the children as young as seven, by choice say 15 decades of the rosary daily.  This could only be possible with the help of Our Lady and the Lord.  The effects of this degree of prayer each day are profound.

Before Pentecost last year the children made flames with a gift of the Holy Spirit on each one.  Each flame was prayed over individually during family rosary.  The children as a group prayed over all of the flames at our monthly rosary.  The flames were then given out to the Parish with the prayer that the Holy Spirit would bestow a gift of the Holy Spirit to each family who chose a flame.  The response from this prayer initiative was incredible.  At the end of Mass a line to the end of the Church formed to receive a flame with a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Children praying the rosary over the flames on Pentecost

The children made an intention box which is kept in our Parish and all are encouraged to place an intention into the box to be prayed for during our daily rosaries as well as well as during our monthly group rosary.

A Mass is being said today, April 10th 2012,  for all of the families of the children's rosary.  To be a member of the children's rosary one only has to tell the Lord in their heart of their desire to join our group.

The children are dedicating the upcoming year to renewal of family prayer and will be giving out children's Bibles and handmade bookmarks at their anniversary rosary this Sunday at 9:45AM EST in the chapel of St. Thomas the Apostle Church West Hartford CT, USA.  If you cannot attend the rosary join us in prayer from your homes.  If you would like one of our handmade bookmarks please contact us at blythe.kaufman@gmail.com

The children's rosary has also begun inviting Saints to join the children's rosary and pray with us and for us.  170 Novenas have been said to individual Saints by approximately 30 people.  The complete list of Saints can be found on the page "Saints invited to Join the Children's Rosary". The intention for each novena has been:

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.