July 8th Children's Rosary

Thank you all for your prayers.  We had a wonderful turnout this morning with four new children who joined our group. We had a new mom with her two young children Luca(red shirt) and Samantha(blue shirt).  Both of her children speak Spanish and are just learning their prayers in English.  

Another family joined our group.  A grandmother and grandfather brought their two grandsons David and Eric.  The boys and their grandmother are pictured below.

Surprisingly we were back in the Chapel today.  During the previous month the lower chapel has been closed due to water damage from a recurrent flooding problem.  The wet rug has been removed and unfinished cement with dried glue was present on the floor of the chapel this morning.  Our Pastor made a few jokes about the rough appearance of the space during Mass.  The flood and damage to the lower Church has been one of many recent problems to befall our Church.  The Words of Our Lord this morning in the second reading to Saint Paul and Paul's response seemed perfect in its timing. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.(2Corinthinans 12:9-10) One can also apply this truth to our Church. For a Church rebounding from physical devastation pulls those praying within it together to rebuild.  Tough times it is said fill churches and good times empty them.  

 At the end of each decade one of the smaller children who are not yet ready to lead take a white rose from the vase and place it at our Lady's feet.  

With each decade we humbly ask our Lady to bestow the fruit of that mystery.  Such as with the First Glorious Mystery we asked Our Lady, as the flower was being placed at her feet, for the gift of Faith.

Today the children were especially joyful.  Mary Rose popped up to lead the Fourth decade which honored Our Lady's Assumption into Heaven.  Mary Rose has Down's Syndrome and at first was very nervous to lead the group but with each month that passes she becomes more and more eager to lead.  As she and Alina lead us together the group quietly listened to hear her words.  Each one was said with so much energy and effort.  It is at such moments that Our Lady's presence is felt the strongest.

Our Lady's Peace Rose was also in bloom with three new blossoms today.  The Children's Rosary planted the Rose for Our Lady on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  The Children prayed that with each petal that forms on the rose that one thousand families will begin family prayer.  I am aware of at least 14 blossoms which have opened since the rose was planted on May 13, 2012.  It is hard to imagine how many petals that would be. These latest blossoms were more yellow compared to the one which bloomed around the Feast of John The Baptist which appeared pink. See the post from June 28th to see the pink rose. Scroll to the end of the post for the picture. Pink blossom from the Rose of Our Lady