Saturday, May 31, 2014

First Children's Rosary in Canada

The Children's Rosary at Immaculate Conception Church in North Delta British Columbia,  Canada will hold their first meeting tomorrow.  The children will be meeting at 3PM PT (6PM ET).  We are very excited as this is the first Children's Rosary to meet in Canada. For those of you not familiar where North Delta is located in British Columbia Canada.  This little map highlights it in red.  One of the beautiful things about unifying in prayer with so many from across the globe is one begins to learn more and more about different regions of the world.  As today is the Feast of the Visitation there is a wonderful sense of Our Blessed Mother as a traveler, one who always had her hands open with a warm welcome.

The new group leader of the Children's Rosary in North Delta BC is planning to travel to Kenya this summer with her family.  She hopes to meet with our two Children's Rosary group leaders in Nairobi and help to form more Children's Rosary groups in Parishes throughout the region.  

Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya
Recently we had a new Children's Rosary group meet at Assumption Church in Umoja Kenya.  One of the little girls is holding up the sheet with the Consecration prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Each one of our Children's Rosary groups is Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary at their first meeting.  In this way they are under the protection and guidance of Christ and His Mother. 

Friday, May 30, 2014

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"(Luke 1:42)


This Saturday we will celebrate the Feast of the Visitation.  The Visitation is also the second joyful mystery of the Rosary.  The fruit of that mystery is love of neighbor a wonderful grace to receive. Over the next few days we have many Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Please consider joining the Children in prayer. They always pray for those unifying prayers with them.
Friday May 30th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange Texas 7:05 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School Pontiac, IL 9:00 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Esate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas 6PM CT

Saturday May 31 (Feast of the Visitation)
Children's Rosary at St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Lilburn, Georgia 9:30 AM
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Parish in Corvallis Oregon 9AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Luke's Church in Ogallala, Nebraska 6PM ET

Sunday June 1st
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick's Church in Nottingham, England 9AM local time  (4AM ET)

Children's Rosary at St. Luke's Church in Ogallala, Nebraska at 8:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Harlan Kentucky 11:30 AM 
Children's Rosary at Immaculate Conception Church in North Delta, British Columbia Canada  3PM PT (FIRST MEETING)
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Chruch in Tacoma WA 11:30 AM PT

Children's Rosary at St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania at 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Children's Rosary at St. Joachim Parish in Madera, California 5:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 2PM local time 

Monday June 2nd
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, PA 12:20 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladstone Michigan 4:30PM  ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, New York 4:30 PM held in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Ascension Thursday

Today we celebrate Our Lord's Ascension into Heaven which is also the Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.  Some areas have transferred the celebration of this Solemnity to this coming Sunday. However in certain areas, such as the Archdiocese where I live, Hartford Connecticut USA, they have retained the Solemnity to be celebrated today.  

Something I have pondered often is the beautiful fruit of the second Glorious Mystery which is hope. 

In the past I have said, that if I could chose one word to describe the Children's Rosary it would be hope, so this feast day is particularly special.  The settling on this single word to describe the Children's Rosary has come after many experiences.  One beautiful one I described through the meeting of a new Children's Rosary group in a school in Louisiana.  

For my own part on a daily basis I have experienced how headlines of killing and corruption erode ones hope.  Yet when I immerse myself in the Children's Rosary both through prayer and working with all the group leaders and children, hope wells up in the soul.  It is nothing conscious it just comes and flows up through ones heart and out.  

Hope is a grace that comes through prayer and in a special way through prayer of the Rosary.  Yet being a part of bringing children to prayer and to their heavenly Mother and her Son also brings a hope and a peace that there is a bright future ahead.  Some from a distance might think this is misguided optimism for so much darkness stands before us but such is the way a child would look at the future and are we not all called to approach Our Lord with such simplicity of Spirit.  Indeed there is a bright future ahead if we unify together in prayer and trust with an open heart as the little ones do.  Such is a simple way, but one which our Mother will help us, if we ask her through prayer.


Today we are blessed to have two Children's Rosary groups meeting.  If you are able to join the children in prayer this would be wonderful.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago, Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, California will meet at 6:30 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Novena to the Holy Spirit


Novena to the Holy Spirit
Dearest Holy Spirit, confiding in Your deep, personal love for me, I am making this novena for the following request, if it be Your Holy Will to grant it:(mention your request). 
Teach me, Divine Spirit, to know and seek my last end; grant me the holy fear of God; grant me true contrition and patience. Do not let me fall into sin. Give me an increase of faith, hope and charity, and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state in life.
Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus and an obedient child of the Church. Give me efficacious grace sufficient to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily. 
Give me the four Cardinal Virtues, Your Seven Gifts, Your Twelve Fruits.
Raise me to perfection in the state of life to which You have called me and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

(novena obtained from EWTN website)
The Friday after Ascension Thursday is the day Mary and the Apostles began the very first novena to the Holy Spirit.  May we too begin a novena this day calling down the Spirit to blow through our hearts, families, and world as it did at the very first Pentecost.  Consider including our Children’s Rosary petition in your novena.  
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 THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE EACH ONE OF US ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

Children's Rosary Today


Today we are blessed to have two Children's Rosary groups meeting:
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 5PM CT

Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

First Meeting of the Children's Rosary in Pontiac, Illinois Makes News

Mia Brady a member of the Children's Rosary
credit: Pontiac Daily Leader
On the first Friday of March St. Mary's School held their first Children's Rosary.  They joined children from all around the world to pray the Rosary.  Local news outlets took notice.  Both the Diocese newspaper (The Post) and the secular paper (Pontiac Daily Leader) covered the story.  In a time when media so often has to cover tragic events regarding our children it is wonderful to see that there is hopeful uplifting news making it into the press as well.  The story which ran in the Pontiac Daily Leader ran the story front page with the title: Joining Others Around the World.  How glorious to pick up your paper and see this little girl on the cover.  Children have a wonderful way of touching hearts, not only the heart of Our Lord but also the hearts of their parents and those around them.  In this way these little ones have the capacity to bring many to the Lord with them. St. Mary's School is located within the Peoria Diocese, home to Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen who is currently being considered for Beatification.  Recently Bishop Jenky, Director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation and Bishop in Peoria wrote to the Children's Rosary group leader in Pontiac: "As you are perhaps well aware, the Diocese of Peoria has made a major commitment to promote the Rosary among all age groups, very much including children....Many thanks for promoting the Children's Rosary.  It is my hope and prayer that the next generation of believers has the Rosary in their "spiritual arsenal"'.

Full article in the  Pontiac Daily Leader
Full article in The Post

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Mass Offered today for Members of the Children's Rosary

A Mass was offered today by the Capuchin Friars for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all those who help the Children's Rosary.  We continue to have a Mass said for the this intention on the 25th of each month.

Thank you all for your efforts with the Children's Rosary.  May Our Lord bless you all!

Thank you

A special thank you to Dr. Vincent Baratta, author of the Rosary is Alive series of books and videos. He has spent the last twenty years of his life helping to spread the devotion of the Rosary.  Recently he reached out to the Children's Rosary both to share his materials and also to suggest a collaboration with the Catholic Grandparents Association.  As many have read on the site, we are now planing a wonderful collaboration between the Children's Rosary and the Catholic Grandparents Association for the month of July.  We thank Dr. Vincent Baratta for connecting these two International Apostolates, something we pray will bring bountiful fruit in the future.  

Dr. Baratta also has helped to design our recent informational Children's Rosary handouts.  This two sided flyer has been a wonderful resource for our groups.  

By right clicking on the image the flyer can be saved to your desk top and then printed from home.   


One of the many resources that Dr. Baratta has developed is a Catechism resource book that presents Catechism through the Mysteries of the Rosary.  The book has an Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat.  It is organized by Mystery and has a diverse set of questions and answers Catechists can use with their class.  Could be a nice adjunct to an established program that can take as little as 5 minutes of class time or much more depending on ones interest.  The book has two names but contains the same content: 
A Study book for Catechists and Religion Educatiors 
A Study Book Parents and Caregivers.
To see all his materials visit his site by clicking HERE.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sharing Rosaries in May

Our Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket in Cheshire, CT recently came up with a beautiful idea.  They wanted to share Rosaries in May with members of their parish.  The children gathered to make up beautiful little packets of prayer cards, Rosaries and pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Hundreds of packets were put together by the children.  To see them at work as little evangelizers for Our Lady and her Son is such a hopeful thing to see.  Their beautiful example inspired other members of the Children's Rosary to do something similar in their parishes in May.  


Holy Cross Family Ministries joined in on the idea and helped donate Rosaries to many of our Children's Rosary groups for this May Rosary Initiative.  Recently one of the Children's Rosary group leaders from St. Thomas Becket Parish sent pictures of the children during their preparation.  Next weekend these little ones will be giving out these Rosaries in their parish.  Other Children's Rosary groups are also scheduled to do something similar in their parishes tomorrow.  Other groups shared their Rosaries during various weekends in May.

A very special thank you to all the children who helped make this possible and those who so generously donated supplies, time and gifts to make this happen.

Friday, May 23, 2014

"You are my friends"

This is part of the Gospel reading from today at Mass.  It goes on to say:

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

It is so beautiful for our children to know they have a friend in Jesus.  Not only a friend but a best friend.  So often as parents we worry about our children.  We wonder what affect certain friends are having on them. It is so comforting to know that the time they spend in prayer will help to sanctify them and strengthen them.  This process of sanctification is explained beautifully by Bl Bartolo Longo: Just as two friends frequent in each other's company, tend to develop similar habits, so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from their supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience  and perfection."

Members of the Children's Rosary at St. Paul School in Odel, Illinois
placing roses beneath a statue of Our Lady during a Children's Rosary
Over the next few days we have a number of Children's Rosary groups meeting around the world.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  They always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

If you do not have a Children's Rosary group at your parish consider helping to bring one to your parish.  To learn more click here.

Friday May 23rd
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange Texas 7:05 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School Pontiac, IL 9:00 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Esate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Saturday May 24th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Parish in Corvallis Oregon 9AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Sunday May 25th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick's Church in Nottingham, England 9AM local time  (4AM ET)

Children's Rosary at St. Margaret Church in Waterbury CT 10 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Chruch in Tacoma WA 11:30 AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Monday May 26th
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, PA 12:20 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladstone Michigan 4:30PM  ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, New York 4:30 PM held in front of the Blessed Sacrament.





Thursday, May 22, 2014

Introducing our New Children's Rosary Bumper Sticker

We are excited to introduce our new bumper sticker.  This is just another effort to help increase awareness of the Children's Rosary and help give children the opportunity to develop a deeper prayer life with their peers and family.

As you can see it is not an overwhelming sticker and has a simple message: Help Bring Our Children to Prayer.  To include the message limited the size of the lettering but it can easily be read walking by the car.  It is also visible if one were directly behind the car at a light.  Please let us know if you would like to have a bumper sticker sent to you and the quantities desired.  

Recommended donation is:
1 Bumper sticker plus large envelope and shipping $6.00
Each additional bumper sticker $4.00

If you are interested in bumper stickers please contact us at: www.contactchildrensrosary@gmail.com  
Please provide your name and address and how many you would like.

Donations for the bumper stickers can be made online with our donate button present on the right margin or made out to Children's Rosary Inc and mailed to PO Box 271743 West Hartford CT 06127

What continues to impress me is how members of the  Children's Rosary take every little resource available and use it to the maximum extent to get the word out about this Apostolate.  Pictures I have sent to new groups later I have seen have been used for posters in their parish.  

Thank you all so much for your tireless efforts to help bring children to prayer and spread this prayer movement to every corner of the world.

Join the Children In Prayer


Today we are blessed to have at least three Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Two groups are meeting at the exact same time despite being in different time zones and many miles a part. Please consider joining the Children in prayer from your home.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago, Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, California will meet at 6:30 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM ET.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Introducing our Newsletter: Vineyard

Recently we released the first edition of the Vineyard.  The newsletter is available electronically.  All those interested in receiving a copy please contact us at the following email address and we would be happy to send you a copy: www.contactchildrensrosary@gmail.com  

As today's Gospel reading was part of Scripture that inspired the name of our newsletter, I thought it would be a fitting time to introduce our newsletter on our website.

First grapes grown in our yard after extensive pruning
Why is the Children's Rosary Newsletter called the Vineyard?

This is a reasonable question as the two do not at first glance seem to naturally fit together.  In settling on a name for our newsletter I was reminded of how St. Francis of Assisi came on many of the founding tenants of his order.  A Bible was randomly opened and direction was found straight from Sacred Scripture.  The same approach was taken here.  After praying to the Holy Spirit for direction a Bible was opened at random and the first word which came into view was vineyard.  Further reflection and contemplation brought a wonderful treasure of possible reasons for such a name. 

In the Gospel of John, Our Lord shares:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples".(John 15:1-8)

There is something beautiful about the phrase, “apart from me you can do nothing”.    A child in so many ways embodies this sentiment as a small child has total dependence on a parent.  Little ones would perish if they were not continually fed and cared for by their parents.  Such is the way our Heavenly Father desires us to abandon ourselves to Him.  Our Lord Jesus invites us, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.(Matthew 11:28) 

It is through the hands of these little children and the Rosary that we may all be led to the warm embrace of Our Lord. For it is said, “whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it”(Mark 10:15).

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Children's Rosary Today


Today we are blessed to have two Children's Rosary groups meeting:
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 5PM CT

Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Priests for Life

Recently we had the pleasure of speaking with Fr. Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, about the Children's Rosary.  He spent a great deal of time speaking with Asher, one of the members of the Children's Rosary.  Fr. Pavone was very excited to hear of the many Children's Rosary prayer groups that now exist across the globe and wanted to share this message.

"Children praying the Rosary give great encouragement to the Pro-life Movement!  They are closer in age to the children we are are all trying to protect, and they remind us of their preciousness. Therefore I encourage all to participate in the Children's Rosary Prayer Group Movement!" -Fr. Frank Pavone

One of the prayer intentions that each Children's Rosary group lifts up during their prayers is for the protection of the unborn.  It is very important for our children to pray for these little ones and by their presence celebrate life.

Early in the day we had several opportunities to speak with Fr. Pavone and he truly showed such kindness and humor with little Asher who very much enjoyed speaking to Fr. Pavone on various topics.
Candid moments with Fr. Pavone
Wonderful Discussion


Fr. Pavone was so kind as to offer to pray over Asher and I before parting. As some of you many have read Asher's health took a down turn later in the day with a terrible stomach flu.  These blessings we received certainly helped us on our return bus trip. 



For more information about forming a Children's Rosary group in your parish click here.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

A Grandmother's Experience with the Children's Rosary

"St Francis of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica"
by Nate age 5
Recently I received a lovely note from a grandmother who has been a part of the Children's Rosary.  Her own daughter was very sick through her pregnancy and had reached out to our groups for prayers.  It was our joy to pray for her daughter and the little baby she carries.    Her note below is a beautiful example of the amazing capacity children have for prayer and love of Our Lady and her Son.  It also so wonderfully shows how grandparents can foster faith in their grandchildren through beginning a Children's Rosary.

Dearest Blythe,
Know that you and your family and Apostolate are ever in my heart and prayers.  I have begun praying the Rosary with my grandson Nate who is 5. For the very first time last week he prayed the entire Rosary with me using your booklet.  He loved the Luminous Mysteries and read them and the Thinking of portion of the prayers.  It was so beautiful and I knew we were united through the Immaculate Heart of Our Holy Mother in a very special and powerful way to all the groups. So I would like to register as a group.

Barb goes on to share a bit about her grandson Nate.
He has loved "Mama Mary" since he could talk and loves the Saints.  He is a little prayer warrior! At 5 he has composed prayers and songs to Jesus that he has typed himself, printed, and inserted in a binder. He has 42 pages so far.  He also loves to build cathedrals and basilicas dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I have included one picture but I have many(see above).  After receiving this note I asked her if Nate had a name for this Basilica he had built?  This was her response:
He wanted me to tell you the official name: St Francis of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica".    I knew it was important to him so I am dashing this off to you with love and prayers! Nate said to tell you "Thanks".  :)

Other Posts you may enjoy:
A lesson Pope Francis learned from his grandmother
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Here is what Clergymen, Parents and Children have to say about the Children's Rosary
Collaboration with the Catholic Grandparents Association.

Friday, May 16, 2014

A Long Winter

As many of you may be aware of who live in the United States it has been a long cold winter.  Even today on May 16th there is word of some snow in Chicago.  Strange but apparently true. As we celebrated the Memorial of St. Isidore, the Patron Saint of farmers this week, I thought it might be timely to share some experiences from our garden.

Now I must tell you we live on a very small piece of land in a town so garden space is precious.  Two years ago our family tried to grow parsnips for the first time in one of our raised beds.  The seeds were planted in the spring.  All summer and fall we waited and watched as these tiny seedlings barely grew. As fall harvest came we looked at these tiny little plants and realized for some reason they had not made any parsnips.  It was generally a great disappointment.  Not wanting to pull out living plants at the end of the season we left them in the ground.  The next spring we noticed some very thick green shoots that looked much like a carrot green but thicker.  I wasn't sure what it was for a while.  By the time I realized that indeed these were some of the parsnips from the previous summer the plants had "bolted" a term referring to the plant sending up a shoot to form seeds.  The children pulled out the plant to reveal a tiny parsnip too tiny to eat. I was disappointed but in reading a very old gardening book written by a gardener from our area, it explained that if a plant makes it through a winter it will indeed produce fruit but harvest quickly as it will go to seed very fast.  It has been through so much it quickly tries to ensure the next generation before harsh weather kills it.  With this piece of knowledge I was poised for the following year.  We left the remaining parsnips that had gone to seed and left them alone.  In the fall the whole bed looked like snow with parsnip seeds through the whole bed.  There were also some random little parsnip plants as well. With record cold this year I wondered if any of the plants would live through the winter.  As the snow melted one of the first things to emerge were 5 strong shoots.  There was no mistaking them this year.  A few parsnips had made it.  

As my hands are too weak now for gardening due to a disability with my joints I called our son Asher who is in first grade.  He came over and with all his might he pulled.  One of the medium sized parsnips on the table came out.  We were intrigued by the many extensions that came out of the parsnip.  The one he had pulled out had three distinct roots all attached at the top.  He began to try to pull another one out but could not.  Later our 13 year old daughter Alina and my husband set to work to remove the others.  It was comical to see them sinking their hands deep into the ground trying to get under each root.  Pulling very hard they came to light. These larger parsnips were even more unusual looking then Asher's first one.  This was all new to us.  We wondered how these strange looking parsnips would taste.  With a roast chicken these roots were cut up.  The roots were so big we needed a second glass dish to cook the remaining ones.  As our family sat down to dinner we all could not believe how sweet these parsnips were.  My husband said he thought they were the sweetest parsnips he had ever tasted.  A couple of things struck me about these parsnips.  
Through the severe weather of the winter with extreme cold and harsh conditions a few things happened.  The parsnips lost their "normal" appearance and were deformed.  This deformation allowed them to extend like many tiny fingers into the soil so removing them was a difficult task indeed.  As weather broke and fair weather came they were the strongest looking parsnips I have seen with thick healthy shoots.  Their mission was not to sit around and enjoy the weather but to pass on what they had to future generations...quickly.  Upon removing them despite their disfigured appearance they were tender and sweet.  

The effect of "suffering" or trials on these plants seemed much the same as the effect suffering has on us when we unify it with the suffering of Our Lord.  We may less and less resemble our old selves but to Our Lord these sufferings produce sweetness in our soul when endured with love.   Our ability to sustain and survive further trials increases and when the sun comes out our leaves are thick and lush.  We care less and less for the material things of this world.  Instead we have our eyes looking upward and also have a desire to pass on such faith to our children and the next generation.  It is beautiful that Our Lord who spoke often of farming in the Gospels, helps us understand many things through nature around us and toiling with the land.  These lessons are particularly helpful for our children who love to work in the garden and who in a special way seem to understand many of these things easily.

You may also like the following posts:
Finding Answers to Our Spiritual Questions in the Garden.