Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Mass Offered Tomorrow For Seminarians

Tomorrow a Mass will be offered for all seminarians that they will grow in holiness and lead us all in love.  This is something the Children's Rosary does on the first of each month. As our seminarians will be the future shepherds and our children are the future flock it seemed a beautiful way for the children to help. 
For the upcoming year this monthly Mass for seminarians will be sponsored by the Children's Rosary held at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts (pictured left).  We are very grateful to this group for such an important gift.
The Mass tomorrow will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts.

Relics of the Passion

Last Tuesday evening we were blessed to have the Relics of the Passion visit a Church near us.  I was grateful to be able to attend.  Among the relics present was a piece of the True Cross as well as many other beautiful relics from Our Lords Passion.  In a special way I prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary.  

Several other members of the Children's Rosary were also present that evening.  One was a young girl and her mother.  They were present at the very first meeting of the Children's Rosary on April 10th 2011 and continue to be a very important part of the Children's Rosary.  For privacy reasons I would like to refer to this young girl as Little Flower as in many ways she is a sweet innocent flower whose mission it would seem is to to bear a heavy burden of suffering and yet always praise Our Lord.  Her ways of praising Our Lord come from the Heart as she is nonverbal.  She is completely dependent on the care of Our Lord which comes many times through the selfless hands of her mother.  The gentle and loving way her mother cares for her is a witness to us all of the bounty of Love Our Lord has for each of us especially those that are the most fragile and weak.

Last Tuesday as the veneration of the relics began, Little Flower was brought by wheelchair to each relic.  The Knights of Columbus stood with reverence holding each piece.  Tenderly she was allowed to approach the relics.  When she came to the relic of St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus, she passionately took the case before her and kissed it with so much love.  All present were amazed.  The fact that a photograph was taken at just that moment was also providential.  

In thinking about the Little Flower and her mother this week,  I began to appreciate the mystery of Our Blessed Mother and her Son.  This little girl was called to the very first Children's Rosary.  With the help of her mother she has placed roses at the foot of Our Lady when a decade is prayed during our meetings.  Through the Rosary Our Lady leads her children to her Son.  In a special way I could see this innocent child clinging to the bone that released so much mercy upon the world as a little hand opening a door once again to a bounty of love not just for herself but for all of us.  How precious must be the prayers of these little children.  

In a special way I hope the Little Flower is a quiet witness of simple love and an invitation to all children especially those who many might think are not capable to pray or honor Our Lord to come to the Children's Rosary.  All children big and small have a home in the Children's Rosary.

Thank you all and please know you are all held in the prayers of the children.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's  Rosary
No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord
Give and it will be given to you

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Holy Week


This week will bring with it great suffering for Our Lord.  May He be accompanied in prayer so that He might never feel alone.  Many little children will keep Him company this week:  kneeling with His Mother contemplating His Passion through the Rosary.  

May we humbly invite you to join the children in prayer, they always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Sunday March 29th (Palm Sunday)
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick Parish in Nottingham, England 9AM local time
Children's Rosasry at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Nairobi, Kenya 6AM ET
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 7AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Pontiac, IL 9AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Margaret Church in Waterbury, CT 10AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist in Hpkington MA 11:15 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma, WA 11:30 AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of charity Convent in Bridgeport, CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Loraine, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Monday March 30th
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Wakefield, MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Hope for Children in Meru, Kenya 10 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, PA 12:20 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladston, Michigan 4:40 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, New York 4:30 PM ET
Tuesday March 31st 
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 6PM ET
Wednesday April 1st
Children's Rosary at St. Keiran School in Brighton Queensland, Australia 8AM local time.
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Martin de Porres Church in Jensen Beach, FL 6:15 ET
Thursday April 2nd (Holy Thursday)
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM
Friday April 3rd (Good Friday)
Children's Rosary at St. Stephen Church in Lilburn GA 9AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Pine Bluff, Wisconsin 10 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Adrian Michigan 5PM ET
Saturday April 4th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corbvallis, Oregon to meet at 9AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Agnes Church in Naples FL 9:30 AM
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Sorrow Parish in Sharon MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of LaSalette Parish in Sulphur, Louisiana to meet at 9:30 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Micahel the Archangel Parish and held in Kibera Slum in Langatta Nairobi, Kenya to meet at 10AM local time.
Children's Rosary at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Rushden, Northants England 3PM GMT or 10 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Parish in Syracuse, NY to meet at 10 AM ET at the Daughters of St. Mary Chapel
Children's Rosary at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro, MA 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire CT to meet at Elim Park Nursing Home at 3PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Shrub Oak 4:45 PM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Hartford CT 5PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Richmond Virginia 4PM
Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
"Oh how precious time is"
Gifts for Our Lady

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Michael Patrick Kelly- Shake Away

Yesterday the musician, Michael Patrick Kelly, released his new solo single.  It is called Shake Away.  For those of you not familiar with this artist he has a wonderful story of conversion.  His music is full of hope and love of Our Lord.  He also has a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  He mentioned once that early in conversion he was drawn to saying 15 decades of the Rosary daily.  It was only with that level of prayer that he could discern the direction Our Lord was calling him.
We became aware of Michael Patrick Kelly several years ago when he was still studying in a monastery in hopes to become a priest.  However,  poor health kept him from making his final vows and he left the monastery to return to music.  
Michael Patrick Kelly is known to many simply as Paddy Kelly.  He has performed at World Youth Day in Madrid. His music career is based in Europe. It is beautiful for children to see young musicians such as Paddy Kelly who inspire them and point them toward the light.

Other posts you may enjoy:
New Children's Rosary Music Video 


A Child's Lesson on How to Make a Cross Out of Palms

Folding each palm in half
This post is from last spring but given tomorrow is Palm Sunday, it seemed these instructions might be useful.

Let me begin by saying, I take no credit for anything presented here below.  This method of making a Palm into a cross was developed entirely by my 9 year old son during Mass today.  My first introduction to his handiwork was looking out from the altar where I had been lectoring during the sign of peace and from his seat he was waiving a Cross made of Palms.  His abilities were further endorsed by members of the Children's Rosary who asked for one of his crosses at the end of his Children's Rosary today.  This afternoon Kostin came down from his bedroom with a huge smile on his face and with an armful of Crosses. One he placed by a statue of Our Lady in our sun room where we say family prayer.  One he kindly gave to me and others were decorated around his room. Kostin also mentioned as he was doling out his treasures that he had spared several palms for the two boys who live next door ages 7 and 9 who were also able to make crosses. Seeing so many crosses the idea came that maybe others might want to make a cross, as the means to do so did not seem obvious to me.
Well enough about the back story lets get to making a cross.

Slipping the V of one palm through the other palm
Materials needed:
Two Palms
A scissor

Steps
1. Take your palm and peal off a thin strip longitudinally from one of its sides.  Do this step again for the other palm.  Now you have the material "string" which will be used to tie the cross later in the process.
2. Take each of your two crosses and fold them in half forming a V shape
3. Once folded take one palm and slip the V of the palm through the V of the other palm.  Now it should look like a Cross.
4. Now take the palm "string" you made and pass it under the cross and make a single tie at the center.
5. Flip the cross over and tie again with the same string. 

6. Now make a double knot . Please use force making the knot and hold it for a minute so the palm keeps the "memory" of the desired position.
7. Cut off the ends leaving about a half of an inch tale so it does not slip out.

Optional variation not photographed.  If the free arm end of the cross is too long or rough looking one can bend that arm in and tuck it into the side where one made the knot.  This gives a more refined look.

Extra pieces of palms Kostin suggests giving to your Church next year to be burnt for the Ashes used on Ash Wednesday. They often collect them in baskets the weekend before Palm Sunday. (Kostin also mentioned he would like to burn some of his extra materials on his birthday in our fire pit. This seemed acceptable as blessed items should be either buried or burned if one would like to get rid of them). 

Thank you all for joining us and may Our Lord bless you abundantly. Amen.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary


Thursday, March 26, 2015

There is More Joy in Giving Then Receiving

This past month members of the Children's Rosary were invited to submit handmade pictures of the Resurrection in anticipation of Easter next week.  The deadline for submission was March 25th. Each picture was entered in the random  drawing.

Bernadette pictured with a red scarf
Recently a women contacted us hoping to help spread word of the Children's Rosary.  After reading more about the prayer group movement on our Spanish site www.rosariodeninos.org she wrote to us with a generous offer.  She wanted to give the Children's Rosary a gift.  She wanted to offer one child per month for February, March and April 2015 the opportunity to pick one item from her website.   Maria also shared that she is originally from Mexico and was named after Our Lady of Guadalupe.  She now lives in California but has a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother which began when she was a child.  In this small way she wanted to give back and help encourage more children to come together in prayer through the Children's Rosary prayer group movement.  This month the winner of our random drawing was Bernadette age 12.  She has been a very active member of the Children's Rosary.  Her family also leads the Children's Rosary at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, Connecticut USA.  Bernadette's mother shared that Bernadette's intention is to share the gift of choosing a dress with her younger sister Marianne who is 6 years old and is looking forward to her First Communion in the coming year. Bernadette very much wanted her sister to have a beautiful dress for her First Holy Communion.

Yesterday as the children were notified of Bernadette's selection as winner the whole family erupted in screams of joy.  How wonderful that each could be so happy and Bernadette could find so much joy through giving away so freely that which had just been given to her.  

One additional signal grace was that news of Bernadette's happy selection came as the family was traveling home yesterday on the Solemnity of the Annunciation after having brought one of the Official Missionary Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe to many throughout the day in the New York area. As Maria who is the owner of the dress company is named after Our Lady of Guadalupe there is a wonderful connection on each level.  It is beautiful how Our Lord creates so many connections that we may marvel at His handiwork.
Little Marianne resting after a Children's Rosary
is the wonderful recipient of her sister's generosity
For those of you who would like to participate in our drawing April drawing please see our earlier post HERE for submission guidelines.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Nine Month Novena for Impossible Requests

This Novena was shared with me by one of our Children's Rosary group leaders last year.  I began it one day late but did complete it.  Today I would like to begin it again.  One of my three intentions will include: for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary and each of its members.  May I humbly invite you to consider this as one of your three Intentions. 

You pray this novena for nine months, beginning with the Annunciation (March 25) and ending on Christmas Eve. It’s a great way to meditate on the time Jesus was in His mother’s womb before He was born.

You may pray for up to three intentions. ------------------------------------------------

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us,
And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O Virgin of the Incarnation, a thousand times we praise thee, a thousand times we greet thee, for the joy thou didst know when the Son of God took flesh in thy womb.
Because thou art powerful, O Virgin Mother of God, grant what we beseech thee, for the love of God.

(Here name your three intentions).

Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary,
That never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
Implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
But in thy mercy, hear and answer me.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world and in the hearts of all men, even until the end of time. Amen. 

Solemnity of the Annunciation


A picture drawn of Mary with the Angel Gabriel
by one of the members of the Children's Rosary
"Jesus Christ, after having given us all he could give, that is to say, the merit of his toils, his sufferings, and bitter death; after having given us his adorable body and blood to be the food of our souls, willed also to give us the most precious thing he had let, which was his holy Mother," St. John Vianney

Today we celebrate the day Mary said yes to an invitation.  She became the Mother of Our Saviour.  In Our Lord's complete generosity, He would share with us His own Mother that we may also look to her for love and guidance as we seek to be formed in holiness.  

With complete trust and humility Mary complied with God's Will.  Nine months from today we will see the fruits of that yes as we kneel at the crib of Our Lord.  

Gifts for Our Lady


Dear Friends,  

On the Beautiful Solemnity of the Annunciation I write to you with good news.  May I share with you some of the wonderful gifts we have been given just in the last few days. Yesterday a note came from two of the members of the Children's Rosary.  One was a group leader from Michigan visiting in Florida.  At the end of Mass she stayed for the Rosary.  A group of people gathered and there was a sharing of stories about the Rosary.  She shared about the Children's Rosary.  It was then that someone else sitting there shared her experience with the Children's Rosary having come and taught several members of the Children's Rosary how to make Rosaries in Connecticut.  Finding this wonderful connection the two had an immediate bond and had the wonderful idea to send us a picture (see below) of the two of them together. How beautiful that Our Lord lets us see those that we have held in prayer for so long and in turn have prayed for us.  

Today more good news a mother from Our Lady of Victory Church called to let us know of her efforts to begin a new Children's Rosary group. This comes on the heels of two other people who have contacted the Children's Rosary this past week about starting groups in New Jersey and Houston, Texas.  This morning another surprise the count of visitors to the Children's Rosary website had hit 200,000 during the night.  As all of our big milestones with visitors have fallen on very special days such as Good Friday, Christmas and now the Annunciation there is an appreciation that Our Lord sees everything.  Nothing goes by without His notice.  These little gifts are a way of showing us that nothing is by chance.  Each person that is brought to us is purposeful and a gift.  As more of Our Lord and Our Lady's plans unfold for the Children's Rosary we begin to see indeed how each one of us plays an essential role.  

On this night as the Solemnity of the Annunciation comes to a close there is a hope that we can bring a bounty of gifts to Our Lady to present to her Son. Not our will but God's Will be done for each of us and the Children's Rosary as a whole.  As the Children's Rosary will be celebrating our 4th anniversary April 10th it is our hope to usher in this new year with arms full of prayers and Masses.  Last year we began a tradition of having 9 days of Masses leading up to our anniversary for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary followed by 9 days of Masses in thanksgiving.  We had such a beautiful response that we were able to have 2 Masses said per day for 18 days. As Good Friday falls during the 9 days leading up to our Anniversary our hope is tobegin the Novena of Masses on April 5th (Easter Sunday) and continue through April 13th for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary.   In turn from April 14th through April 22nd Masses will be offered for the intention of thanksgiving. If anyone would like to sponsor a Mass during the 18 days please let me know.
Last year there were so many beautiful blessings that came as a result of this novena of Masses.   To participate in the Novena of Masses please let us know (email: contactchildrensrosary@gmail.com) which days you would like to sponsor and if you would like us to arrange the Masses or if you would like to arrange the Masses through your Parish.  If you would like us to arrange the Masses we will be requesting them through the Capuchin Missions.  The donation for each Mass is $10.00. The donations can be made out to Children's Rosary and mailed to:

Children’s Rosary
PO Box 271743
West Hartford, CT 06127

These 18 days are so special. Last year as each day passed during the Novena there was a savoring of all the opportunity that lay before us.  The areas of Our Lady's plans that had stood idle now had the fuel to move forward.  There was an excitement to see where the plan would lead as Our Blessed Mother's plans are so much more beautiful than we can fully grasp.  So often we wonder how Our Lord could use us.  Yet the more prayers and Masses we give the more we see all that we can do for Our Lord and the important role each of us plays in the full plan.  

Thank you all for being a part of the Children's Rosary.  Thank you for your sacrifices.  These are hopeful times.  In the coming days there will be several more emails coming with other ways we hope to celebrate our Anniversary and more ways we hope to keep giving Our Lady and Our Lord more prayers.

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe

Friday, March 20, 2015

Childlike Spirit


"Thursday. When I started the Holy Hour, I wanted to immerse myself in the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives. Then I heard a voice in my soul: Meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation. And suddenly the Infant Jesus appeared before me, radiant with beauty. He told me how much God is pleased with simplicity in a soul. Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit." (Diary of St. Faustina)

Seeing how little children approach their heavenly Mother and Father continues to be a guide for all of us.  Seeing this little girl pick up a statue of Our Blessed Mother and hug her is such a tender moment.

Over the next week we have many Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Please consider joining them in prayer.  They always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Friday March 20th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange TX 7:05 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Pontiac, IL at 9AM CT
Children's Rosary at St Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Marguerite Parish in Brookfield, CT 4PM ET
Saturday March 21st
Children's Rosary at St. Michael the Archangel Parish and held in the Kibera slum in Langatta Nairobi, Kenya 10 AM local time
Children's Rosasry at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis, Oregon 12PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of Charity Convent in Bridegeport CT 2:30 PM ET
Sunday March 22nd
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick Parish in NOttingham, England 9AM local time
Children's Rosary at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Nairobi, Kenya 6AM ET
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 7AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Derby, CT 11 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patricks Church in Tacoma WA 11: 30 AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of Charity Convent in Bridgeport CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at ST. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Monday March 23rd
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Wakefield, MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya 10AM ET
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 


Thursday, March 19, 2015

Anniversary Novena of Masses


On April 10th, 2015 the Children’s Rosary will turn four.  This year has brought many beautiful blessing.  After speaking to members of the Children's Rosary over the last few months many agree the best word to describe this year is purification.  Such a process is not easy but one that brings a new clarity; an appreciation of that which is important in our lives.  A drawing away from the distractions of the world and a desire for things above.  With so many children meeting in prayer there is a beautiful layering that occurs.  As if a soft blanket of love and protection is gently covering each member of the Children's Rosary.  One blanket covered by another. It can be no surprise that such prayer brings a transformation.  

One Children's Rosary group leader recently shared that he had not spoken to his brother in 10 years. Recently he felt drawn to pray a 54 Day Rosary novena with his mother for his brother.  Several years ago he remarked that he would never have considered praying for his brother.  Yet now he has just completed one 54 Day Rosary Novena and has started on a second.  His mom is thrilled to be joining him in prayer.  Such wonderful healing taking place in the heart.  Forgiveness growing from a small seed to a large tree that reaches those that had seemed too far away to touch.  This group leader shared that years ago such prayers seemed impossible.  But now there is a new desire to pray for those that seemed the hardest to pray for in our lives.  Yes Our Lord is doing wonderful things through these Children's Rosary prayer groups.  

As our year comes to a close there is a desire to give Our Blessed Mother a gift.  An arm full of Masses for the fulfillment of her plans for the Children's Rosary.  We wish to have her guide each of us and the Children's Rosary as a whole all for the Glory of God. 

In anticipation of the Anniversary, we would like to offer two consecutive Novenas of Masses. The first novena will begin on April 5th (Easter Sunday) and extend until April 13th. These will be offered for the fulfillment of Our Lady’s plan’s for the Children’s Rosary. In turn from April 14th through April 22nd Masses will be offered for the intention of thanksgiving. If anyone would like to sponsor a Mass during the 18 days please write to us at contactchildrensrosary@gmail.com

Last year there were so many beautiful blessings that came as a result of this novena of Masses.  There was such a wonderful outpouring of support from our members we had enough sponsored Masses to have two Masses said daily for the 18 days. To participate in the Novena of Masses please let us know which days you would like to sponsor and if you would like us to arrange the Masses or if you would like to arrange the Masses through your Parish.  If you would like us to arrange the Masses we will be requesting them through the Capuchin Missions.  The donation for each Mass is $10.00.

These 18 days are so special. Last year as each day passed during the Novena there was a savoring of all the opportunity that lay before us.  The areas of Our Lady's plans that had stood idle now had the fuel to move forward.  The excitement to see where the plan would lead as Our Blessed Mother's plans are so much more beautiful than we can fully grasp.  So often we wonder how Our Lord could use us.  Yet the more prayers and Masses we give the more we see all that we can do for Our Lord and the small yet important role each of us plays in the full plan.  

Thank you all for being a part of the Children's Rosary.  Thank you for your sacrifices.  These are hopeful times.  

Thank you all and God Bless.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Children's Rosary Group to Pray at Nursing Home

Children's Rosary group from St. Thomas Becket Church
Recently, I received a note from one of the Children's Rosary group leaders that the Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket in Cheshire Connecticut would be holding their April Meeting in a Nursing Home.  This group meets on the first Saturday of the month.  During the month of April the first Saturday falls on Holy Saturday.  This group decided to make hand made Easter cards and visit the elderly living in the Elim Park Nursing home in Cheshire, Connecticut USA.  They plan to share the cards with those living there and hold their Children's Rosary meeting at the Nursing Home.  In this way, the residents can attend and pray with the children.  The group has also invited the parishioners of their parish to join them as well.  As two group leaders shared with me that their Churches will be closed on Holy Saturday I thought this was a beautiful idea that others may want to follow.  We have a great many groups that meet on the first Saturday and spending time in prayer with those often alone and forgotten seemed a most tender way to usher in the Resurrection of Our Lord.
Other posts you may enjoy:
A Grandmother's Experience with the Children's Rosary
Lord To whom shall I go
"You are my friends"

Friday, March 13, 2015

Praying with the Heart

We know that the prayers of the heart are pleasing to Our Lord but how to we do this?  How do we pray from the heart? 

It has been my humble experience that Our Lord uses suffering to teach us how to pray with the heart. As I have shared in the past, a genetic disability has resulted in severe joint instability throughout my body and especially my hands.  As a result there are many unexpected injuries that occur as well as daily weakness in my hands that cause me to ask others for help with most tasks.

It is in those times of acute injury that I can feel how quickly ones prayers migrate from a most superficial level to the very depths of the heart.  It is as if in one moment Our Lord pulls you from across the room to the most intimate of conversations.  Through this school of suffering I began to see these trials and injuries as special graces which help us pray more and more deeply.  Such repeated trials begin to teach a soul that it is completely vulnerable and the only place of security is with Our Lord. The more dependent one becomes on Our Lord the more child-like we become in our approach to Him.  It is as if Our Lord uses such times of increased suffering as a special protection for us.  A way to keep us very close to His Heart.  

Padre Pio spoke of the importance of suffering. "Jesus said to me; 'How many times would you have abandoned Me, my son, if I had not crucified you. Beneath the cross, one learns love, and I do not give this to everyone, but only to those souls who are dearest to Me."

Indeed the Children's Rosary has been no stranger to suffering but there is an appreciation of the good that comes from it.  There may be other ways to learn to pray from the heart but in my humble experience suffering is one of the fastest and most effective ways Our Lord can share with us to deepen our prayers.

Over the next week we have many Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Friday March 13th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School Orange TX 7:05AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Pontiac IL 9:05 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Paul Church in Fenton, Missouri 7PM 
Saturday March 14th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvalis Oregon 9AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Michael's Church in Garden City SC at 10:30 aM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Michael the Archangel Parish held in Kibera Slum in Langatta Nairobi Kenya 10 AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Nairobi Kenya 2PM local time. 
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of Charity Convent in Bridgeport CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter Claver Church West Hartford CT 3:45 PM ET
Sunday March 15th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick Parish in Nottingham England 9AM local time(4AM ET)
Children's Rosary at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Nairobi Kenya 6AM ET
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Nairobi Kenya at 7AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma WA 11:30 PM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughter's of Charity Convent in Bridgeport, CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament
Children's Rosary at Annunciation Church in Hanover, PA at 3PM in the Adoration Chapel
Monday March 16th
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Wakefield MA 9:30 AM

Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya 10AM ET
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 

Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Kennett Square, PA 5:45 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Tuesday March 17th

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 6PM ET
Wednesday March 18th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Thursday March 19th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at Resurrection Parish in Rye, NY 5PM ET
The Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM


Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
A Long Winter
Suffering a Call to Come Home