Seventh Day of Christmas

We pray you are continuing to enjoy the Octave of Christmas. Amelia, a member of the Children's Rosary from the Porto region of Portugal, holds a "Christ is Born" sign as part of the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign.

Third Day of Christmas 2022

 

Zosia, age 8, from from Grimsby, Ontario, had sent us a photograph of her "Patiently Waiting" sign during Advent. Now she has taken that down and replaced it with her "Christ is Born" sign. We thank Zosia for the beautiful reminder that Christ is at the center of Christmas and that Christmas is not celebrated only for one day. 

Zosia helps lead a Children's Rosary on Radio Maria USA on the second Saturday of every month at 3:00 pm Central/ 4:00 pm Eastern time. We hope you can join us!

Interview about the Children's Rosary on the Terry & Jesse Show 22 Dec 22

 

Listen to an interview hosted by Terry Barber and Jesse Romero about the Children's Rosary. 

INTERVIEW LINK

Children's Rosary - Christmas Edition from Germany

The Children's Rosary in Hamburg, Germany sent along the following pictures from their Children's Rosary meeting on December 17. 

They prayed a special bilingual Rosary in German and Spanish. 

Children dressed up in honor of the Nativity. They did a traditional "Posada" from Mexico. They concluded with a lunch.

 

A Christmas Gift from the Children's Rosary 2022

 

Merry Christmas from the Children's Rosary. We thank all those who participated in the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. We were happy to see people putting up their signs in our town of West Hartford, Connecticut, USA. People sent us pictures with "Patiently Waiting" signs in their windows from Ireland, Portugal, Canada, and Pakistan. These signs can now be taken down and replaced with ones that read "Christ is Born." These can stay up for the whole Christmas season.

We have a special gift from the Children's Rosary. A Christmas Mass was celebrated for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary at 10:00AM on December 25, 2022. This Mass was offered by a La Salette Missionary from New York.

We were able to attend Mass at St Philip the Apostle Church in Ashford, Connecticut today. A Children's Rosary group recently started in December at this Church. This new group was indeed a very special gift for the Christ Jesus. You may also recognize this altar from the Children's Rosary instructional videos. We filmed them at this Church. It is my mother's Church. She has been attending the new Children's Rosary. She has found it very moving to attend the prayers. 

"Is Someone in Your Home Expecting a Child?"

We have had our Patiently Waiting sign up during Advent. When my mother was visiting us, a neighbor walking by asked, "is someone in your home expecting a child?"

This sign has created a curiosity as to what our family was waiting for these past 40 days. With the beginning of Christmas on December 25, we will be taking our sign down and replacing it with a sign that reads "Christ is Born". Indeed our family has been expecting a child but maybe not the child others were anticipating. Yet Christmas is about the Christ Child and these are our little efforts to bring Him back to the center of Christmas.

Patiently Waiting in Derry, Ireland 2022

 

As Christmas approaches we continue to keep vigil. We hope many may consider participating in the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting campaign. 

                    This Advent Place a Patiently Waiting Sign in Your Window 

Join the Children's Rosary by putting a sign in your window as a beautiful reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas replace the sign with one that reads: Christ is Born.

Patiently Waiting in Pakistan 2022

 

We were excited to receive this picture from a Children's Rosary group in Pakistan.

                This Advent Place a Patiently Waiting Sign in Your Window 

Join the Children's Rosary by putting a sign in your window as a beautiful reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas replace the sign with one that reads: Christ is Born.

Patiently Waiting In Portugal

Amelia, age 9, has sent us a picture of her "Patiently Waiting" sign. She has put it in her window below but with the reflection it is hard to see the sign and her face next to it. 

Recently, she hosted an interview about the Children's Rosary and found out about the Patiently Waiting Campaign. After hearing about it, she wanted to participate. Her video can be seen HERE or watched below:

              This Advent Place a Patiently Waiting Sign in Your Window 

Join the Children's Rosary by putting a sign in your window as a beautiful reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas replace the sign with one that reads: Christ is Born.

Join Us for a Christmas Novena Starting December 16, 2022

                                                         Christmas Novena

Prayer to the Miraculous Infant of Prague

In anticipation of Christmas December 25th consider saying this 9 day Novena from December 16th-December 24th.  

O Divine Infant Jesus, Who said: "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you." Through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request.)

O Divine Infant Jesus, Who said: "Unless you become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Grant me the simplicity and wonder, the tenderness and gentleness of a child. Fill me with innocence, hope and love. Grant me the grace that I need.

(Make your request.)

O Divine Infant Jesus, help me know how close You are to me and how powerful is Your embrace. Help me to trust that You hold the whole world in Your hand. I place my every need and care in Your hands. I ask that you fulfill my request according to Your holy will.

(Make your request.)

Miraculous Infant of Prague, have mercy on us.

We humbly ask that you join us in praying this novena and include as one of your intentions: for all those who help the Children's Rosary through time, talent or treasure may they receive Christmas peace and joy. 

This is spiritual gift we would like to share with all those who have supported the Children's Rosary this year. In addition, a Mass will be celebrated for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary on December 25th.

Patiently Waiting in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

This is eight year old Zosia, who sent us a picture of her "Patiently Waiting" sign at her home. We hope more people will consider participating in the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign. This is a gentle way to let people know where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christmas. On Christmas Eve take down your Patiently Waiting sign and put up a sign that says "Christ is Born".

To learn more watch the video below or click HERE

Upcoming December 17, 2022 Children's Rosary Meeting in Hamburg, Germany

 

Children's Rosary December 2022 Newsletter

 

Click HERE to Read our December 2022 Children's Rosary Newsletter

Amelia, Age 9, Hosts Interview with the Founder of the Children's Rosary

 

Please see a recent interview by Amelia, age 9, a member of the Children's Rosary.

Amelia is from Porto, Portugal and helps lead the Children's Rosary on Radio Maria USA each month. She is joined by Zosia, age 8, from Canada who together lead the prayers on the second Saturday of each month at 4 pm Eastern time. Click HERE to listen streaming.

Day of the Little Candles 2022

We wanted to humbly share pictures from the December 7 celebration of the Day of the Little Candles. This is a Colombian tradition which gives honor to Our Blessed Mother on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The lanterns shown in the pictures we handmade. A link on how to do this is provided below.

Beginning in 2012 we have celebrated the Day of the Little Candles. We invite members of the Children's Rosary each year to also put out candles or lanterns in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Here is a LINK of how to make the lanterns in English. Here is the LINK in Spanish.

We thank all of you who participated this year at your homes. 

Endorsement of the Children's Rosary by Bishop Scantlebury

Recently we had a meeting with Bishop Scantlebury of the Bridgetown Diocese of Barbados. He warmly received us and was excited to see the Children's Rosary spread in his Diocese and also to use the Child Consecration book in his Diocese. He had some lovely words of support which can be heard in the attached video HERE or can be seen below:

We also have a German version of the endorsement video which can be viewed HERE.

We met Fr. Moses K. Gikandi, shown below, who oversees the youth engagement for the Diocese of Bridgetown. We look forward to collaborating with him going forward. 

Bishop Scantlebury also brought us to St. Patrick's School where we also were able to meet Principal Marvalene Roach and Sister Dayo Ajayi who teaches catechism for the school. 

A new Children's Rosary has formed at St. Patrick's Primary School which is adjacent to the Cathedral. They had their first meeting on November 18, 2022. Approximately one hundred children attend the primary school. We welcome them to the Children's Rosary!

Mass Offered on November 25, 2022 for all the Members of the Children's Rosary

 

A Mass will be offered on November 25, 2022 for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. We continue to have a Mass said for this intention on the 25th of each month. The Eucharist is such a powerful gift from Our Lord that when we wanted to extend thanksgiving to all of you we knew of no better way to express gratitude. May Our Lord's love be poured down on all of you through the powerful sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 

The above pictures were sent from the new Children's Rosary group in Sacred Heart Crossboyne, Ireland. The picture of the children above was taken at their most recent meeting. The group leader relayed:

We had six children, two of whom were completely new to praying the Rosary. They seemed to really enjoy it. It was very beautiful and they were all so reverend. . Thank you Our Lady!

New Children's Rosary at the Catholic Parish Community of St. Gallus Scheidegg, Germany

We have received pictures from the new Children's Rosary group in Germany. The group is located at Pfarreiengemeinschaft, the Catholic Parish Community of St. Gallus Scheidegg. This is in the Bavaria region of Germany. Their first meeting was Tuesday October 18, 2022. The picture above was taken at their first meeting. Their next meeting will be held on November 20, 2022. We welcome this new Children's Rosary group!

Children's Rosary November 2022 Newsletter

 Click HERE to view our November 2022 Children's Rosary® Newsletter. 

The picture above was taken in West Hartford, Connecticut USA

New Children's Rosary forms in Maly Chak Purana, Pakistan

 A new Children's Rosary group has formed in Maly Chak Purana, Pakistan. During the month of October they met daily to pray the Rosary. At the end of the month they created a balloon rosary and released it

. 

First Children's Rosary Forms in Malawi

 

We are excited to share that a Children's Rosary has formed at St. John the Baptist (Kanyama) Catholic Parish in the Dedza Diocese of Malawi in Central Africa. Fr. Kalumbi has reported thus far 102 children have registered and 93 actively attend meetings which are held on Mondays and Saturdays at 15 hrs. Fr. Kalumbi shared, "they are charming children and more children are joining. Parents and church leaders are extremely happy for the formulation of the group." 

The parish has 21 outstations and efforts are being made to initiate more Children's Rosary prayer groups in the outstations. There are also 15 Catholic schools. We plan to send more rosaries to this parish to help in introducing the Children's Rosary also to the schools. 

Audience with Cardinal Eijk

 The picture above was taken on October 12, 2022 during an audience with Cardinal Eijk when the new Dutch version of the Child Consecration book was presented to him. Pieter Pouw, also photographed, is a member of the board of the printing house which released the book. To obtain a copy of the new Dutch version of the Consecration book click HERE. 

Video for Educators on How to Implement a 33 Day Consecration Journey

 

We are excited to release a new video for educators on how to implement a 33 day Consecration Journey to Jesus through Mary. Please share this Video with your local parochial school and faith formation program. 

New Children's Rosary Christmas Card for 2022

Dear Friends,

We are excited to release our new Children's Rosary Christmas Card for 2022. This year's card took inspiration through traditional Ukrainian art of the Nativity.  

The card was painted by Iris Ryan, a member of the Children's Rosary and younger sister to Abigail Ryan, who painted our prior cards. Iris is twelve years old and lives with her parents and seven siblings in Wisconsin. She is pictured below.

For each box of cards sold, one dollar goes to the nonprofit, Children's Rosary. This helps further the mission of the Children's Rosary, which is to support the prayer lives of children and tp help to bring more children to prayer. There is also mention of the Children's Rosary on the back of each card, which provides an opportunity for each card to be an open door for Our Blessed Mother.

To purchase this card through EWTN religious catalogue, click HERE.

We also have some of our Children's Rosary Christmas card collection available at Cenacle Press in Ireland; to view, click HERE. Cards are also available at Sunrise Marian Distribution in Canada as well. To view, click HERE. 

Thank you,

Blythe

New Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's School in Glasgow, Scotland

A new Children's Rosary recently formed at  St. Patrick's Primary School in Glasgow, Scotland. They held their first meeting on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows: September 15, 2022. The pictures above were taken at the first meeting. We welcome this new Children's Rosary group. 

Children's Rosary September 2022 Newsletter

 Click HERE to Read our September 2022 Children's Rosary Newsletter

Mass Offered on September 25, 2022 for all the Members of the Children's Rosary

A Mass was offered on September 25, 2022 for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. We continue to have a Mass said for this intention on the 25th of each month. The Eucharist is such a powerful gift from Our Lord that when we wanted to extend thanksgiving to all of you we knew of no better way to express gratitude. May Our Lord's love be poured down on all of you through the powerful sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 

The above picture was sent today from the group leader of the Children's Rosary at St. John the Baptist Church, Kinsale, Co. Cork. The picture was taken at their most recent meeting. 

Join Us for the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference September 24, 2022

 

We will have a Children's Rosary booth at this year's Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference. The Children's Rosary Christmas Card collection will be available at the conference. We will be unveiling our new Children's Rosary Christmas Card for 2022 which was inspired by traditional Ukrainian paintings of the Nativity. For more information about the conference click HERE. 

New Release of the Child Consecration book in Dutch!

We are excited to announce that the Child Consecration book is now available to order in Dutch through the Catholic Dutch publisher: stichting De Boog. Thank you to Caspar de Quay and his wonderful team for the great care and effort they put into the translation and release of this book. 

The book can be ordered HERE.

New Children's Rosary to Meet October 18, 2022 at the Parish of St. Gallus Scheidegg, Germany

We are very happy to see the Children's Rosary continue to spread in German speaking countries. The newest group to register is from Pfarreiengemeinschaft, the Catholic Parish Community of St. Gallus Scheidegg. This is in the Bavaria region of Germany. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 18, 2022. The children will gather outside in their grotto (Lourdeskapelle) to lead the Rosary. The grotto is shown below.

German Children's Rosary Meeting September 22, 2022

 

Please consider joining us for an informational meeting about the Children's Rosary for those living in German speaking countries. The Zoom meeting will be held on September 22 at 8:30 pm local time in Germany. 

Information will be provided in English and German at the meeting. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87984338043?pwd=VUdvd0gvY0ZZa2lnYVd5L04vM1AwUT09

Meeting ID: 879 8433 8043
Passcode: 219457

The picture above was taken during a meeting of the Children's Rosary in Hamburg Germany.

 Thank you to all who are helping to spread the Children's Rosary. 

For those who would like to purchase a copy of our new Children's Rosary book in German please click HERE for one copy and click HERE for the 10 pack of books for a value price. 

Join Us for a Nine Day Fast from September 29 through October 7, 2022

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." (1 Cor 9:23-27)

This month, I heard the above reading during daily Mass. It was read on the Feast of St. Peter Claver, September 9. As I attend a Church for daily Mass that is named after St. Peter Claver, they also had a vigil September 8 celebration to which I attended, so I heard the reading in the evening and the following day at Mass. The words that kept returning to me were, "Run so as to win." Returning to re-read the passage the other words that resonated with me were, "exercise discipline." 

I remember during our monthlong trip to East Africa, I continually felt as though I was within a long fast. The days were long, and we had to travel great distances by car with little sleep. There was an opportunity to see more children at different locations at the expense of taking time to eat; the former always seemed the most appealing thing to do. The burden felt light since it was not foreign to me to say "no" to my body when I felt hungry or tired. This I learned through fasting. Indeed, we need spiritual training and discipline to accomplish all Our Lord needs from us. I have also heard it said that one can more completely give oneself in a Consecration when one has a practice of fasting. This is because one has a greater control over the body in which to fully give oneself to God. Whether or not one feels this to be true, it surely is a holy endeavor to learn discipline in order to more fully serve and glorify God. 

It has been a yearly tradition within the Children’s Rosary to do nine days of prayer and fasting in the fall. This year it will begin on September 29 and end on October 7. We hope many will want to join us. Bread and water fasting is very effective as a means of sacrifice. Some may not be able to fast on bread and this is okay. Prayerfully discern what is the best fasting for you. In the past, we have had adults and children join this fast. We do ask that you prayerfully consider what is safe and reasonable for you and your family. Some may be able to do a traditional bread and water fast. This is unlimited bread and water. Others may find another thing in their life that would be a great sacrifice to give up for that period. One of the most important things when one begins a fast is the disposition.  One must approach fasting as an act of love to God. 

Some may want to do this fast but have not fasted before and wonder if they could complete the nine days. What I have found is that the first two days are the hardest. There is this portion of each of us which I will call, “self,” that will complain and nag that you should give up. Do not pay attention to this. In many ways the fast becomes easier as you go along and the last four days I have found to be the most sweet when one feels that with little effort one can enter into deep prayer.

Please accept this humble invitation to join these 9 days of fasting. It is an invitation to help to rid yourself of all the things holding you back spiritually. I will be praying for you. ~Blythe 

The Fast will begin on September 29, the Feast of the Archangels and conclude on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7. 

1) Pray one Rosary each day, meditating on the life of Christ

2) Fast for nine days

*Lord, please purify our souls from the attachments of the world. Jesus, we surrender all we have; please take control of our lives and our families. May Jesus be born in our hearts and may He renew us. May the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and actions. May our hands be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world. May the members of the Children’s Rosary also be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world and gather a great many souls, especially young people, for Our Lord.

*Personal Intentions (      )

*May all that Our Lady wishes to accomplish through us and the Children’s Rosary be accomplished all for the glory of God.

*May the book, Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, be an instrument to bring a great many souls to Jesus through His Mother.

*For a special Children’s Rosary intention.

*In thanksgiving

Popes Have Spoken Beautifully About the Value of Fasting 

Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the value of fasting in his message for Lent on Feb 25th 2009:

The faithful practice of fasting contributes, moreover, to conferring unity to the whole person, body and soul, helping to avoid sin and grow in intimacy with the Lord.

Fasting certainly bring benefits to physical well-being, but for believers, it is, in the first place, a “therapy” to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God.

By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger. 

Pope John Paul II spoke about fasting on Sunday Angelus March 10th 1996:

Fasting is to reaffirm to oneself what Jesus answered Satan when he tempted him at the end of his 40 days of fasting in the wilderness: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4) 

Members of the Children's Rosary and Bishop Visit Quadruplets

Last Monday, Bishop Philip Davou Dung of the Shendam Diocese of Nigeria visited Mrs. Anesthesia Sati and her quadruplet babies in Divine Mercy Catholic Hospital. The children who are members of the Children's Rosary accompanied the Bishop to the hospital and led a rosary around the babies. They assured the family of their continued prayers. This family who has made their living through farming had recently moved to the Shendam diocese from Wase after they were forced to relocate when bandits chased them out. Husband Sati Mairiga shared, "We came here, see what God has given us, we are happy but we don't have much." 

It is beautiful to see the children encircling the babies in prayer. They also gave the family rosaries.