Deeply Rooted

On Friday May 15th, the Feast of St. Isidore the farmer, we decided to harvest one of the parsnips from our garden. When my daughter tried to pull it up, the lush green top ripped off. Apparently this parsnip wasn't going to come out easily. She then began digging around the edge of the root. She is very strong and despite all her pulling it still would not come out. She began using a stick to loosen the soil and with her fingers excavated around the root. This process when on for some time. Eventually the root came out. It was impressive. The root was about 10 inches long. My husband thought this one root would be enough for 5 of us to have with our dinner tonight. 

In reflecting on this parsnip, there are some interesting things to consider. If one were to plant a parsnip in the late spring which is usually when farmers plant parsnips the plants have warm weather to grow and when harvest comes they are easy to harvest and not nearly as long as the one my daughter pulled out last Friday. So what is the difference? Well, this parsnip began growing last season, most likely in the fall. It survived a cold winter and set down deep roots. As with most plants that are able to survive the winter, such as kale, as soon as the weather turns warm they shoot up and try to make seeds. They do not waste any time. 

In many ways one could see how suffering has a similar effect on us and our faith. When we have been tested and come through challenges we are more deeply rooted. We also value time and want to pass on that faith in a special way. We do not put off passing on that faith to our children but set to work right away.  When our roots are deep many things may try to push against us and uproot us but this is not so easy. Many may be suffering during these times of the Coronavirus pandemic but what effect has on the roots of our faith? 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Find out ways to become involved and help the Children's Rosary

How to Start a Children's Rosary

How to Plan a Home Marian Procession

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A VIEW FROM HEAVEN 

UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL CIELO

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org

Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Pour plus d'informations sur le Rosaire des Enfants, visitez notre site Web:www.rosairedesenfants.org

Seeds Going Out

Today my daughter took a picture of this dandelion pictured above. These plants grow as weeds in our region. Adults work hard to get them out of their yards. When a flower has gone to seed such as the one in the photograph, most adults quickly grab these heads before any of the seeds are blown away. One good burst of wind and the weeds can be sent throughout the yard and beyond depending on how strong the wind is blowing. Yet, kids love to pick these seed heads and blow them to the dismay of their parents. But today my daughter seemed to find a beauty in these dandelions and began taking pictures of them. We were on our way to meet Fr. Richard Okiria. He was coming to pick up a barrel packed with over 7,000 rosaries, almost all handmade, that will be sent via a cargo ship to Uganda. These rosaries will be given to Children's Rosary groups. When the ship leaves it will carry four barrels from the Children's Rosary with over 25,000 rosaries combined. As we walked back from meeting Fr. Richard, my daughter mentioned that the seeds that had been on the dandelion were now all gone. It seemed a beautiful way to imagine the rosaries that were now being driven away by Fr. Richard Okiria. We never know exactly how long it will take for them to get to their destination. With the pandemic there is even more uncertainty. Yet seeds were going out into to the world. Little hearts wait for them. These rosaries are for children. It gives one great hope to think of all Our Lady can do with so many rosaries and so many children, who by the grace of God, will use them to pray the Rosary. 

Photo above includes Fr. Richard Okiria in the center.

Little Ones Becoming Leaders in Their Faith

On October 13th, our little Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford Connecticut, met. This is the home parish of the Children's Rosary. This is where the Children's Rosary began. Despite it being the home of the Children's Rosary, our group has at most had 20 children and often is much smaller with just a few children attending. We have seen repeatedly that numbers do not matter it is the faithfulness that God is asking of us. On October 13th, 4 children attended the Children's Rosary which included two of my own children. A little girl named Fiona (approximately 8 years old) and Peyton age 3 were there and pictured above.

Fiona's father shared with us that in her Spanish class they call her Fatima. Given it was October 13th, the anniversary of the miracle of the Sun in Fatima Portugal, we proceeded to call her Fatima for the remainder of the meeting.  Fatima took over the primary role of leading the prayers from the podium for our Children's Rosary. This was the first time Peyton, age 3, had come to the Children's Rosary. This appeared to be the first time she had prayed a Rosary.


Immediately we asked her to help by holding open the Children's Rosary book for Fatima so that she could look at the pictures of the mysteries as she led the prayers. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Little Peyton's eyes were the only thing seen over the book. She was so tiny yet so eager to help Fatima. She would periodically look at Fatima who was now taking a leadership role and serving as a model for Peyton. I could remember when Fatima, only a little over a year ago, was new to the Children's Rosary and was also learning from others. So quickly she had become a leader and was now guiding a younger one. Helping Peyton clearly made her happy and she was very excited to lead the adults in the pews in prayer. My older two children who were there kneeling around the altar have been guides for many children and now they too appreciated what was happening. Fatima whom they had helped was now helping a littler one and this gave us all great joy. One wonders how do we cultivate leaders in the Church. On October 13th Our Lady gave us a lesson. Start young, bring them together and put a Rosary in their hands. 

This past Sunday, November 10th, Peyton was back and she opened our Children's Rosary by doing the Sign of the Cross. She also was so proud she had learned part of our Children's Rosary theme song: Rosary Children. It hadn't taken long and already we were seeing a new leader at the tender age of 3!

Thank You Grandparents

Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
West Hartford, CT USA 1/10/2016

This weekend brought a close to the Christmas season but it was not without some final gifts from Our Lord.  These gifts were unexpected and brought with them great joy and consolation.  The gifts began on Saturday when we met a lovely mother and her two children after daily Mass.  Her little ones were gathered around the manger looking at Jesus.  At first I thought they were children who had come to our Children's Rosary but upon getting closer I found they were a new family to me.  Quickly I introduced myself and humbly invited her two little ones to our Children's Rosary.  Initially I was thinking about our meeting for the following day at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish but I also mentioned the meeting we would be having later that day at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford.  To my happy surprise they were free and wanted to join us later that day for the Children's Rosary. 

At 3PM my three children and I were at St. Peter Claver Church, it seemed that settling the kids down to quiet prayer was almost mission impossible.  As we gathered in this wonderful space the Church has for praying before the tabernacle, still there seemed some rough housing amongst my kids.  Trying to regain some semblance of order we began the Rosary.  A few minutes later our new friends arrived whom we had met that morning.  The children quickly took their places kneeling with my children.  Nathan was just 6 years old and his sister was around 3 years old. Their mother also knelt on the ground.  With the new children present we started the Rosary over again.  At first little Nathan seemed shy to lead but when he was invited to lead with my daughter who was older he seemed to find the courage and took his place with Alina in front of us to lead the decade.  We quickly could see that Nathan knew his prayers very well.  Next it would be his sister's turn and we suggested they lead together.  The two were so precious together.  Their soft voices encircling our hearts and bringing smiles to our faces.  I looked over at my daughter who had been in the middle of the disruption earlier now had a big smile on her face.  Her own voice became more tender as well in the responses.  Everyone it seemed was smiling.  Something interesting also happened, little Nathan was so much enjoying leading that with each decade he asked if he could help lead.  To see this little soul so excited to lift his prayers up to God was so beautiful I am still relishing it.  As we left, I asked the mom if the children pray the Rosary each day.  She said yes!  Her parents pray the Rosary with them each night as she works evenings.  They were not there to see the children leading us in prayer so beautifully but their efforts had yielded beautiful fruits.


Our next gift was that this little family who brought such joy to our Children's Rosary Saturday was able to join us on Sunday, too.  They were joined by 8 other children.  Three of the children spoke Polish as a second language.  One of the little girls was new to the group and had wooden rosaries in her hands. I told her I liked them very much and she said her grandmother had lent them to her as she lost hers.  One of the little girls also shared with the group that her mother was expecting a baby.  We all marveled to think of this little baby at his or her first Children's Rosary.  We loved to imagine this little one being covered in the prayers of the other children.  Never too early to start attending 8-)

Sometimes it is hard to see the fruits of our efforts to bring children to prayer but this weekend Our Lord was opening a window so we could see the many graces flowing. 

Please know the children prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who were unifying prayers with us.  

In a special way may I thank Our Lord for His generosity of grace and gifts.  In addition I would like to thank grandparents for their help.  They hold an important role to help pass on the faith.  We have seen this in our own family and it was very clear this weekend as well.

Thank you to all the grandparents who run Children's Rosary prayer groups and also those that bring their children to meetings.   

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
A Grandmother's Experience with the Children's Rosary
The Power of the Prayers of Grandparents

Passing On the Faith

Recently I received some beautiful pictures from our Children's Rosary group at St. Paul's Church in Negaunee, Michigan USA.  This group began in October 12th, 2014 and has been meeting on the second Sunday of the month.  The group is run by Mary Evans with the invaluable assistance of Francine Valenti.

Mary wrote that they have tried to closely model each of their meetings according to the Children's Rosary CD.  Most of the children come before the altar with a small statue of Our Lady before them.  They humbly place their special intentions in a box before them as they pray.

The meeting begins in song by the children singing Rosary Children.  The children then begin the Rosary and take turns leading each decade. At the end of each decade Mary shared "the children lay the roses at Our Lady's Feet (this is their favorite!)" After the Rosary the children "place the roses in a vase before a life size statue of Our Blessed Mother and they remain in the church." 
The group made a large poster featuring some of the children from other Children's Rosary groups from around the world.  In this way each child is able to see that they are not alone in prayer.  Children from all around the globe are also sharing a similar experience in prayer.  

For children it is so important for them to see they are not alone in their faith.  Other young people are praying and in a special way praying for them as fellow members of the Children's Rosary. Not only is there a wonderful fellowship in prayer amongst the children but it is also a wonderful opportunity for parents and grandparents to come and be a part of this special time in prayer. For the children to look out and see their family kneeling in prayer from the pews helps to reinforce how important and special this time is in prayer of the Rosary.

The group leader of this Children's Rosary is a grandmother and wrote that she has been able to share this experience of prayer with three of her grandchildren (Emma  age 12, John age 10 and Marlee age 8) who have joined the Children's Rosary. 

Creating and sharing these wonderful memories of prayer will last a lifetime and in a very simple and gentle way help pass on the faith to the future of our Church: the children. 
Over the next week we will have many Children's Rosary groups meeting please consider joining them in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Saturday April 25th
Children's Rosary at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, held in the Kiberna slum in Langatta Nairobi Kenya 10 AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis Oregon 12 PM 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 Bridgeport CT 2:30 PM ET
Sunday April 26th 
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. Paul's Parish in Negaunee, Michigan 9AM 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. Mary's Church in Derby, CT 11 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist in Hopkington 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 April 27th
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 April 28th
Children's Rosary at St. Paul's School in Odell, Illinois 11 AM ET
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 29th
Children's Rosary at St. Keiran School in Queensland Australia 8AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Esate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Immaculate Conception Church in Shelbyville, Illinois 4:30 CT

Other Posts you May enjoy:
What to Do When One Keeps Stumbling
A Grandmother's Experience with the Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Book

The Power of the Prayers of Grandparents

Today leaving Mass a mom came over to me.  She shared that her grandmother had just passed and she was just back from Oregon where she attended the funeral.  Her grandmother was 101 years old and had prayed the Rosary all her life.  With tears welling in her eyes she said she wanted to make the Rosary more a part of her life and her children's lives.  She asked me to help her and to encourage her and her children to come to the Children's Rosary.  This mom also coordinates the little lamb program during  the Sunday 10:30 Mass where the children ages 3-6 leave for a small portion of the Mass for explanation of the readings and Gospel.  She now feels compelled to give the children in her little lambs a Rosary and strongly encourage them to begin coming to our monthly Children's Rosary.

In Adoration after the Mass I began to think of this mom and how the faithfulness of her grandmother to the Rosary and her prayers had made a strong effect on her grown grandchild.  

The role of grandparent in the family is so important.  It is sometimes the safety net for many grandchildren who might not be exposed to the traditions of the Church.  Even in homes where families go to Mass together grandparents can build and support what is being given to children.  In these times which are so challenging to raise children, parents need all the help they can get.

One of the grandparents that leads a Children's Rosary in Louisiana shared, "I pray to our Lord that more grandparents will get involve with their grandchildren.  Me, for one, my closest granddaughter lives 1.15hr away, so I don't get to have her that much.  She was here for my birthday that happen to be (here) on the (Children's) Rosary day.  She is 9 and did beautifully.  I have a Vietnamese grandmother, may the Lord, bless her. She brings her 4 yr.old granddaughter every time.  It makes us proud.  Beautiful lady and child". 

The important role of grandparents in the Children's Rosary cannot be emphasized enough.  So many of our Children's Rosary groups were begun by grandparents some with their grandchildren living far away.  Yet they felt compelled to help other little ones. For Our Lord sees everything and provides for our family when we provide for others.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
A Grandmother's Experience with the Children's Rosary
Did You Ever Receive a Rosary on Your First Holy Communion
A Lesson Pope Francis Learned from his Grandmother

When a Father Isn't There

God the Father and Angel by Giovan Francesco Barbieri
source: Wikimedia Commons the free media repository

Growing up without a father can be a scary experience for a little child.  There are times of feeling self conscious and worried for the future. Having grown up with only a mother in the home and no relationship with my father, save for the knowledge of his name,  I remember wondering what he looked like and if he thought of us.  For I had never met him and I was told he left shortly after I was born and had seen me only once as an infant.  Without a picture and only a name there was little to fill the void of a father.   Such an experience can be confusing for a little one.  With a great deal of uncertainty around me I remember vividly praying to God the Father late one night while I was still very young.  In prayer I asked Him to step in and take the place of father in our family.  To watch over my mom and I.  This was a tear filled request, one that came straight from the heart. It was an anchor for me to have God the Father to turn to in prayer.  It made me feel safe which was so important and filled the hole that lay in my heart.

Tonight as I was falling asleep and thinking about tomorrow being Father's Day the memory of this early prayer to God the Father returned to me.  It was then that I realized how important it had been.  Who would I have turned to if I had not had Our Heavenly Father to ask for help? I also thought of the many children who share my childhood experience or something like it;  who may be feeling alone or questioning if their parents love them.  The knowledge of a Father in Heaven who is always there is a grounding force,  one that tethers a little one to love and security. Today with so many broken families, faith in a loving Father is more important than ever before.  It may be a life jacket for our children in a turbulent sea. 

Other Posts You many Enjoy:
Under the Care of Our Heavenly Father

How to Start a Children's Rosary

A True Mission Story of Faith

Recently a dear friend came over for dinner.  With our family around the table he shared a true story he experienced in Mexico some years ago.   As a priest and missionary he was living for over 20 years in Mexico and Central America.  Regularly he would travel several hours to remote towns to celebrate Mass.  During one trip something unusual happened.  When he entered the Church he discovered that they had no supplies for Mass and worse yet they were expecting him to bring them.  He asked if Jesus was present in the Church and the women in charge answered, yes.  He then suggested that they have a communion service.  She responded that they knew what a communion service was and many had traveled from the mountains and wanted to attend Holy Mass.  It had been at least 4 months since Mass had been celebrated in their village.  

Quickly he began asking those gathered if a cup could be brought and wine.  Someone raised their hand and said they had a bit of wine and a cup.  Linens were found.  Then Father asked for an unconsecrated host.  Oh, they said we do not have one as it would spoil here.  Without an unconsecrated host there could be no sacrifice.  Consecrated hosts could not be used.  With little alternative he told all gathered to kneel and pray to Jesus and ask Jesus to provide the host.  He too turned and knelt in front of the tabernacle and began to pray for an unconsecrated host.  Silently he asked Our Lord to provide.  These people had gathered and desired not clothes nor food both of which they had little but rather they desired to receive Our Lord and attend Holy Mass.   Father turned around at one point to see the entire Church kneeling with heads bowed in prayer, even the tiny children were kneeling in fervent prayer.  Oh he thought, if nothing happens would this destroy the faith of this town.  As he continued to pray his mind began to wander, it found its way to a story. ..the story of Jesus and the apostles when a coin is needed to pay the tax. Jesus sends Peter to "go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."(Matthew 17:27)

As Father's mind reflected on the story he stopped himself and chided himself saying, stop daydreaming and pray.  Then it occurred to him that he should not disregard these thoughts.  Oh yes he realized.. the answer would come from scripture.  He had to think a moment.

Then he knew.  He called the women over who was helping him and asked if there was a book in the sacristy.  She answered yes the book was the only thing in the room.  He instructed her to go and fan the pages of the book and hold it upside down.  She looked at him strangely and went into the room.  Moments later there was a scream.  She came to the door of the sacristy holding a host.  She was screaming the host was in the book.  All the people began to cheer.  

This is a true story and Father gave me permission to share this story with you today.  I wrote to him and asked if I might share this beautiful mission story as the Gospel today was from Matthew 17 and recounted the finding of the coin in the fish.  When so often our faith is tested and there are flickers of doubt may we be reminded that "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). May I humbly ask for your prayers for a situation which in many ways seems without a clear earthly solution.  On July 19th the children carried a package containing a statue of Our Lady and 100 Rosaries and sent them on a great journey to the country of Timor Leste in Southeast Asia where two new Children's Rosary groups are forming.  Weekly I have been checking with Abel the new group leader there who is waiting to have their first meetings until he receives the rosaries.  Each week he has reported...no package.  Today we tracked the package to Indonesia where records indicate it arrived on July 24th and hasn't moved for close to three weeks.  The postal workers indicated that since the package has left the US we have no control over its movements.  There is simply nothing to do but pray.  With Our Lady's Feast of the Assumption on Thursday I would like to humbly ask those reading this to pray one Hail Mary and to ask Our Lord as a present to His Mother on her Feast to bring the package to light in the warehouse and send it on its way so that His Mother may have two new Children's Rosary groups. 

Thank you all for your prayers and God Bless!

Preparing for Your First Holy Communion?

A MUST SEE!

A WONDERFULLY MOVING INTERVIEW WITH GARVIN BYRNE AND HIS EXPERIENCE RECEIVING THE HOLY EUCHARIST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Several years ago a friend sent me a link to a short video.  Out of curiosity I clicked on it.  The interview with little Garvin was so moving that I showed it to two of my children then 6 and 10.  They were quiet while they watched Garvin speak about his illness and about his friendship with Jesus.  Garvin goes on to describe his First Holy Communion as the happiest day of his life.  Both my children have asked to watch this short video over and over again.  It has also shaped in a beautiful way how my son is anticipating his first meeting of Jesus in his First Holy Eucharist which will occur this May.

I would strongly recommend watching this and sharing it with your children.  You won't regret the few minutes you spend here...I promise.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

A Test of Faith

There are times in ones life when everything which feels certain for the future falls away and one trembles at what stands before them.  It is at such moments when fear seems to cover you like a blanket and you struggle to see  beyond the tears. For every person it is a different thing which brings them to their knees.  Such a time has come for me.  

As I have written in the past, 6 years ago I was diagnosed with a genetic condition while I was pregnant with my son, Asher.  The geneticist said that pregnancy was not recommended and I would see a steep decline in my joints and function post-partum.  The geneticist was right and unfortunately the decline I experienced seemed permanent.  In all the years since my son was born I only held him once as my joints became so unstable that joint dislocations became common.  One of my physical therapists who has treated me for 16 years has been a linchpin in my treatment.  He is able to diagnose the many levels of joint displacements that I suffer from on a regular basis.  There was a time when he was unable to treat me for several months due to his busy schedule and without his treatment one dislocation led to more and as time went on it was not just my wrists which had displacements it was my elbow and then my shoulder.  The shoulder became restricted in its motion and I could barely put on a shirt due to my inability to move my arm. Sleeping for more than two hours was difficult and usually my arms were propped on pillows as I could no longer straighten them. 

This past year seemed to be a blessed time when my team of doctors all seemed to be complementing each other beautifully and although I had significant limitations and frequent injuries my condition was being managed and I was relatively stable.  This week I received some disturbing news.  The physical therapist who has been treating me for 16 years has taken a new position with a sports team which means I may not be able to have further treatment with him in the future.  As he has had to cancel my last two appointments over the past 6 weeks there has already been a decline in my hands.  The thought that no longer will there be a person to go to who can diagnose and treat these injuries is a reality which for me is hard to imagine.  Having lived through times when my physical therapist was unavailable and the decline which usually follows the future seemed all but clear that pain and further dependance on my husband for basic functions lay ahead.  My husband and I cried together this week knowing what the loss of this person in my life would mean to us.  

As my husband and I are still young looking ahead to further disability and pain is a hard place to be.  

As this all comes in the middle of so many blessings with the children’s rosary there is a certainty in my heart that none of this is an accident.  There is a strong part of me that feels this is part of the plan, a plan I cannot see from my small place here on earth.  However, knowing this seemed to clash against the strong emotions of fear that seem to take hold of me.  On Thursday morning after getting the news Wednesday night I found myself among dear friends for the rosary after Mass.  Sharing with these dear friends in Christ the situation, I was met with compassion and tenderness and an outpouring of love.  Those there immediately began praying for me in the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.  Tears poured down my face.  Looking across the chapel at the Divine Mercy Picture of Jesus all seemed blurry with tears.  I then thought of Our Lord on the Cross.  Might his eyes have been full of tears and the crowd blurry through them.  In that moment there was a realization that when the future seems blurry to us and we have the awareness that we have no control over our very existance is that not when we are held most tightly to the aching heart of Jesus.  Joined together in suffering, are we not brought with lightening speed into his arms.  There is a heart to heart prayer that occurs between a soul and Our Lord from such a low place. 

Today after communion the priest said these word’s "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".  How can one doubt Our Lord’s love for us when He gave the ultimate gift..His own life.  He is Our Best Friend and as such I am reminded that I must have faith through this terrifying time.  I don’t know what the future holds.  I pray that the Lord will sustain my hands so I can continue updating this blog and working on the new Children's Rosary book.  May I humbly ask those reading this to say a Hail Mary for me so that I will have the strength to keep up the work of the Children’s Rosary with all of you.  Thank you Friends for your support.  Please know that I offer up prayers for all of you each day.

God Bless you All!

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe

“Fear is Useless, What is Needed is Faith”

“Fear is useless, what is needed is faith”(Mark 5:26)

The priest said these words today before the sign of peace.  They seemed to so perfectly summarize the gospel from today.  The gospel is one of my favorites:

Jesus left that place and went off to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman who lived in that region came to him. Son of David! she cried out. Have mercy on me, sir! My daughter has a demon and is in a terrible condition. But Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples came to him and begged him,
Send her away! She is following us and making all this noise! Then Jesus replied, I have been sent only to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. At this the woman came and fell at his feet. Help me, sir! she said. Jesus answered, It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs. That’s true, sir, she answered, but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their masters’ table. So Jesus answered her, You are a woman of great faith! What you want will be done for you. And at that very moment her daughter was healed. (Matthew 15:21-28)

This beautiful testament of the importance of Faith made me think of the first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary: The Resurrection.  The fruit of this mystery is Faith.  It is the greatest fruit one can receive from the Rosary.  I had read that the second most important fruit is grace of a happy death which is associated with the fourth Glorious Mystery: the Assumption of Mary.  It seemed perfect timing to be reflecting on the Holy Rosary as today is the Feast of St. Dominic.  Our Lady is said to have appeared to Dominic around 1206 and revealed to him the devotion of the Holy Rosary.  Our Blessed Mother told him: "Preach the Rosary, which is a shield against the shafts of the enemy, the rampart of the Church of God, and the Book of Life. Exhort everyone to be devout to the Rosary, and thou shalt produce wonderful fruit in souls." 

Who can add a single hour to his lifespan by being anxious?

The answer to this question comes from one of my favorite readings in the Bible.  It also happens to be the Gospel from Saturday. 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”.(Matthew 6:24-36)

Last year this gospel was read on 6:24 the 24th day of June which was also the Feast of John The Baptist. This year it was read on June 23 as the Feast fell on a Sunday.   I do not think it is an accident that this Bible passage is read on or around the date to which it also represents.  As it coincides with the Feast of John the Baptist it as if there is a calling out in the Dark to hear these words to our core for they ground us in how we live our life.  

Our Family reads Matthew 6:24 every Thursday night.  The children all know it by heart.  One day my husband came home.  He told me that he had an opportunity to review medical records for a large malpractice case. However,  it would involve many hours of work.  My husband already leaves the house very early as he is a physician working in a hospital and he often comes home late.  Even though we could use the extra money to help pay off debt, such as school loans, my husband reminded me of Matthew 6:24.  He said to me, we read this every week and if we believe it then we should not take this extra job.  By taking the extra work on the side we would lose the precious time we can all be together.  When we brought our decision back to scripture the wise answer was right before us.  We did not give it a second thought and with peace in our hearts, my husband declined the offer.  

I have come back to this post.  After writing what you read above, my heart was restless.  I felt so much was unsaid.  This reading speaks to me about financial decisions as I have described above but also it has gotten me through many times when I would worry about my declining health.  I have peace and see the wisdom of how the Lord chooses to bring souls that stray from Him, such as myself, back to His tender heart .  He tests us not as a punishment but to strengthen our faith. A priest this past week asked us if we saw the man who crossed Niagra Falls on a wire the prior weekend.  He then told a fictional story of a man who crossed the Falls on a wire and when he reached the side he asked if the crowd believed he could do it blindfolded.  The crowd cheered.  He then asked them if they thought he could cross the Falls blindfolded and with a man on his shoulders.  The crowd cheered.  He then asked if there were any volunteers to get on his shoulders.  In many ways my illness proved to me that I could not work or rationalize my way to health.  I first thought if I could see enough specialists someone could help me with my genetic condition.  There did come a day when I knew I could do no more.  I was in free fall.   A hand grabbed hold of me.  The Hand was Our Dear Lord Jesus.  He gave me something when He took hold of me and that was a deep Faith.  I had Faith since I was a child but not to the core of my being.  I was no longer frightened to get up on the shoulders of Our Lord where ever He chose to take me.  I know now that my way does not work.  However scary it may be I trust with my life God's plan.  It was only through suffering that I came to know this.  That is why I can see the wisdom of why Our Loving Father tests us.  We can never doubt that he Loves us and that He is waiting for us to truly trust in His plan.  Instead of praying for healing I pray that I may discern what God wants from me and have the strength of body and spirit to live it and the courage to follow it though.  Directing my prayers in this way I have seen the fruits of Matthew 6:24-36.  God sees what I need down to the smallest obstacles and provides.  The most recent example was last Friday.  I needed to be home for a medical appointment by 9:30 so my mom could drive me. However, after Mass if I stay with the prayer group for the Rosary, many individual prayers and then the Chaplet we can sometimes end too late for me to be home in time.  Friday was also very hot and I knew the walk home would be slower due to the heat.  However,  due to my disability with my hands I cannot open the door of the Church to let myself out without help.  Once the prayers begin I do not want to disturb anyone to help me until all is finished.  Friday something different happened.  The person leading our group with no notice just cut out most of the individual prayers and only said the rosary, St. Michael prayer, prayers for the Holy Father and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  We were done by 8:45 instead of our normal 9:05.  I had made no mention of my time concerns to anyone.  The Lord knew I needed to be home as not to anger my mom or upset my physical therapist who would be waiting for me at the appointment.  As I walked home I was in awe at how The Lord sees everything and just like the sparrows He provides.  I made it home with 10 minutes to spare.

"Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours"

"Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”.(Mark 11:22-24)

This was the Gospel Friday. This was also the day when at least 11 novenas to different saints were completed, 8 of them by children.  The intention which was being prayed for I am inlcluding here:

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. AMEN

Over 250 Novenas to Saints have been completed.  Novenas to Divine Mercy, Our Lady, The Holy Spirit, and The Holy Trinity have also been said for the above intention(with the exception of the part about a saint choosing a family). 

We believe very strongly what our Lord tells us in his Gospel.  "If we have Faith ...whatever you ask in prayer, believe it and it will be yours".(Mark 11:24) 

As these novenas were being completed Our Lord held true to His promise.  A mother of one of the second grade students from St. Thomas School emailed me to say she wanted to add her name and her two daughters age 3 and 8 to our letter for the Pope.  She also told me that her daughter received the Bible in her class from the children’s rosary.  They were so excited and have been reading about the Saint that chose them.  Three new families approached me after daily Mass Friday and joined our adult morning rosary group.  One mother had brought her 4 year old daughter who has a heart condition.  One mom asked if she could bring her children to our next children’s rosary so they could learn how to pray the rosary.  One of the three families has recently moved to the United States from Syria and they are just learning all the prayers in English.  

One cannot underestimate the effect one kind act can have on another person.  Each one of these events would have made my day alone.  They gave me such hope and joy.  After Mass on Friday I made an announcement about our letter in support of Our Holy Father from the children’s rosary.  Many of the the folks at the Mass had said our children’s rosary novena and were eager to sign the letter.  After I made the announcement the whole chapel started clapping.  The support and beautiful fruits of all these prayers were truly pouring down upon us.  The Lord hears each prayer.  He waits for us.  When we call upon His help He answers in the most beautiful way.  In writing the post for Friday I came upon the intentions of the Holy Father and saw that the general intention of the Holy Father for May was: The Family. That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society.  The children’s rosary has chosen to dedicate our year to renewal of family prayer.  When we wrote the letter to the Holy Father and sent it off last week, we were telling him of the prayers we say for him but seeing what his prayer intention was for May, it is he who has been praying for us. What we have achieved may be as a result of the prayers of the Holy Father and the world. As we know, people all over the planet pray for the intentions of the Holy Father each day.  When we pray we may never know who benefits but be sure someone is somewhere.  It is not for us to know all these things but when the Lord in his generosity allows us to have a glimpse of the fruits of prayer it is pure joy.  I share these things that you may share the joy that I have experienced this weekend.  Thanks to the many people who have through prayer allowed these things to flourish. I thank those of you who by your presence on this blog encourage us to keep pushing forward.  Thank you all and God Bless!

Faith

 "All things are possible to him who believes."(Mark 9:23)
At his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia on Dec 22 2011, Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI cited an "ethical crisis" and a "crisis of faith" as the cause of the financial and economic crisis in the West.  This crisis of faith results in a triumph of selfishness over social responsibility.  

Jesus encountered a lack of Faith while he was on earth,  as the gospel from today describes.  "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?"(Mark 9:19) The disciples had brought a man with his sick son possessed by an evil spirit which they had been unable to cast out.  Jesus tells the father who beseeches him for help, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."(Mark 9:23)  The man responds "I believe; help my unbelief!"(Mark 9:24)

This reading gives us such hope that with total faith anything is possible.  Even when we have little faith if we acknowledge our complete dependance on God and call upon his pity He in His love will reach out and pick us up. The man in the gospel acknowledges his lack of faith and Jesus makes up for his inadequacies and his son is healed.
Faith is a gift.  It is one of the fruits of the rosary.  It is the fruit of the first Glorious Mystery: the Resurrection. It is the most important fruit of the rosary.  The second most important fruit is grace of a happy death which is associated with the Fourth Glorious Mystery: the Assumption of Mary. We must pray to strengthen our faith.  When our faith deepens the Lord can work greater and greater things in us.  
When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."(Mark 9:29)  How powerful is prayer!  Through prayer we can increase our faith and ward off evil.  To pray more is a decision. To pray better is a grace.  The more we pray the better we will pray. 
Below is a beautiful story of a small boy with immense faith.  May it inspire you...
http://www.godvine.com/The-Inspirational-Story-of-Garvan-Byrne-a-Must-See-731.html
To recite a prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas, "Lord grant us an unconquered heart that no hardship can wear out". 
May the children's rosary and all who are associated with us experience a deepening of faith and find that they possess an unconquered heart.  May the Spirit of Prayer descend upon us that we may have a desire to pray more and the grace to pray better.  Thank you Lord for your Love and Mercy. Amen