 |
There is tremendous excitement here in Rome as the delegates from around the world have arrived. The World Meeting of Families kicked off with the Festival of Families and the Holy Father, Pope Francis was there (see above).
Even in the line to get into the event we found blessing as we met some tremendous people. We met Archbishop Pettipas of Canada, shown above. He was very excited to hear about the Children's Rosary. Within the Paul VI Hall we were seated next to two bishops from Mexico and a large Mexican delegation.
On Pentecost June 5, my son, Asher (age 15) and I set out for Rome. We left Newark airport (see photo above) for a 3 week pilgrimage. From the moment we got in line for security check in Newark, we could see the fruits of our prayers asking Our Blessed Mother to be our guide. The person in front of us in the security line was a priest who is in charge of evangelization for the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey. Indeed this trip so far has been peppered with a multitude of providential meetings.
The travel was difficult, but we arrived on Monday, June 6, in time to make our way to St. Peter's Basilica for their last daily Mass of the day. The sun was streaming through the stained glass window above the altar. It has indeed been a great blessing to spend the Octave of Pentecost in Rome.
Our daily uniform has been the Children's Rosary T-shirts. Asher and I wear these each day. It is amazing to see the smiles we get from total strangers as we wear the image of Our Blessed Mother of the Children's Rosary across our shirt. We also carry the Children's Rosary book with us as we want always to be prepared
to share these as gifts. We see these little books as seeds that we share during our travels. We put our hope and trust in God that they can bring fruit.
Please know that our time in Rome has also been one of prayer. We have brought you here with us to St. Peter's Basilica where we attend Mass most days and also have the opportunity for Adoration. When we have not attended Mass on a particular day at St. Peter's Basilica it is because we attended Mass at another location, such as the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica St. John Lateran, or at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi in the village of Assisi. We usually end our evenings with a walk when it is cooler in St. Peter's Square, which makes a lovely place to pray the Rosary. We had a providential meeting with the Archbishop of Lahore Pakistan (see photo below) in St. Peter's Square. It was a great blessing to meet Archbishop Shaw since we have many Children's Rosary groups in his Archdiocese.
We were able to visit the Church with the original Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which appears on the back of our Children's Rosary book. See below the original icon is over the altar.
United in prayer.
Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe
"I am happy to inform you that the Children's Rosary group of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Shendam lead the Rosary procession at the Catechetical Training Institute together with the student Catechists to mark the end of May Devotion. It was a spirit filled spiritual journey as we move round the school praying the Rosary and ended in the church."
The Children's Rosary group leader explained that on the way to the Shrine it was pouring rain and there was concern for the weather. Even as preparations began it was raining heavily but the sky beautifully cleared just in time for the procession, crowning and Children's Rosary.
