Children's Rosary

The Children's Rosary® is a prayer group movement that was begun out of love for Our Lady and Her Son. Jesus tells us "Truly, I say to you unless you turn and become like children you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). The Children's Rosary is an effort to begin in parishes rosary prayer groups composed of children and led by children. Through prayer of the Rosary Our Lady will guide our young people while at the same time sanctify families and Parishes.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Feast of St. Pius V: April 30

St. Pope Pius V was Pope from January 7, 1566 to May 1, 1572. He joined the Dominicans at the age of fourteen years. Saint Pius V was known for his tremendous devotion to and promotion of the Rosary. In 1571, he urged the creation of the Holy League. This was founded on the feast of Saint Dominic.

Pope Pius V was canonized May 22 1712 by Pope Clement XI. We seek the intercession of St. Pope Pius V for the Children's Rosary, asking him to help the Children's Rosary reach more children and to increase our devotion to Our Lady. It seems fitting, since St. Pope Pius V had such a devotion to Our Blessed Mother, that his feast would usher in the month of May which is dedicated to Our Lady.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Feast of St. Catherine of Siena: April 29th 2020

Today we honor St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and mystic. She is quoted as saying "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire". Indeed she encourages us on the path to holiness. St. John Paul II made her one of Europe's patron saints. Many might not be aware but the Children's Rosary Joyful Mysteries CD has an original song written about St. Catherine of Siena sung by members of the Children's Rosary.

The Joyful Mysteries CD can be ordered through EWTN HERE.

If you have yet to purchase our two prior CDs the Glorious and Sorrowful Mysteries, EWTN is offering a special bundle price for all three! Order HERE.

The entire collection of Children's Rosary materials is available to order HERE.
If you are in Europe the CD is available to order from EWTN Great Britain HERE.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Mass Offered on April 25th 2020 for Members of the Children's Rosary

A Mass was offered on April 25th 2020 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. It is a way we can humbly thank all those who participate and help the Children's Rosary in any way. Thank you all!

As so many are not able to attend Mass because of the Coronavirus having a Mass said this month for all the members of the Children's Rosary seemed particularly special.

Friday, April 24, 2020

EWTN Ireland Has Organized a 54 Day Rosary Novena

The Rosary Novena begins Friday April 24th and ends on June 19th which is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through this novena we seek to entrust ourselves, our families and loved ones, our country and the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as we seek protection from the Corona virus. We also pray that through the Rosary Novena, we will experience in our own country and across the entire world a renewal of family prayer.

Please consider joining in prayer!

Saturday, April 18, 2020

A Novena of Thanksgiving Comes to a Close

Tomorrow will conclude our 9 day Novena of Masses in thanksgiving. This is something we do every year following the Anniversary of the Children's Rosary on April 10th. Leading up to the anniversary on April 10th a 9 day Novena of Masses was completed for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary.

The novena of Thanksgiving is always a very special part of the 18 days of Masses. It helps to center oneself in a spirit of simplicity and trust. In thanking God we acknowledge that He is in control and knows the best for us. He gives what we need. Our role is to trust in His Providence. A priest once shared some advice with me early when the Children's Rosary began. He advised to not get out ahead of the Spirit but be ready when the Holy Spirit opens the door. Thinking of his words we try to always allow God to lead us. In this way we can glorify God as all is unfolding according to His Will and not our own. There are things we would like to see happen but God knows the best of it. Today we woke up to a surprise. There was a layer of clean white snow outside. This winter we saw very little snow and to have so much fall in April was a surprise. Yet as I was reflecting on prior years when we had this novena I was reminded that we also had snowfalls during the days of the novena.

My mother has always said of snow that it is the poor man's fertilizer. It helps the plants through the winter. More snow is a good thing for the following years growing season and harvest. Perhaps one could see this snow as a signal grace. Our days of prayer and especially those of thanksgiving help us to cultivate spiritual fruits in our soul. Tomorrow is the last day of Masses. Four Masses will be celebrated in Thanksgiving. May we unify our prayers with those Masses and take some moments to thank God for the many blessings he has given not only to the Children's Rosary but to each of us. No matter what trial we may be under right now with the Coronavirus, one can always find blessings in each moment.

Thank you God.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

In God's Time

A few weeks ago my children helped me in planting some spring vegetables. We began with things such as sugar snap peas, beets, lettuce, carrots, and Swiss Chard. My husband built us two raised beds for some of the veggies. Seeds were planted in the beds. The weather was rainy and a bit chilly. We watched eagerly waiting for those first shoots but none seemed to come. My son would ask if anything was up and he seemed a bit disappointed that the answer seemed always "no." But I assured him they were coming. Then on Easter we went out to the garden. The sun was bright and the day warm. Peeking out of the black earth were little sprouts. First I noticed the beets with the characteristic red stems (see above), then even smaller were the first sprigs from the spring carrots.

In the garden we have learned patience. We have seen that nature cannot be rushed. Everything happens in God's time. Not only were there new sprouts in the garden but one of the apple trees in the back of the yard had buds just ready to open.

Purple flowers dotted the edge of the driveway. Indeed all spring was bursting forth. The timing seemed so perfect as we celebrated Easter Sunday this year at home. There was no going to Church Mass with the pandemic having closed all those in our state. Yet there was beauty all around us. Nature was showing her colors and bursting forth new life. Last night my husband read from the Bible. The last few lines stood out to me, "But those that trust in the Lord shall renew their strength as eagles grow new plumes: They shall run and not grow weary, they shall march and not grow faint" (Isaiah 40:31). While we still do not know how long we will be confined to our homes, we trust in the Lord. All happens in God's time and we should not grow weary.

Monday, April 13, 2020

St. Rocco Protector Against Epidemics - Pray For Us

St. Rocco was born in Montpellier, France in 1340 A.D. His was a miraculous birth. After his mother prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, she conceived Rocco despite being thought to be barren. Rocco bore a red cross on his chest which appeared at his birth and remained for the rest of his life. St. Rocco at a young age developed a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother. When his father died, Rocco was appointed governor of Montpellier but decided to leave this high position and depart instead for Rome. He journeyed there as a humble and poor pilgrim. There he cared for people with the plague. Miraculous healings were attributed to him during that time. He ultimately contracted the plague himself. As a result, he was banished from the city and lived in a cave. It is reported that a dog faithfully brought him bread which helped him to survive. After a stay and cure at the castle of the kind Count Gothard Pallastrelli, (the owner of the dog) St. Rocco returned to Montpellier where he was imprisoned unfairly and erroneously thought to be an espionage agent. He languished in prison for five years before his death in 1378 A.D. On the day of his death, a bluish light emanated from his body. The governor, his uncle, realized that Rocco was his nephew because of the cross found on his breast.

St. Rocco is venerated in the Catholic Church as protector against the plague and contagious diseases. St. Rocco's feast is August 16th. During this time of pandemic, we seek his powerful intercession.

Prayer to St. Rocco

Dear St. Rocco, please intercede for us before Our Lord Jesus. May we have unwavering trust in God no matter the trials or illnesses that may befall us. May our hearts be open with mercy for those less fortunate and suffering around us. Following in the example you gave, St. Rocco, may we take up our cross and selflessly follow Our Lord. May we also find recourse to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother as you did since childhood. Amen.

Photo credit: The photo above is of a statue of St. Rocco given to our family some years ago by a missionary priest.