Sunday, September 29, 2024

On September 29, 2013, Eleven Years Ago Today

On September 29th 2013, the Feast of the Archangels, EWTN Global Catholic Network aired an interview about the Children's Rosary.  This airing was a very special gift as it gave many around the world a window into a Children's Rosary prayer group.  Many reached out after the airing with interest in beginning a Children's Rosary in their parish.  Now eleven years later, many of those that wrote or called following the airing have begun groups in their parishes or in schools and helped in many ways such as through translation.  It would seem that such a date could not go by without a special remembrance and gratitude to God the Father and the Archangels  for reaching so many and bringing forth so much fruit.  For those of you unfamiliar with the EWTN interview that aired on Sept 29th 2013 the link is included HERE.

The late Fr. Apostoli, host of Sunday Night Prime shared this at the end of the show:

"You have heard a program about a wonderful movement, Children's Rosary, which is drawing our young people.  This is our future if we do not sow seeds now there will be no harvest later on. This is exactly what the Children's Rosary is doing, reaching out to these little ones.  Stirring their hearts, preparing them as the road ahead will not be an easy one". (Fr. Andrew Apostoli CFR Prior Host of Sunday Night Prime)

Friday, September 27, 2024

9 Day Fast Begins September 29, 2024

 

Dear Friends,
"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).

Our spiritual life requires training. If we would like to do as St. Paul challenges us and "Run so as to win," then we must follow his advice and "exercise discipline." 

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.

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

3) Every day, please offer the rosary and the fast for the following intentions:

*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 bookChild 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


Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Mass Offered on September 25, 2024 for Members of the Children's Rosary


A Mass was offered on September 25, 2024 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 picture above is from the Children's Rosary in Pakistan. They now have 68 Children's Rosary groups in Pakistan!

Monday, September 23, 2024

Happy Feast of St. Padre Pio

The Children's Rosary wishes you a very blessed Feast of St. Padre Pio. 
Thank you, Maria, for the beautiful painting. Below is a picture of Maria with her siblings

Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference 2024

The Children's Rosary had a table at this year's Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference. The topic of the conference was the Four Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell. We had our materials available to help start Children's Rosary prayer groups. Rosaries were available free. We also premiered our new Children's Rosary Christmas Card for 2024! This will soon be available to order.



Friday, September 20, 2024

Preparing for the Feast of the Archangels on September 29th 2024


Today in prayer I was reminded of the upcoming Feast of the Archangels which has always been a day of grace for the Children's Rosary. For my own part, as founder of the Children's Rosary, I have a special devotion to St. Michael and the Angels. The Chaplet of St. Michael is one of my favorite prayers. For years this is what I prayed as I walked to daily Mass. I ceased doing this only because of my joint problems in my hands that seemed to worsen holding a prayer book while I walked. In thinking about the feast, I was reminded of a gift we received 11 years ago on the Feast of the Archangels. On September 29th 2013 an interview aired on EWTN about the Children's Rosary. This was the first mention of the Children's Rosary on EWTN. By the grace of God many other interviews have followed as well as the regular airing of the Children's Rosary on EWTN. Yet that first interview was special and there has yet to be another one that has seemed to touch hearts in quite the same way. 

In anticipation of September 29th 2024, the Feast of the Archangels, I would like to begin a 9 day Novena (September 20-29th) which will include the daily prayer of the Chaplet of St. Michael. Humbly I invite others including members of the Children's Rosary to join in praying the Novena.

The intention of the Novena:
May St. Michael and the Archangels as well as all the choirs of angels:
*Help to protect the Children's Rosary including all the members. 
*Help to spread the Children's Rosary throughout the world. 
*Help to support, guide and strengthen the members of the Children's Rosary, that we may be the extended hands of Jesus and Mary in this world.

This 9 day novena will help to prayerfully prepare us for the annual 9 Day Novena of Prayer and Fasting that has become a tradition for the Children's Rosary. This will begin on September 29th and end on October 7th (the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). 
Chaplet of St. Michael


The Chaplet is begun by saying an Act of Contrition(see at bottom of page for prayer) followed by:
V. O God come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, Make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father...
First Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the first Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the Lord make me worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
Second Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the second Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
Third Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the third Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
Fourth Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the fourth Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions, may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.
Fifth Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the fifth Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptation of the devil. Amen.
Sixth Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the sixth Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil, and suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.
Seventh Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the seventh Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
Eighth Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the eighth Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works, in order that we gain the glory of Paradise. Amen.
Ninth Salutation: One our Father and three Hail Mary's in honor of the eighth Choir of Angels. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to eternal glory. Amen.
At the end say one Our Father each in honor of  St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and Our Guardian Angel.
The chaplet is concluded with these prayers
O glorious Prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of soul, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King, and our admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil who turn to thee with confidence and enable us by the gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
V. Pray for us, O Glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His Promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by an act of Goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech You, to be delivered by his powerful protection from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the Chaplet:
An Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishment, but most of all because they offend Thee my God who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.