"The Rosary is My Favorite Prayer" St. John Paul II

Pope John Paul II had a wonderful devotion to the Rosary.  He prayed 15 decades daily.  He was quoted as saying it was his favorite prayer.  This week I have spent staying just steps away from the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida USA.  Due to my joint problems I cannot keep up with the busy schedule of the rest of the family as they visit parks.  Yet there is a blessing in such a disability, as I found I had lots of quiet time to pray and enjoy the Adoration chapel at the Basilica and the beautiful Rosary garden.  At the beginning of the Rosary walk is a statue of John Paul II with the words from the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Maria: "to recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ".  On Tuesday there was a wonderful surprise Valerie and three of her children came to visit at the Basilica.  They lead a Children's Rosary in Naples, Florida almost 3 and a half hours away from Orlando where we were staying. Valerie's note that morning that she and the children would like to make the trip was joyful indeed.  Having never met Valerie and her family this was a special treat.  I realized in a special way today in prayer that Our Lord had sent Valerie and her children for a personal reason.  I had been praying very hard for help with one of my children as there had been many struggles recently with him.  In particular a feeling I wasn't doing a very good job in the mom department.  Sometimes one finds it is so much easier to be good to people outside ones house.  To bring charity into the home well that is where the daily challenge lies at least in my house.  

Valerie shared with me that she felt strongly that she should bring the kids for the visit. Today in quiet prayer I began to see that Our Lord was giving me a beautiful glimpse at a Mom who indeed struggles as a parent but is doing it with so much love.  With the children running around and exploring the grounds of the Basilica I was able to watch her and see how beautifully she handled the challenges.  Sometimes Our Lord sends people to help us. To witness love and so we can feel a renewal to try even harder in our own lives.  The path is not easy.  There are low points and questioning.  Yet I am seeing that so many have been a witness to me through the Children's Rosary.  They have inspired me and continue to inspire me.  We are all a net for each other.  Our Lady and Our Lord borrow our hands to help support each other.  They are able to use us when we give our consent to such actions.  In our Rosaries and the many novenas we have prayed that we might be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world.  In this way we allow them to use us.  

May I humbly thank you all for your witness to me of love and prayer.    As a member of the Children's Rosary at the low points there is such a wonderful consolation to know that there are children each day praying for each of us that we may grow in holiness.  I spend a good deal of my prayer time praying for members of the Children's Rosary but I know that I receive far more than I could ever give.  

There are many Children's Rosary groups meeting over the next few days.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Thursday November 6th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, California will meet at 6:30 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM

Friday November 7th (First Friday)
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange Texas 7:05 AM CT

Children's Rosary at St. Stephen Church in Lilburn, GA 9AM CTChildren's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Pontiac, IL 9:00AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Adrian, Michigan 5PM ET (meeting before the Blessed Sacrament)

Saturday November 8th
Children's Rosary of St. Michael the Archangel Parish and held in the Kibera slum in Langatta Nairobi Kenya 10AM local time.
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Nairobi, Kenya 8AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Michael's Church in Garden City South Carolina 10:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Parish 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 November 9th

Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick's Parish in Nottingham, England 9AM local time (4AM ET)
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 7AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in South Windsor, CT 8:45 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, CT 9:45 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Britain, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma, WA 11:30 AM PSTChildren'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 Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament

The picture above was taken at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe.  Max age 6 pictured with John Paul II is a member of the Children's Rosary.