We Prayed For You

Yesterday we traveled to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy for Grandparents Day.  The children and I first held our normal monthly Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hartford Connecticut.  Once it was over we began our journey by car to the National Shrine.  Our dear friend Liz drove us.  As we entered into the Berkshires a thick fog rolled in over the hills and mountains that we passed through.  Mist covered the car.  We had heard the night before that the outdoor plans had been moved inside.  This news was welcome as the Church at the National Shrine is so breathtaking that I was overjoyed at the thought we might be able to hold the Children's Rosary inside the Church. As we entered the long driveway leading to the Shrine the sun came out.  There was no rain there.  We were told right away that we should go toward the Church as indeed we would be inside.  Many people were already gathered for the talks that had begun in the morning.  We had arrived late given our earlier commitment.  Shortly, more members of the Children's Rosary arrived from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury Connecticut.  

The children set to work bringing the pillows and flowers into the Church to set up for the Children's Rosary.  As soon as the talks had concluded we met with Fr. Gramlich the Rector at the Shrine of Divine Mercy and Alicia Belanger from the Catholic Grandparents Association.  Everything was unfolding beautifully.  

Several other children were at Grandparents Day and we invited them to join us.  Three children came up to join our members.  We had an extra special blessing as the children were able to lead the Children's Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  All 8 children knelt the entire time they led the Rosary with beautiful reverence.  Each helping in some way either to place a rose before Our Lady or to help lead a decade.  All those in the pews responded to the prayers led by the children.  The power of the voices responding was so strong.  The Church is relatively small but with so many people in such a small space it felt as if there was one unified voice returning each of the prayers led by the children.  We began the Children's Rosary praying in a special way for Grandparents and also all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who were unifying prayers with us.  We shared with all present that many members of the Children's Rosary were unifying with us at the Shrine.  We felt very connected to you all and held you in our hearts in prayer.  


At the conclusion of the Children's Rosary the children carried the yellow flowers they had to grandparents who had come to the event.  It was very sweet to see the children tenderly giving a rose to the grandmothers and grandfathers.  Mass soon followed with a beautiful entrance of the children carrying signs with messages about grandparents. The signs had been made by the Catholic Grandparents Association and were so precious. Following Holy Mass during the 3PM hour the Chaplet of Divine Mercy was prayed and there was veneration of a first class relic of St. Faustina.  

Please know in a special way you all were held in prayer during the Chaplet and then also during veneration of several beautiful relics, those of St. John Paul II, St. Margaret Mary, St Peregrine and St. Faustina.  For my own part I prayed very hard for you all taking each tender moment to continually lift all the members of the Children's Rosary up in prayer.  

There was a very special feeling the children were receiving many special graces that day.  Each seemed to share that the time went by so fast.  Indeed it was a true gift to be there and have an opportunity to pray for you all.  

Seeing the children kneeling in prayer at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy was a humbling experience.  We are very grateful to Fr. Anthony Gramlich MIC and Alicia Belanger of the Catholic Grandparents Association for inviting the Children's Rosary to be a part of Grandparents Day.

Fr. Anthony Gramlich also shared that yesterday and today are very special days.  Eighty years ago, "St. Faustina first prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Sept 13th 1935. That is when she had the encounter with the Angel of Wrath. But Jesus revealed the full Chaplet on September 14th 1935, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross". 

I hope this little note brings a smile to your heart to know we were praying for you.  We thank you for being a part of the Children's Rosary and all your prayers and sacrifices.

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe