St Anthony Mary Claret's Memories of the Rosary

Today is the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret.

Some time ago my children and I began reading the autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret. He had a great devotion to Our Lady and a love of the Rosary. In his autobiography he shared, "The gift of rosary beads, given me when still a small boy, I received as if it were the acquisition of the greatest treasure. I began to use it for reciting the Rosary with the rest of the school children." He goes on to share that, "since the day I learned how to pray the Rosary, I not only recited it in the church, but also at home every night, as was the custom of my parents." 

He also listed prayer as one of the means he used to make his priestly ministry fruitful. In adulthood as a priest he routinely preached on the Rosary. He also recited the Rosary with the Congregation before giving a Sermon. 

Last weekend we had the opportunity to go to the Berkshires which is in Western Massachusetts USA. This is a region known for its beautiful foliage in the fall and autumn harvest of apples and other fruits and vegetables. Asher, our 11 year son, took the picture at the top of the post last weekend at the farm. Several of the other pictures were taken at prior visits to the orchard. We are in the season of fall harvest. It is interestingly when reflecting on the words of St. Anthony Mary Claret that the month of the Rosary sits perfectly within the harvest season. As we look at all these fantastic pumpkins and squash, may we remember how prayer can bring a bounty of of spiritual fruits.