When is Too Early to Introduce the Rosary?

Recently Liam, age 2, attended a Children's Rosary meeting at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hartford, Connecticut. He is shown above in the blue shirt. It was his first time attending and he came to kneel on the pillows with the other children as the rosary began. His mom accompanied him. He beautifully placed a rose at the foot of a statue of Our Blessed Mother at the end of one of the decades. The children around him were praying and taking turns leading. 

Two weeks later I saw both Liam, his mother and younger brother at an event at the Domestic Monastery. She shared with me that since the Children's Rosary Liam has not stopped carrying around his rosary. She showed me some pictures to show how the rosary was moving through his fingers as he rode in a train ride at a local fair.

Then at snack time he could not hold both his cookies and his rosary so the rosary was placed on top of the container of cookies.

Walking with mom he had one hand held by is mom and his other tightly clasped his rosary. 

Even during time in the stroller the rosary was brought for outings.

At the end of the Children's Rosary meeting each child was invited to take a rose home that had been given to Our Blessed Mother. Liam placed his rose by a statue of Our Blessed Mother in the entry way of his home. This is where the rosary is placed when not with Liam. 

I marveled at this story and his mother, Mary, also was thrilled to see this transformation and love of the rosary at just 2 years old. As the rosary beads are a sacramental even the act of carrying a rosary brings blessings so it is indeed a wonderful development. The formation of faith and devotion is something that is hard to predict but early exposure to prayer indeed brings a harvest of blessings. When is too early to introduce the rosary...the answer is it is never too early. Thank you Liam for giving witness to this!