Today we were able to attend Mass at St. Anne Shrine in Sturbridge, Massachusetts USA. Before Mass my daughter Alina, son Kontantin, and I prayed a Rosary. In a special way, we prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. A first class relic of St. Anne was brought out just before Mass began. We were able to venerate the relic and again I humbly prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary as one of our intentions of the Rosary. A first class relic of St. Anne was brought out just before Mass. We were able to venerate the relic and again I humbly prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary.
St. Anne and St. Joachim were grandparents of Jesus. Today we honor the important role of grandparents in the family. After Mass today my husband surprised us with a new puzzle. My mother very much enjoys doing puzzles with our kids on Sundays. The image on the puzzle seemed perfect given the Feast Day (see the picture below). It shows a grandfather reading the Bible to his grandson.
We thank all grandparents for all they do to pass on the faith. There are many grandparents who help with the Children's Rosary. Some make monetary donations, others run Children's Rosary groups and some make rosaries. Many pray for the Children's Rosary. We thank all who help! You are making a tremendous difference in the lives of children throughout the world including those young ones in your families.
Today we were able to venerate the incorrupt heart of the Cure of Ars. This was part of a Major Relic pilgrimage sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. A small group of members of the Children's Rosary were able to visit New Haven, Connecticut. This is approximately 1 hour from our home.
Our little trip began with Mass at St. Mary's Church in New Haven. There we were also able to pray at the tomb of Ven Fr. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. I prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary at the tomb of Ven. Fr McGivney.
We then visited the Knights of Columbus Museum. Upon entering, we immediately went to see the relic of St. Jean Vianney. There was a large crowd when we arrived. We prayed there and then visited the Christmas in Poland Exhibit also at the Museum.
When the crowds had left, we returned to pray before the relic. Our small group was composed of two families with three children total. We prayed together in a special way before the relic for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. We also asked for the intercession of St. Jean Vianney to protect the purity of the children who are part of the Children's Rosary. St. Vianney was a champion of protecting purity and we implored his help in this regard. We took you all with us today. You were in our prayers.
It was a special blessing to be able to visit this Major relic tour. It was the kindness of another Children's Rosary group leader who offered to drive which allowed us the grace to attend. A special thank you to her. With my own joint disability, traveling even locally is often a challenge as I do not drive. Yet, God is so good that He sends the kindest of people to help us.
The heart relic of St. Jean Vianney will visit cathedrals, churches, chapels and seminaries, from November 2018 to early June 2019.
God bless you all.
The Children's Rosary received a beautiful grace today. On this Feast of St. Pio of Peitrelcina our Children's Rosary group leader in Vietnam was able to venerate a first class relic of St. Pio while praying for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. He also prayed for all the families of the members of the Children's Rosary.
We are very grateful for these special prayers. The group leader wrote that the relic of St. Padre Pio "is a piece of cloth that was used to clean his wounds. On the cloth there is a little blood of St. Pio".
St. Padre Pio is known as a stigmatic and mystic but also one who carried a heavy cross of suffering.
"In order to attract us, the Lord grants us many graces that we believe can easily obtain Heaven for us. We do not know, however, that in order to grow, we need hard bread: the cross, humiliation, trials and denials." (St. Padre Pio)
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Dear Friends,
Please forgive my delay in sharing all the wonderful blessings from the visit of the Relics of the Passion on Wednesday. It has been a difficult task to put into words the beauty of the evening. This visit was a precious gift to the Children's Rosary. We are extremely grateful to the Apostolate for Holy Relics for adding St. Helena Church in West Hartford, Connecticut to their Tour of Mercy. The children were so grateful that they were able to to help in hosting such special pieces from Our Lord's life. While many children were able to attend, we carried all of you who live far away with us in our hearts.
The children naturally seemed to love their role as hosts for the evening. Children arrived early and quickly took to their places at each of the four entrances. As each person arrived they were greeted and given a program and a blessed Children's Rosary bookmark. People slowly made their way in and by 7PM the Church was full. Eleven children volunteered to process into the Church with the relics. They were each paired with a member of the Knight's of Columbus Color Guard. The children carried symbols of each of the relics while the Knights held the relics. As the formal program began each relic was described and a reflection read about the relic.
The relics included:
A piece of the True Cross, which was discovered by St. Helena
A piece of the Holy Table from the room where the Last Supper took place
A piece of the Column of Flagellation
A piece of the Crown of Thorns
A replica of the Holy Nail, fashioned using filings from the true nails, making it a relic of a lesser class.
A relic from the head of St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Christ
A picture of (the effigy of) the Veil of Veronica touched to the original with a Vatican seal attesting to the fact.
A piece of the exterior wrapping fro the Shroud of Turin
First class relics of each of the12 Apostles.
During each reading a relic was held up by a Knight and a member of the Children's Rosary elevated a symbol. In some cases two children held symbols of each relic. One of the things that was particularly evident to those attending was the care and respect that the children took in honoring Our Lord. Denise Serafini who represented the Apostolate for Holy Relics that evening shared:
"I can't thank the (children) enough for the reverent way in which they took part. The example that they set is a true indication of just how much Our Lady loves them for their devotion."
After all the meditations were read for the 9 relics there was time for personal veneration. A line was formed and slowly each person had a chance for personal veneration. Children came forward with their families. Two of our members Nathan and Hannah came with their grandmother. Each was blessed with the relic of the true cross over their heart. The Scripture quote came to mind several times that evening, "Let the children come to me"(Mark 10:14). Indeed, the children did come. These children knew well about the Passion through their prayers of the Rosary. They came to love and console Our Lord. In their innocence and purity the simplicity of their gifts touched many hearts.
During the veneration I was able to come before each of the 9 relics and recommend all the members of the Children's Rosary. I also prayed for all the intentions submitted to the Children's Rosary, holding our intention sheet to each relic. In a special way all the hearts with the names of those joining our Year of Mercy Novena of Prayer and Fasting were touched to each relic and those individuals lifted up in prayer. The evening extended several hours and each person was able to spend time praying before each relic. Some of the children and adults felt moved to go up multiple times. Pastor Fr. Crowley and Fr. Dawson offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the time of veneration. Many families availed themselves of this grace.
The evening was very special. The Children's Rosary wishes to express our gratitude first to Our Lord for such a blessing to be able to honor his Passion in such a special way. We wish to thank the Apostolate for Holy Relics for accepting our invitation to come. A special thank you to the Knights of Columbus Color Guard for being part of the evening and in a special way mentoring the children. We wish to thank Fr. Crowley and Fr. Dawson and the Parish of St. Helena who helped in welcoming this visit of the Relics of the Passion. A thank you to all the musicians who shared their talents. One of the last people to venerate the relics was the gentlemen who played the violin. He brought his instrument to touch each relic. It was so moving to see such a souls taking what they have been given and using it to glorify God. We pray that through our Year of Mercy Novena of Prayer and Fasting which began on February 17th that each one of us may say, "Your will be done" and in so doing allow all of our gifts to be used in honor of God.
Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe
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The kids have been busy putting up posters at local Churches about the upcoming visit of the Relics of the Passion on March 16th 2016. The Children's Rosary will be hosting this visit at St. Helena Church in West Hartford CT. The evening will begin at 7PM EST. We hope those in driving distance will join us! Those living far away we invite to unify prayers with us. We will pray for you!!
The Relics of the Passion include:
A piece of the True Cross, which was discovered by St. Helena
A piece of the Holy Table (Mensae Coenae D.N.J.C), from the room where the Last Supper took place
A piece of the Column of Flagellation
A piece of the Crown of Thorns
A replica of the Holy Nail, fashioned using filings from the true nails, making it a relic of a lesser class.
A relic from the head of St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Christ
A picture of (the effigy of) the Veil of Veronica touched to the original with a Vatican seal attesting to the fact.
A piece of the exterior wrapping for the Shroud of Turin (Sindonis D.N.J.C.)
A special thank you to the Apostate for Holy Relics for providing these beautiful posters.
Please consider participating in our special Year of Mercy Novena of Prayer and Fasting which will kick off at the Relics of the Passion. We will be bringing all the names of those participating in the Novena before the relic of the True Cross to lift up in prayer.
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The children naturally seemed to love their role as hosts for the evening. Children arrived early and quickly took to their places at each of the four entrances. As each person arrived they were greeted and given a program and a blessed Children's Rosary bookmark. People slowly made their way in and by 7PM the Church was full. Eleven children volunteered to process into the Church with the relics. They were each paired with a member of the Knight's of Columbus Color Guard. The children carried symbols of each of the relics while the Knights held the relics. As the formal program began each relic was described and a reflection read about the relic. 
The evening was very special. The Children's Rosary wishes to express our gratitude first to Our Lord for such a blessing to be able to honor his Passion in such a special way. We wish to thank the Apostolate for Holy Relics for accepting our invitation to come. A special thank you to the Knights of Columbus Color Guard for being part of the evening and in a special way mentoring the children. We wish to thank Fr. Crowley and Fr. Dawson and the Parish of St. Helena who helped in welcoming this visit of the Relics of the Passion. A thank you to all the musicians who shared their talents. One of the last people to venerate the relics was the gentlemen who played the violin. He brought his instrument to touch each relic. It was so moving to see such a souls taking what they have been given and using it to glorify God. We pray that through our Year of Mercy Novena of Prayer and Fasting which began on February 17th that each one of us may say, "Your will be done" and in so doing allow all of our gifts to be used in honor of God.
The Relics of the Passion include: