I am the vine you are the branches

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory,that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples".(John 15:1-8)

Hearing this beautiful Gospel Sunday my thoughts went to the grape vines my husband and I planted 3 years ago.  We had also planted several apple trees too.  As my experience in gardening centers mostly around perennial flowers and vegetables I was completely green to caring for fruit trees and grapes.  My natural inclination was not to prune anything. I wanted things to get big fast.  I also was concerned about hurting the young trees.  Since my pruning knowledge was poor I thought it best to leave the trees alone.  Less I thought is more when it comes to pruning.  However after several years of the grape vines growing out of control and no grapes I began to do some reading.  What I found was that not pruning grape vines is a serious problem.  It not only prevents fruit production but I read might even kill the vine.  Wow, this was news to me that without pruning a vine can grow so much that it kills the plant completely.  Investigation on apple trees also supported the need for yearly pruning.  Without which branches cross each other and crowd out light.  A single tall trunk may grow up with little extension to the sides without pruning from the top.  All in all the need and usefulness of pruning got my husband and I out in late February for our first experience of cutting our trees and vines.  

This afternoon the children were helping me after school in the yard.  I began to look at the grapes and fruit trees.  They looked wonderful and lush. There were many blossoms and small fruit.   All the things Jesus had spoken of were present right in front of me.  His words were truth both literally when it comes to growing grape vines,  and figuratively when it comes to our spiritual welfare. He is the vine and we are the branches. To be in Him and produce abundant fruit we must do God’s Will.  Jesus says “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38).  Let us not only conform to the Will of God (join our will with His), let us strive further to uniformity (which means that we make one will that of God's will and ours).  This is the pinnacle of perfection and should be the goal of our prayers and desires. May the saints and our Blessed Mother intercede for us that we may attain a unity of wills such as Mary did during her life here on earth. Amen

Novena to Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno

Novena to Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno

(Feast May 6)

Bl. Gattorno your life was one of continual suffering.  Notably your first child was left deaf and mentally handicapped after a sudden illness.  Later you would lose your husband after only 6 years of marriage and then your youngest little son. Bl. Gattorno the suffering of your life brought you to a closer communion with Jesus.  Pray that our suffering here on earth will also bring such beautiful fruits.  Pray that we may possess a missionary fervor, strength and zeal of service to our neighbors.  Pray Bl. Gattorno that our faith may deepen so that we may face all obstacles in our life with trust and complete abandonment to Jesus. We ask that you present our petitions to Jesus at the foot of the cross. Amen

(1 Our Father, I Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be)

Bl Gattorno received the gift of the hidden stigmata in 1962.  The stigmata was perceived most intensely on Fridays.  Feeling inspired to start a Foundation herself she sought the counsel of Pope Pius IX who encouraged her to start a foundation immediately.  She named her new religoius order “the Daughters of St. Anne, mother of Mary Immaculate(1866). Bl. Gattorno is a wonderful intercessor for us as she experienced the struggles of marriage, motherhood, and religious life.

Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno was beatified by Pope John Paul II April 9th 2000.

Excerpt from the homily given by Pope John Paul II at the beatification of Bl. Gattorno:

"I, when I am lifted up from the earth", Jesus promised in the Gospel, "will draw all men to myself" (Jn 12: 32). Indeed, from high on the Cross Jesus will reveal to the world God's boundless love for humanity in need of salvation. Irresistibly drawn by this love, Anna Rosa Gattorno made a continual sacrifice of her life for the conversion of sinners and the sanctification of all mankind. To be "Jesus' voice" in order to bring the message of his saving love everywhere:  this was her heart's deepest desire!

With complete trust in Providence and motivated by a courageous impulse of charity, Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno had one desire:  to serve Jesus in the suffering and wounded limbs of her neighbour, with sensitivity and motherly attention to all human misery.

Novena to Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice

Novena to Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice

(Feast May 5th)

Tragedy took your wife of two years leaving you the father of an infant daughter with disabilities.  Please pray Bl Edmund for all parents who face the challenges of raising a child with special needs. Ask our dear Blessed Mother to cover us with her mantle of love.  Intercede before Jesus that we may possess patience and gentleness with our children even in the most difficult of circumstances.  Pray that we may possess the virtue of charity, that we may make a difference in the life of at least one individual or child as you so beautifully witnessed here on earth. May our soul find peace and tranquility by unifying our Will with that of the Lords.  May we find joy in complete obedience to Our Heavenly Father. Amen

(Mention intention) 1 Our Father

Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice: Irish, farmer, widower, founder of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers, d. 1844.  Bl Edmund used all his financial means to care for his daughter and open schools for the poor children in Ireland. His first school was in a converted stable.  As it was difficult to find teachers to stay and teach the children, whom many were brought from the streets, Bl Edmund took on the work of educating new teachers.  He devoted himself to finding individuals grounded in prayer and who were willing to volunteer their time.    Edmund was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Oct 6 1996.

Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice we ask you today to join our children's rosary and pray with us and for us. Amen

Favorite Quotes by Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice:

• "The will of God be done in this and every thing we undertake."
• "Give to the poor in handfuls."
• "Pray that God's Will may be fulfilled in me."
• "Cast all your cares into the arms of divine Providence."
• "Have courage; the good seed will grow up in the children's hearts later on."
• "Never allow vain notions of your own sense, abilities, or other natural or acquired qualifications to take root in your mind, but always beseech God to make known to you, your sins and imperfections."

Novena to Saint Monica

Novena to Saint Monica

Patron Saint of difficult marriages, disappointing children, mothers, and victims of adultery

(Feast May 4th)

Dear St. Monica you suffered heartache for years over your children and husband who despite your prayers rejected the Christian faith.  Your patience and trust in the Lord was repaid by the conversion of your husband and the baptism of your three children.  As it would seem that your eldest son was always to pursue a life of sin the fruits of your prayer were realized when Your Son Augustine abandoned his prior ways and chose a consecrated life.  As a mother I beseech you to help my family and those of mothers across the world who suffer such pain trying to raise their children according to our Christian faith.  Please pray for peace to exist in our hearts and families.  Pray that a desire to pray will grow in the hearts of our children and a Love of Jesus and His Mother will burn within them.  As a loving Mother, St. Monica please carry our petitions to our Heavenly Mother Mary and Her Son who both love us. Amen

1 Hail Mary

St. Monica please pray for our families!

Shortly after Divine Mercy Sunday I was speaking with a dear friend from Church.  We began to speak about the children’s Bibles the children’s rosary was giving out.  As I was sharing some wonderful stories about families who had taken bibles and were beginning family prayer in their homes I could see my friend was becoming sad.  She shared with me a deep pain that had existed within her heart for some time.  Her children are grown now and come home for holidays.  Over Easter her years of attempts to bring her family to conversion were the subject of many jokes.  As tears rolled down her face I thought of St. Monica and thought that I would like to start a novena for my friend and for all the mothers who pray night after night for the children. One priest once told St. Monica not to worry because, “it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.”  The priest was right and her son Augustine would become a Doctor of the Church and one of our great Saints. 

Ary Scheffer - St. Augustine and his mother St. Monica

Dr. Jim Dobbins

Someone to provide some answers to questions we have about our faith

May I share with you a wonderful person who helped me greatly as my heart was pulling me deeper into my faith but my knowledge lagged behind.  It was more than three years ago and my family and I were flying to Florida for a family wedding.  My husband knew that traveling was difficult for me with my joint problems and had planned a surprise.  He had down loaded classes on my ipod by Dr. Dobbins on the Dairy of St. Faustina.  It is one of the only times I actually used the Ipod my husband gave me as a gift.  The hours on the plane and at the airport went by so quickly as I was immersed in the diary.  I could not wait to listen to more and more.  Dr. Dobbins covered the diary based on topics such as the humility, Will of God and suffering.  As my husband only downloaded a few classes I ended up listening to the few I had several times.  They are so good that one or two times really isn’t enough. 

Dr. Jim Dobbins

I would find out when I returned home that Dr. Dobbins had many more topics such as discussions on purgatory, angels, discerning spirits, indulgences, Mary, Revelations, Jesus and the Jewish roots of the Eucharist to name just a few.  Dr. Dobbins makes himself very accessible and at the time I was having a very hard time writing or typing with my hands.  Even signing my name was difficult and painful.  I had many questions and wrote him a few lines asking to speak with him.  He returned this note with an offer to call him on his cell phone while he himself was on a family vacation.  Dr. Dobbins has a deep faith and knowledge of scripture and apologetics, which he explained to me is the study of the pillars of our faith.  If someone criticizes a tenant of our faith we should have the knowledge to answer their question and defend our rich faith.  As I look back over the past few years I have had the privilege to meet people working with Our Blessed Mother for Her Son.  As our lives overlap for periods of time I am aware of the wonderful effect they have had on my life.  I hope to share the little I know or rather the people who are far more educated than I to help you on this journey with Our Lady to her Son.   The Blessed Mother has a plan and each one of us figures into that plan.  Dear Mary please use this website to help bring the pieces of your plan together for the Glory of God!   

I am including the link to the audio of Dr. Dobbins weekly classes which can be listened to for free.  He also makes slides and reading lists available upon request.

link to Dr. Dobbins discussions

Dr. Dobbins also emailed me a link to many free books on-line such as Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross, The Story of a Soul, an autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux, and Interior Castles by St. Teresa Avila etc.  I will provide the link here and will also make a separate posting just to draw others to this great resource.

link to many free books by Saints and writings of the Popes

Novena to St. Aimo

Novena to St. Aimo

Feast April 30th

You went to the Benedictine Monastery of Savigny as a young man.  In charity you stayed and cared for two monks with leprosy despite the risk to yourself.  Your selfless act of charity won favor with the other priests and you were invited to enter the priesthood yourself.  From your seat in heaven we ask you to bath us in prayers as you bathed the men with sores during your life here on earth.  Pray that we may see Jesus in our neighbor and think more of their wellbeing than our own.  Pray that our spirit may always be looking upward toward heaven and we will lose interest in the things of this world.  Pray for our young people that they will seek to serve others as you did.  We place our petitions in your humble hands and trust that you will present them before Our Heavenly Father. Amen
St. Aimo Pray for Us (repeat 3 times)

Ruins of Savigny Abby

The children's rosary is on a mission to invite every saint and blessed to join the children's rosary.  We wish to pray to each saint for the intention listed on our mission page, namely that we will be the extended hands of Mary and Jesus in this world, experience renewal of family prayer and spread it across the globe.  
As we invite saints to join our group I have had the privilege of reading about a great many saints that are not well known.  As I am composing this novena a wonderful warm feeling comes into my heart.  I am asking St. Aimo to help me compose his novena.  As little is known about him I really need his help.  While the deep sensation is present in my heart  the thought comes that this saint might not have had anyone ask for his intercession for some time.  He has so much to give but few are asking for his help.  A door of prayer and intercession has opened through a simple request for help.  How wonderful are our saints who come to our assistance when we ask them.  Thank you St. Aimo for hearing a small soul call out to you.  May your intercession for our children's rosary be felt across the globe.  We trust in your intercession with Jesus and His Father.

I am sad to say I could not find a photo of St. Aimo to include with this novena but have included the ruins from the Benedictine Monastery of Savigny where St. Aimo spent many of his days.  I have also included the hands of a man with leprocy.  Might the deformed hands of the monks St Aimo cared for look something like this.  Could we reach out and wash wounds and bodies as he did.  May we find the strength within us to follow the humble example set by this saint so many years ago.

Hands of a leper reaching out

St. Aimo I invite you to be a member of the children's rosary and always pray with us and for us.  Please intercede for those reading this entry as it is written in honor of you and your beautiful witness to us here on earth.  Thank you St. Aimo! Amen

One Million Rosaries for the Unborn

      ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN

           BABIES SET FOR MAY 4th - 6th

PRESS RELEASE: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE [U.S.A.] 

The multinational ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event is scheduled to happen May 4th - 6th, 2012.  The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization, coordinator of this pro-life prayer event, is asking persons to pray at least one Rosary for an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn human persons.  The website St. Michael the Archangel organization website has information about registering, downloading a bulletin insert, promoting the prayer event, etc.(One may also receive information by sending a self-addressed envelope to: Saint Michael the Archangel Organization;  P. O. Box 41257; Memphis, Tennessee  38174; U.S.A.)

For the 2012 ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES,  persons from more than 30 nations have already registered, but we still need more rosaries to be said to reach the goal of one million rosaries.

" The May 4th date is a Friday which gives schools the opportunity to invite students to assemble and pray the Rosary," said Patrick Benedict, spokesman for the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization.  " On Saturday, May 5th persons may meet at an abortion facility to pray the Rosary.  And, for Sunday(May 6th), it is hoped many priests will lead the Rosary either before or after Mass(or Masses).

________________________________________________________________________

One of the members of the children's rosary introduced me to this group last year and the children and I said rosaries for the unborn.  This year we would like to have the children's rosary as a group assist the St. Michael's organization with this wonderful prayer event. So far 51 rosaries will be said by members of the children's rosary over the course of the three days for the unborn.  Please email me or leave a comment if you would like to add to our number of rosaries we are saying as a group.  If you have already registered your rosary directly with the St. Michael the Archangel group let me know that too.  I will continue to update the number we are offering over the next few days so check back at this post to follow.

The children's rosary is also offering a Mass on Friday May 4th for the Unborn as part of this prayer initiative. 
God Bless You All!