60th Annual Living Rosary on Sunday, October 9th

The 60th Annual Living Rosary will be held at the Assumption High School Gym, located at Bardstown Road and Tyler Lane, Louisville on Sunday, October 9th at 3 PM.

Father Matthew Hardesty will speak at the celebration. A concert with the Holy Name Band will precede the Rosary presentation at 2:30 PM.

Teaching Teens to pray the Rosary

Convincing a group of teenagers to sit still and pray the same prayers over and over again isn't always an easy task.

Youth ministry really can be incredibly fun.  Meeting new people, playing games, and going on trips can be an important part of any solid youth ministry program.  However, leading the teens to form a real relationship with God and teaching them how to live the Catholic faith has to be the central element of any solid, Christ-centered youth ministry program. 

Teenagers can play games and hang out with friends anywhere and on their own time, but youth group needs to be different than any other club or group in order to make an impact, and to become a priority  in already busy lives.  It's tempting to pack youth group meetings with sports and games to attract kids and keep them “happy,” and believe me, I've been there. 

It's easy to seek the instant gratification of smiling, laughing teens that leave a fun-filled meeting proclaiming that “Youth group rocks!” It's also tempting to recoil from the potential rejection that accompanies proposing a “boring” activity. When we as youth ministers reflect on our mission and examine our priorities, we know that leading the teens to God is more important than running a frisbee tournament, even one of epic proportions.

Through trial and plenty of error, I've come to find that a good structure for a youth ministry program is one that is consistent, simple, and that allows for lots of teen participation.  Teens also like to know what to expect. Props, videos, music, and flashing lights can serve a purpose, but a regular routine that consistently incorporates an element of prayer can be a good way to get young people used to praying on a regular basis. Socializing, fun activities, and prayer can all be part of your program, but each in moderation, and with purpose. 

Most Catholics are very familiar with the rosary as a form of prayer to the Blessed Mother Mary in which the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be prayers are repeated while different events from the lives of Jesus and Mary are contemplated. Blessed John Paul II encouraged recitation of the rosary during his papacy, even saying that it was his favorite prayer. But how can we even attempt to convince already skeptical and easily bored teenagers that the rosary is relevant today?

I first started praying the rosary regularly with my youth group when I was in high school, and I know how important that exposure was to me.  Through my own experiences with my youth group, I came up with a few different tips that can help make the rosary part of your youth group meetings. 

1) Rosaries for all- Before you start, make sure you have enough rosaries for everyone along with a How to Pray the Rosary guide.  There are many different guides available but this one is clear,  printable, and easy to photocopy: www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf

2) Start small- Start by praying one decade a week- but don't stop there! Once your teens become comfortable “rosary pros,” encourage them to take on the challenge of the entire rosary.

3) Active participation- Get everyone involved! Model how to lead a decade (the leader announces the mystery and says the first part of each prayer).  Then choose five teens to lead the five decades.

4) Pray with purpose- Why do we pray? What is prayer, and what is its purpose? Many teens do not pray because they don't understand the purpose, or even how to pray. Review the section of the Catechism on Christian Prayer (Part 4 http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1.htm)  and incorporate it into your explanation of prayer and the rosary.

5) To Jesus Through Mary- In the meditations and prayers of the rosary, the Blessed Mother is leading us to Jesus and teaching us about her son. The Scriptural rosary incorporates Scripture passages that accompany the mysteries to each prayer of the rosary.  Check out an example here:  http://www.rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=582

6) Pray with Music- Danielle Rose is a talented a Catholic musician and songwriter who wrote and recorded a song for every mystery of the rosary on her album titled “Mysteries.”  Check out the album here: http://www.daniellerose.com/music

7) Make your own!- Rosary Army is a 501(c)3 non-profit Catholic organization  that promotes making twine knotted rosaries and distributing them.  They have very clear instructions and videos on how to make your own twine rosaries.  http://www.rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=39

While I cannot guarantee that your teens will never complain about praying the rosary at youth group (I wish!), taking the time to explain why the rosary is important, and your efforts to make this beautiful tradition of the Church relevant to your teens, really will make a difference.

Jessica Harris graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2008 and works as a youth minister and high school religion teacher in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. 

Rosary Masculinity

Catholic News Agency by Jason Godin:

Some elements of our culture are calling men to embrace a very dark form of masculinity, based on violence, domination of women and self-adulation – messages that are found in video games, movies and music.

Yet real men know the emptiness, futility and ultimate falsehood of this view of life. As we begin this month of May – this month of Mary – men from all walks of life should accept the challenge of living a different form of masculinity by praying the rosary daily. Men who commit themselves to contemplating the rosary mysteries will discover a treasury of lessons on how to define masculinity and live it actively, fearlessly and full of hope.

Joyful Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries, recited on Mondays and Saturdays, provide a basic definition of masculinity. By exalting in the fact that Mary answered “Yes” to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, men can see that the masculine life is worth living as God chose to live among men. Placing oneself prayerfully in the sandals of St. Joseph at the Nativity helps men appreciate how the masculine life, even in its earliest stage, is also precious and worth defending. The Presentation reveals how men can find authentic masculinity by remaining obedient observers of absolute truth found through, in, and with Christ. Living, defending, and obediently observing absolute truth is not easy for men in any age of history, but as Zachariah must have realized upon learning that his barren wife, Elizabeth, carried a child, nothing is impossible with God.

Luminous Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries, the latest addition to the rosary added by Blessed John Paul II, are recited on Thursdays. In these “Mysteries of Light,” the public ministry of Jesus Christ between his Baptism and his Passion reveals to men how to transform their masculinity into fearless action. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God by instructing others with teachings and parables. The lessons continue to remain relevant for men in their mission for masculinity, as Jesus addressed such topics as anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, almsgiving, and fasting (cf. Mt 3-7). The Wedding at Cana and, later, the Transfiguration, confirm how real masculinity requires not only listening to Jesus when instructed by Mary, but to do so fearlessly (cf. Jn 2:5, Mt 17:7). The Institution of the Eucharist nourishes men with the fact that such fearless, active masculinity is never accomplished alone.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries, recited on Tuesdays and Thursdays, illustrate for men the personal price of responsible masculinity. Jesus’ agonizing prayer on the Mount of Olives reminds men that even the Alpha Male struggled but persevered in love for mankind (cf. Lk 22:42). Jesus himself suffered harsh physical pain when scourged at the pillar and crowned with thorns by mocking soldiers. Masculinity demands men constantly to carry their own crosses – in their families, workplace, and communities – with the same humble stamina of Jesus. The crucifixion illuminates in a profound way how masculinity requires that men must ultimately “die to self” in their service and love of others.

Glorious Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries, recited on Wednesdays and Sundays, provide masculinity with crucial dimensions of renewal, hope and nobility. When contemplating the Resurrection, men realize how they can always rediscover and relive masculinity even when they stumble. The Ascension directs masculine sights away from mundane goals and toward a destiny of heavenly triumph. Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, shows how the power of the Holy Spirit can provide even a timid masculinity with an inner strength. Finally, the Assumption and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary illustrate masculinity as a knightly privilege, where men walk beside Mary, the Queen of the Angels and Saints, when contemplating the face of Christ.

Men, use this month to pray the rosary on a daily basis. But be prepared. Heeding the challenge just might make you think and act more like a man of God.

* Jason Godin teaches U.S. history at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Urgent: The Rosary on Good Friday

Greetings!

Imagine what might happen if every Catholic in the world would pray a Rosary on the same day! We have an example in October of 1573, when Europe was saved from the invasion of the mighty Turkish fleet, by the
praying of the Rosary by all Christians – the origin of the Feast of the Rosary.

In the 1920s, the Church in Portugal experienced a miraculous resurrection in the face of the fiercely anti-Catholic republican government, because the ordinary people who had seen the miracle of the sun in October 1917, willingly complied with Our Lady’s request to pray the Rosary every day …

In Austria in 1955, the Soviets voluntarily withdrew the Red Army of occupation, after 10% of the population joined in a Rosary crusade with public processions …

So, on Good Friday, let us all pray a Rosary for suffering and persecuted Christians wherever they might be, for peace in the world and the return of moral values into our communities. If possible, please pray your Rosary between Noon and 3:00pm.

Let’s unite in praying one of the most powerful prayers in existence, for these intentions, on one of the holiest days in our Church year.

Ave Maria !

Baptismal water forms shape of a Rosary

We Catholics and our Rosaries

from Catholic Womanhood by Cheryl Dickow

Let’s face it; Catholics love Mary and the Rosary.

Trying to sift through all the Marian devotions and offerings is testament to that fact.

Some Catholics are accused of “worshipping” her and relying on rote, impersonal prayers while holding beads; but those of us in the know understand that our love for her and for saying the Rosary has nothing to do with worship and rote memorization and everything to do with the way that she directs us to her Son, our Savior, and the ways we meditate upon His life through the mysteries.

Marian devotion and the praying of the Rosary is not some sort of superstitious nonsense, directing the practitioner to damnation; rather, the Rosary is a tool for those who desire to know Christ fully, to meditate upon Him in a more personal way.

With the Easter season almost here, and Lent providing us a time to get more purposeful in contemplating the life of Jesus, it makes sense to look at Rosary products more in-depth.  It has been said that if one spends time on all the mysteries of the Rosary, one has contemplated the essence of the Gospels and these Rosary offerings do just that—bring us to the depths of the Gospel in unique and valuable ways.

1. Susan Bailey is a singer, songwriter and author. I first listened to her Sung Rosary about four years ago and I actually felt as if I were being carried away by angels. There is something about Susan’s voice that lifts your spirit to the heavens. I’ve had the good fortune to speak with Susan on a number of occasions and her passion about her faith and her work are palpable.  If you purchase nothing else this year to explore the depths of Jesus’ life, this should be it. Susan’s website is www.sungrosary.com.
2. Like everyone else, Catholics are concerned about health and fitness. The Rosary Workout focuses on the aerobic aspect of physical health, all the while developing the spiritual component through guided Rosary meditations. Bowes flew Air Force jets for nine years before becoming a full-time wife and mother whose family sold all their belongings and travelled the United States in an RV while she homeschooled. She currently continues to fulfill her vocation as wife and mother but is also a speaker, author, blogger and podcaster.  The Rosary Workout is a compilation of over 100 different exercises along with the history of the Rosary and ways to make the cadence of the Rosary work for optimum benefits during exercise. Bowes was recently featured on EWTN’s Journey Home because of her compelling reversion story. Everything she has learned about health and faith fills the pages of The Rosary Workout.
3. Who better than to write a book about the Rosary than a convert? There isn’t a Catholic alive who doesn’t understand that one of the biggest obstacles to a Protestant’s conversion to the Catholic faith is Mary and the ways in which Catholics use the Rosary to pray. So when a Protestant writes a book about the Rosary, it is often worth our time and effort. This is because the convert has investigated and researched and prayed, no doubt, for a better understanding about Mary’s Rosary before making the commitment to convert. This naturally leads to a book that ought to be filled with insights that affected the author and can deepen a Catholic’s understanding as well. Matt Swaim delivers—in a big way—in his book The Eucharist and the Rosary, published by Liguori. Swaim takes each of the 20 different mysteries and makes them personal and relevant—while keeping them reverent and “mysterious.”  I was particularly affected by Swaim’s pages on the Transfiguration; he writes with clarity and insight. The Eucharist and the Rosary  is an excellent physical size to take to Adoration and the handful of reflection questions at the end of each mystery (which also tend to be the perfect length for reading at Adoration) make it a great guide for this time with Christ.
4. As Swaim points out in The Eucharist and the Rosary, there isn’t anyone who does not have some sort of Cross to bear; that being the case, Father Dwight Longenecker’s book Praying the Rosary for Inner Healingis the ideal antidote. Each mystery is examined in a particularly powerful way: First is the Scripture verse followed by a simple explanation; Second, Longenecker includes a few paragraphs called “Think it Through” which gives further explanation of the message of the mystery; Next, there is a short 4 or 5 paragraph story called “Healing Example” which shares a real-life application; the conclusion is a prayer to be recited that makes the inner healing your own. Like Swaim’s book, Father’s book would also be an excellent accompaniment to Adoration.
5. Teaching our children about the power and mystery of the Rosary is a Catholic parent’s job. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this passing on of the faith (and all aspects of living it) is the primary concern of the parent; books such as Little Rainbow Rosary by Rose Maria Dennis is the perfect tool to do just that. Both the storyline of  a mother explaining the Rosary to her child, along with the masterful illustrations, make Little Rainbow Rosary the sort of book that parents love to read from and kids love to carry around—and take to Church.

A final suggestion is for iPod fans. Although I’m still not great friends with my iPod, one of the first applications I purchased was iRosary. I’m still “all thumbs” when it comes to working my way around my iPod but on first glance, I do like the app and look forward to becoming more comfortable with my iPod and my techno-R

Cheryl Dickow is a Catholic wife, mother, author and speaker. She co-authored and published the best-selling All Things Girl books and co-hosted the EWTN 13 part televison series of the same name. Her company is Bezalel Books (Bezalel is Hebrew and means "in the shadow of God") where her goal is to publish great Catholic books for families and classrooms that entertain while uplifting the Catholic faith. Her website is www.BezalelBooks.com where parents, teachers and catechists are invited to browse through titles that include Patti Maguire Armstrong's book Dear God, I don't get it! and Cheryl's most recent book is Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide where she explores the role of Matriarch from a Catholic perspective. To invite Cheryl to speak at your event, write her at Cheryl@BezalelBooks.com or phone her at 248.917.3865.

Rosary Beads

from the Loyola blog by Jane...

I hold the rosary in my hand today and feel the lightness of it. It is almost nothing. Yet, Mary tells us that it can change the world. In her apparitions over the ages, she begs us to use it.

It can change me, that I know. I say the prayers, sometimes noting the meaning, sometimes reflecting on the mysteries. Eyes shut, I forget the other people in the adoration chapel, I forget the statues, and the candles. It is the middle of the busiest time of the year, and I am sitting still for twenty minutes. There are cookies that need baking, cards to send, presents to wrap, and an entire house that shouts at me to clean it. I forget all these things as I finger the small beads.

I say the prayers because Mary has asked us to say them. That is enough reason, but am I saying the prayers well? Does it matter if I say them well, or is it the simple act of saying them, taking the time, that makes the magic happen? There is much that I do not understand about the rosary and this praying notion. Maybe that is just as well. Maybe it is not necessary if I understand how God changes the world.

Padre Pio...The Rosary is my weapon

The Great Power of the Rosary... Fr. Schiffer and seven other priests survived Hiroshima by praying the Rosary daily…

Rosary from Nagasaki

from Gloria.tv


"Realize the power in your hand with the Rosary, for in your hands you hold the power of God. If you do not recognize the Rosary, can you expect to be recognized by My Son? How much can you expect? Why do you hide My Rosary? It was with a Mother's loving heart that I chose to give you these pearls of Heaven that you reject.


"Woe to all dedicated who seek to remove these from the little ones' hands, for their punishment will be metered in accordance to it!


"Why has sophisticated man cast aside these tokens of My love? Those who remain true to My Rosary will not be touched by the fires. Gather these treasures, My children, for the time will come that you will not find them on the counters of your stores." - Our Lady of the Roses, October 6, 1970


Eight Jesuit priests survived the searing hurricane of blast and gamma rays during the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. They were in a rectory only 8 blocks from the blinding center of the nuclear flash. Although everyone within a mile radius perished, all survived and they attribute their survival to the Rosary and living the Fatima message.


At 2:45 a.m. on August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber took off from the island of Tinian to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan. At 8:15 a.m. the bomb exploded eight city blocks from the Jesuit Church of Our Lady's Assumption in Hiroshima. Half a million people were annihilated. However, the church and eight Jesuit fathers stationed there survived (four of the priests were Fathers Hugo Lassalle, Kleinsorge, Cieslik and Schiffer. According to the experts they "ought to be dead," being within a one-mile radius of the explosion.


Nine days later on August 15, Feast of Our Lady's Assumption, U.S.forces were ordered to cease fire.
This is the incredible story of the late Fr. Hubert Schiffer, as retold by a priest who met him:


I met Fr. Schiffer in the late 70s at the Tri-City Airport in Saginaw, Michigan, as he was going to give a talk for the Blue Army Novena/Triduum. As I chauffeured him around he told me stories of his life, especially of the atomic explosion at Hiroshima. On the morning of August 6, 1945, he had just finished Mass, went into the rectory and sat down at the breakfast table, and had just sliced a grapefruit, and had just put his spoon into the grapefruit when there was a bright flash of light. His first thought was that it was an explosion in the harbor (this was a major port where the Japanese refueled their submarines.)


Then, in the words of Fr. Schiffer: "Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunder stroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me 'round and 'round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind." The next thing he remembered, he opened his eyes and he was laying on the ground. He looked around and there was NOTHING in any direction: the railroad station and buildings in all directions were leveled to the ground.


The only physical harm to himself was that he could feel a few pieces of glass in the back of his neck. As far as he could tell, there was nothing else physically wrong with himself. Many thousands were killed or maimed by the explosion. After the conquest of the Americans, their army doctors and scientists explained to him that his body would begin to deteriorate because of the radiation. Many of the Japanese people had blisters and sores from the radiation. 


To the doctors amazement, Fr. Schiffer's body contained no radiation or ill-effects from the bomb. Fr. Schiffer attributes this to devotion to the Blessed Mother, and his daily Fatima Rosary. He feels that he received a protective shield from the Blessed Mother which protected him from all radiation and ill-effects. 


(This coincides with the bombing of Nagasaki where St. Maximilian Kolbe had established a Franciscan Friary which was also unharmed because of special protection from the Blessed Mother, as the Brothers too prayed the daily Rosary and also had no effects from the bomb.)

10/7 Feast Day...Our Lady of the Rosary

The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This is primarily due to the fact that the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on October 7th. It was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to the praying of the Rosary by the faithful.

The feast was introduced by Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572) in the year 1571 to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Christian forces in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The pope attributed more to the "arms" of the Rosary than the power of cannons and the valor of the soldiers who fought there.


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