A Public Prayer for Erin and Jen

This way, anyone who want to can join in. :) 

Lord Jesus,

I lift up my cousins, Erin and Jen, to you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Both women have heavy crosses to bear, and they have carried those crosses with dignity, humor, and even joy.  

I know that you allow suffering only for the good, and we don't know your divine plan, or how this fits into it. We don't know who will be affected by these women, and what part they may have to play in the salvation of others. We don't know your plans for Erin and Jen at all. We do know that as they suffer, others suffer with them. They are loved by many and needed by many.

If it is your will, you could heal them in an instant. I ask, through the intercession of your beloved mother, Mary, that you let your healing mercy come to them. All things are possible to him who believes. Mk 9:24 

I do believe.  Help my unbelief.  

I ask this in Jesus' name, 

Amen!

The Fruits of the Rosary

I try to explain to people that the Rosary is such a deep prayer, so full of layers.  Even if you just say the prayers and focus on the words, you can find so much.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you

Think about that moment when this young woman received a visit from Archangel Gabriel. What would you do if God decided to communicate a message to you through one of his greatest creations? I'd freak.  There's a reason angles usually start out with "Fear not."  They aren't the fat little cherubs portrayed in some art.

Think about this exact moment in man's time when the means of our salvation was hanging in the balance on one young woman's answer to God. Am I that open to God's will? Am I willing to accept whatever He asks of me?

And so on.

Then you can meditate on the actual Mysteries as you pray. Taking the Annunciation, put yourself in Mary's home. Smell the baking. Hear the kids playing outside. God's with you in every moment of your day. Are you present to Him? Hear Gabriel's message, and imagine every heavenly creature waiting for her response. Imagine the joy when she said,  "Fiat." Imagine the exact moment when Jesus became physically present on earth. (Just got chills.)

And then, you move deeper with the fruits of the Rosary. The fruit of the Annunciation is humility. Am I humble before God? Do I hand everything over to Him, knowing that my insignificant life is part of His plan? Do I put myself last before others, or try to make sure I get my fair share of reward, recognition, and prestige? What can I do to make myself more humble in my daily life?   (False humility is just disguised pride, so don't make that mistake. And don't use alleged humility to reject God's mission for you. That's fear, or sloth, or just plain "no", depending on your reasons.)

This article on The Catholic Exchange covers the fruits so much better than I can, so I'm just going to post the link. For everyone who has difficulty applying the Mysteries to your daily lives, the fruits will point you in the right direction.

Enjoy!