Why pray the Rosary every day for a year?
Each time the Blessed Virgin has appeared-- whether it be to Saint Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes; to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco at Fatima; or to Mariette Beco at Banneux-- she has asserted the importance, saving grace, and power of praying the Holy Rosary on a daily basis. Based upon her words, the Rosary is penance and conversion for sinners, a pathway to peace, an end to war, and a powerful act of faith in Jesus Christ. Pope Paul VI presented the Rosary as a powerful means to reach Christ "not merely with Mary but indeed, insofar as this is possible to us, in the same way as Mary, who is certainly the one who thought about Him more than anyone else has ever done."
To show us how this is done, perhaps no one has been more eloquent than the great Cardinal Newman, who wrote: "The great power of the Rosary consists in the fact that it translates the Creed into Prayer. Of course, the Creed is already in a certain sense a prayer and a great act of homage towards God, but the Rosary brings us to meditate again on the great truth of His life and death, and brings this truth close to our hearts. Even Christians, although they know God, usually fear rather than love Him. The strength of the Rosary lies in the particular manner in which it considers these mysteries, since all our thinking about Christ is intertwined with the thought of His Mother, in the relations between Mother and Son; the Holy Family is presented to us, the home in which God lived His infinite love."
As Mary said at Fatima, "Jesus wants to use you to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establish the devotion to My Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by Me to adorn his throne."
Happy and Blessed New Year!
After 2 years of daily posts and prayer, I found myself in need of a short break (from the blog, not the prayer!), and have spent the last two weeks attempting to figure out how to proceed with this blog. I have been praying for guidance as to the future of "
a year in prayer: 365 Rosaries" and welcome any thoughts or comments that readers may have regarding this topic.
I feel incredibly blessed and privileged to have come this far, and met and prayed for so many people. What an incredible joy and honor it is to lift the intentions of so many in prayer to Our Lord, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.
Over 100,000 readers have visited this humble blog since inception, spanning the globe and including nearly 150 countries. Never could I have anticipated such a response, and such warm greetings, prayers, and support from strangers.
As I contemplate the evolution of this endeavor, I humbly ask for your continued prayers and support. Please know that I am continuing to receive prayer requests, and will continue to lift them in prayer during this period of discernment.
Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful 2012, filled with the grace of God and the knowledge of our salvation in Christ-
jacob
Requested Intentions: Successful employment (J); For a son with autoimmune disease (S); Successful employment and health (A); Financial security (M); Repose of the soul of a department mother, blessings upon a homeless shelter, those who live and work there, financial security (C); Blessings upon a relationship (S); Healing of a mother, financial security, for a friend going away to college (R); Conversion and return to the faith (M); End to addiction for son and grandson (C); job security, peace for a sick mother, a loving relationship (J); Care of a mother, healing of a relationship (D); Healing of a brain tumor (K); Healing and conversion (A); Healing, conversion, grace to change a life for the better (S); Successful studies (M); Blessings and grace upon one preparing for death (L); Healing of a mother, freedom from anxiety (L); Successful adjustment to newly adopted home (A); Successful return to work (M); Healing upon a son and family (T); Financial security, safety, and peace for a family (F).
Jacob,
I'm on my second year of blogging and also seeking the Lord's wisdom on how to proceed. It is such a privilege to meet people from all over the world and share our journey's.
Praise Jesus for our Blessed Mother and the rosary.
A Blessed and peace filled New Year to you too.
Caroline +
bellofthewanderer.com