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."



May (and early June) Prayer Requests

Posted by Jacob


While I have been travelling, it has been difficult to keep up with posting prayer requests.  While I read them all as they arrived in my inbox, I haven't had the time to list them until now.  Please join me in praying for these more than 100 requests that arrived during the month of May.

Prayer Requests: May & early June

During this month, please join me in lifting the following intentions  submitted through this blog, to Our Lord and Savior, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother:

To find a loving, Catholic life partner (E, Nigeria);  Healing of a husband, approval of a visa, reunification (K, Philippines); Blessings upon a marriage (D, India); For successful job search, for respect in work (K, USA-IA); Blessings upon children, parents, and staff of school facing closure due to insufficient funding (M, USA-NY); Relief and healing from chronic headaches (C, Taiwan); Healing of eyesight (G, Australia); For ordained priests celebrating the anniversary of their ordination (E, USA-IA); For a solution to problems (B, Germany); For healing of a mother (K, Australia); In praise for the return of a lost son (D, USA-MA); For the repose of a mother’s soul, for peace from grief, for restoration of sibling relationships, for success in real estate, for all those in need (J, USA-WI); For success as a teacher (M, England); Conversion of loved ones, repose of a departed brother’s soul (I, USA-CT); Resolution to a financial and legal situation (E, USA-WI); Safety while traveling (C, Hong Kong); Peace, blessings, and healing on family and loved ones (A, Philippines); Finding a loving, blessed mate (T, USA-IL);  Thanksgiving for blessings upon a family (M, United Kingdom); Successful employment, completion of dissertation, healing of heart, blessings upon family (C, USA-TX); Healing of breast cancer (H, USA-PA); Employment for a son, understanding, conversion (S, USA-CO); Healing of a son, vocational discernment (J, Nigeria); Successful employment for a son (M, USA-NY); Reconciliation with husband (M, Canada); Blessings and spiritual guidance upon a son (B, Nigeria);  Blessings upon a son seeking vocation (M, USA); For a sister unable to conceive (T, USA-AK); Employment of son, real estate success (D, India); Repose of souls (R, USA-CA); Blessings upon a parish fundraising project (S, Philippines); Financial security, good health, repose of departed souls (F, Philippines); Healing, protection, and blessings upon a family (C, USA-MA); Blessings and increased devotion (R, USA-TX); Career direction for a son (P, Australia); Successful employment and freedom from addiction (A, India); Successful conception, healing (R, Kuwait); For a daughter’s growth in the Lord (E, USA-FL); Blessings and spiritual growth for a family, children, and grandchildren (N, Belize); For love, prosperity, business success (O, Kenya); Successful occupational progression Q, USA-NJ); Healing of depression and anxiety, for those suffering from mental illness (I, Ireland); For a grandson with behavioral and emotional challenges (M, USA-AK); Peace and return to vocation for a seminarian (M, Philippines); Mothering that mirrors Our Blessed Mother, successful employment (M&JP, Ireland); Grace, mercy, success in occupation (F, USA-FL); Children’s’ return to faith, successful employment (J, Ireland); Successful employment for a husband (E, Switzerland); Successful immigration (P, Australia); Approval of visas to travel (K, India); Successful visa acquisition (M, Belarus); For successful ministry, return of sons to the Church, health of friend (P, Canada); Healing and deliverance (C, Italy); Successful employment, freedom from affliction and poverty (E, Nigeria); Successful employment, health of a mother (C, USA-FL); Successful employment (B, India); Conversion of a sister (S, USA-NJ); Healing and recovery of an ill daughter (P, France); Reunification with a friend (E, USA-NY); Blessings and healing (W, United Arab Emirates); Successful employment, finding a Catholic wife (B, Uganda); Divine healing (J, Nigeria); Blessings, healing, protection, dignity and respect (R, India); Successful employment for a husband, for unborn child (M, USA-LA); For security and safety of a sister, for health of a brother caregiver (C, USA-NJ); Successful studies for son, healing of a mother (M, India); Guidance in actions and decision-making (C, Ireland); Healing of a husband, successful employment for husband and wife, blessings upon son (A, South Africa); Successful employment (A, India); For a school and family (P, Kenya); Physical healing, confidence, successful employment (N, England); For financial and housing security (C, India).