The Rosary

"Serve me up Mamsita!"  This is what Cucumber said to me as I walked into the kitchen this morning.  That certainly put a smile on my face.  Last night our dinner conversation centered around The Chipmunks - a favorite movie in our household.  Gummi commented on how smart Simon is -"I think he knows EVERYTHING in the whole world."  Honey Bunches remarked, "Then they should have named him Honey Bunches of Oats."  This is why I write a blog.  My kids are growing up fast and there are so many memories I want to record.  I have already forgotten too many.  Not only has this blog been therapeutic for me, but it has been a wonderful tool to record my children.  I hope someday they will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Now, onto a totally different subject. . .

I drive my children to and from school.  It is 40 miles round trip, twice a day.  Seeing as that is a big "chunk" out of my day, I try to utilize my time well.  I turn the radio off and use those miles to reflect and pray.  I have made it a habit to pray my Rosary on the return trip home in the morning.  It is such a wonderful way to start my day, placing me in the right frame of mind.  I also welcome the little bit of quiet that's given to me.

My Grandmother and my parents prayed the Rosary daily for as long as I can remember.  I have a very powerful image of my parents, sitting and praying together, especially my dad - the Gentle Giant - holding the delicate beads in his hands.  I never really learned how to pray the Rosary, until I was an adult.  I knew the basic prayers, but I never understood the mysteries.  Somewhere in my life its foundation was laid and even when I didn't know exactly how to pray it, I would reach for my Rosary in a number of situations -  the night I was called to come home because my Grandmother was dying.  I had a 3 hour trip ahead of me and I prayed the Rosary as best as I could.  And the day Cucumber was transported to the Children's Hospital, I had a Rosary in my pocket (not a usual habit of mine).  I layed it across her and I and prayed it.  About 4 years ago, I had a strong desire to learn the correct way to say this powerful prayer.  I learned it and fell in love with it.  It is not difficult.  I sometimes view it as a way to tell stories from scripture, placing the events in their proper order.  As our current priest has said, "For Catholics, it's not only important to read the scriptures, but to also pray them.  The Rosary helps us to do that."

Monkey Toes and I have taught our children how to say the Rosary.  As we sit down each night and pray, I have never grown tired of listening to the sweet voices of my children praying together.  My heart swells as each one takes a turn praying a decade.  Even the babies have their own beads and seem content playing with them as we recite our prayers.  I hope Monkey Toes and I will be good examples to our children, just as my parents were to me.  I am happy knowing that we are equipping our kids with tools of faith.  No matter where they end up in life, the seeds are being planted in their hearts and I pray that they will always be secure in harvesting what they have been given. 

I received this Rosary on the Day I made my First Communion.  I have had it for 32 years.  I remember telling my mom I wanted a Rosary that sparkled and looked like diamonds.  My mom taught me how to pray the Hail Mary, The Lord's Prayer, and the Glory Be on this Rosary.  For most of my life it has stayed by my bedside - even when I was in college.  Now, I carry it in my purse everyday.  

This was my Dad's Rosary.  My mom gave it to me after my Dad died.  It was his Rosary from the Knights of Colombus.  When I use it, I imagine my Dad's fingers, holding each bead.  I keep this Rosary on my nightstand.  When I can't sleep, I hold it in my hand and it comforts me.

 

My sister gave me this Rosary for my birthday 2 years ago.  It contains the birthstones of all six of my children.   It stays in my living room and I use it each time we pray the Rosary together as a family.  As I hold each child's birthstone, I pray specifically for that child.  I call it my "Mother's Rosary."

 

I received this Rosary from Monkey Toe's Aunt.  She brought it back with her from the Holy Land.  She touched it to all of the Holy places she visited, including Jesus' tomb.  I keep this Rosary in a pouch in my Bible.  I carry it with me to Eucharistic Adoration and anyplace I bring my Bible.

The Rosary is my favorite prayer.  It calms me, it centers me, and it humbles me.  It is not a lucky charm and certainly not a piece of jewelery, but I believe there is power in its prayers, especially when offered for the intentions of others.  It is just one more Catholic treasure that deepens my relationship with Christ and gives me the desire to live and be a better person.  For that, I am blessed.