October is Rosary month

Hello world-wide-web, Lately, Lord, I've been feeling distant from you. It seems like during the summer I felt v. close to you and sensed you in my surroundings constantly. I loved our chats while we walked the park with Toby...As I'm writing these words, dear reader, a line from the poem, "Footprints," comes to mind, "...it was then that I carried you." God doesn't Ever leave us. I need to remind myself that my relationship with the Lord goes through all the human motions of a relationship, with one huge difference: the knowledge, nay, the faith, that my relationship with God will right itself again in due time. My faith and my prayers keep me connected to God, no matter how I'm 'feeling.' And then there's the wisdom that God is always connected to me, to us, no matter what, that's His promise to all of us, isn't that fantastic? One of my favorite prayers to say is the rosary. October is the month in which Mary, Most Holy Queen of the rosary, is venerated. I think the rosary is misunderstood by many people, some of those people being Catholics. I will do my best to explain the rosary and include some photos I came across at this website: http://wf-f.org/Rosary.html For more information on the rosary check out this site when you get a chance. Fortunately I have a rosary CD in my car, and every morning on my way to work I pray it. I noticed my attention to the prayers waning here lately and in an effort to prevent stray thoughts from diverting my attention, I am saying the words more ardently. It's helped. Plus, I also get some great images of the Blessed Mother, or Jesus, at different times when I'm praying. For example, recently when I've prayed the rosary, I see Mary dressed in a long, off-white gown, with praying hands at her breast and her head tilted to my right. She has a serious look on her face, but somehow it doesn't come across sad as much as hopeful. Even if my attention wanders off, though, I tell Jesus to please help the people I am thinking of, because I think they may be in a need of prayers. Part of the beauty of the rosary is it's meditative qualites. The Prayers of the Holy Rosary The Rosary prayer begins by with the Sign of the Cross (at the Crucifix) followed by reciting the Apostles Creed. The Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father. From thence He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost,the Holy Catholic Church,the Communion of Saints,the Forgiveness of Sins,the Resurrection of the body,and the Life everlasting. Amen. On the round beads say the Our Father, and on the oval beads say The Hail Mary. Hail Mary, full of grace,the Lord is with thee!Blessed art thou among women,and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,now and at the hour of our death. Amen. After each series of Hail Mary's say the Glory Be. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginningis now and ever shall be world without end. Amen During the prayers on each series of ten beads (decade), we meditate on one of the Mysteries. The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below. The Joyful Mysteries(Mondays and Saturdays) 1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility] 2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor] 3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit] 4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body] 5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ] The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light(Thursdays) 1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan (II Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 3:17 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Gratitude for the gift of Faith] 2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1- 12) [Spiritual fruit - Fidelity] 3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion (Mark 1:15, Mark 2:3-13; Luke 7:47- 48, John 20:22-23) [Spiritual fruit - Desire for Holiness] 4. Jesus' Transfiguration (Luke 9:35 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Spiritual Courage] 5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. (Luke 24:13-35 and parallels, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) [Spiritual fruit - Love of our Eucharistic Lord] The Sorrowful Mysteries(Tuesdays and Fridays) 1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done] 2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses] 3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart] 4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials] 5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries] The Glorious Mysteries(Wednesdays and Sundays) 1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith] 2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit] 4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary] 5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance] On the second "Our Father", begin to mediate upon the Mysteries of the Rosary. At the End of the Rosary pray The Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope.To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;to thee do we send up our sighs,mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.Turn, then, most gracious advocate,thine eyes of mercy toward us;and after this, our exile,show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus:O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christs. Fr. Corapi, one of my favorite priests, if you get a chance to hear him on EWTN you should. Just a phenomenal man, and his story is equally awesome. Okay, to return to point, Fr. Corapi mentioned that the rosary is derived from the Gospels. I hadn't really thought of them that way, but when I did the realization of that was overwhelming. We are praying the Gospels! How powerful is that! Another aside I like to mention: when I was growing up in the 70's, Russia was the big threat, so we Catholics prayed for their conversion by praying the rosary, and guess what? IT WORKED. The Rosary is a powerful prayerful tool. Pope John Paul, a SuperHero if there ever was one, said this of the rosary: "October is the month in which Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated. Within the current international context, I invite all -- individuals, families, communities -- to pray this Marian prayer, possibly every day, for peace, so that the world can be preserved from the wicked scourge of terrorism. "The terrible tragedy of September 11th will be remembered as a dark day in the history of humanity. In the face of this, the Church tries to be faithful to her prophetic charism and remind all men about their duty to build a future of peace for the human family. Certainly, peace is not separated from justice, but it must be nourished by mercy and love. We cannot forget that Jews, Christians and Muslims adore God as the only God. The three religions, therefore, have the vocation of unity and peace. May God allow the Church's faithful to be agents of peace, in the front line of the search for justice and the prohibition of violence. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for all humanity, so that hate and death never have the last word!" Amen! So, do you have a rosary? If you don't, what are you waiting for? If you do, get to prayin' it. I'll join you. Gahhhhhhddddd Blesssssss Ussssss ALLLLLLLLLLL!