Our Lady of the Rosary

Today is the day when we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary…

I love this picture of +Our Holy Mother+ offering us the Rosary…for it is Her prayer, to draw us closer to Her +Beloved Son Jesus+ ~ those who do not understand the Rosary believe that we are praying to Mary, as if she Herself were God, but that is not so. We are coming to Her as our Mother, our advocate, and asking for Her to intercede for us, and to join Her precious prayers with ours at the feet of Jesus in Heaven. Praying the Rosary unites our intentions with Hers as we meditate on the life of Her Son.

Mary is my Mother, as Jesus gave Her to John at the foot of the Cross, and in doing so, gave her to ALL of us! There have been times when I have been unable to pray or approach the Father due to the presence of sin in my life, or when I have felt lost, alone and abandoned by God; during these times, Mary has ALWAYS been there, always been with me, and I have always been able to talk to Her and seek a Mother’s comfort. Every night, the last thing I do, after my night prayers, and before I drift off into the unconsciousness of sleep, is to pray with my little one decade Rosary…I often fall asleep with it still clasped in my hand. I feel at these times, that I have been covered with Mary’s mantle, wrapped, as it were, in a blue blanket of the utmost comfort and fleeciness! Without the Rosary, my prayer life would be incomplete, for it is my favourite prayer. What a privilege to be able to pray the prayer of Christ’s own Mother to Him! How He must be pleased when we do! What Graces we receive when we do!

Sharon over at A Catholic Calling is praying a “backwards novena” to Our Lady, ie a novena starting, rather than ending, today. I will be joining her, although using a slightly different Novena prayer, and I hope you will join us too…

Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary Novena Prayer

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request)

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual “Bouquet of Roses” because I love you. I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

“Listen, my faithful children; open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all he has done.” (Sir 39:13-14)

From EWTN