Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena, 2018

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena 

We have been doing this for so long......I have no idea how many years it has been.....at least over 10 years!!  In the last few years: crazy and awesome unexpected results from these persevering years of prayers......please join us!

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year begins in late January, purposely ending on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast Day. 

The second Rosary Novena of the year, begins this coming week, on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     More information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school season.....here in the US.  Or the Spring, there in Australia.  ;)

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena, 2015

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year begins in late January, purposely ending on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast Day. 

The second Rosary Novena of the year, begins this coming week, on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school season.....here in the US.  Or the Spring, there in Australia.  ;)

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

Annual Saint Joseph Rosary Novena Starts on January 24th

 

 

 

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year purposely ends on the vigil of St. Joseph's Feast Day. 

 

The second Rosary Novena of the year always begins on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day.........the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....it is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school semester.........


 Blessings,

          Chari & Willa

PS  If you read this blog post.....and you have a blog, would you mind directing others over to this post from your blog.......thanks!

Annual Summer Rosary Novena!

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year begins in late January, purposely ending on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast Day. 

The second Rosary Novena of the year, begins next week, on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school season.....here in the US.  Or the Spring, there in Australia.  ;)

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

PS  If you read this blog post.....and you have a blog, would you mind directing others over to this post from your blog.......thanks!

Our Annual January Rosary Novena to Start on January 24th



 


This post will be one of our repeating posts......every January we offer up a Rosary novena for our spouses.....and any other intentions.  Everything below the ****** will be the copy from last year's post announcing the novena.  We would love for you to join us....or at least to allow us to pray for your intentions.  Please leave a note in the comments so we can pray for you.

 

I would especially like to offer this winter's novena for little Fulton Poppe who is just beginning his recovery from a burn accident.  You can join his Facebook page for updates.  I hope no one minds that I post his picture here.



 

 

*************************************************************

 

 

I am SO ready for this!!

Who else is in???

On January 24th, we will start the 54-day Rosary Novena to purposely end on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast day. Hopefully the automatic reminders on Happy is the Husband will kick in! Join the list now to get those reminders.

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous...through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

More information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info.

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....it is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

Rosary Novena Reminder

Just a quick reminder!

The summer Rosary Novena begins today, August 14! 

A couple of quotes from Josemaria Escriva:

For those who use their intelligence and their study as a weapon, the Rosary is most effective. Because that apparently monotonous way of beseeching Our Lady as children do their Mother, can destroy every seed of vainglory and pride.  Furrow, 474

"Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary's which purifies the monotony of your sins!"

 There are more quotes about the Rosary over here.

I found this short homily by Albino Luciano, future Pope John Paul I, on The Rosary helps us to be like children.  

Personally when I speak tête-à-tête with God or with the Blessed Virgin Mary, more than an adult I prefer to think of myself as a child. The mitre, skullcap and ring disappear; I give a holiday to the adult and the bishop and also to heavy burdens, sober and pondered, and let myself go with the spontaneous tenderness of a child in front of his papá or mamma. To be – at least for half an hour – before God as I truly am with my wretchedness and also with the best of myself: to feel rising from the depths of my being the child of other days who wants to talk and chat with the Lord and love him and who sometimes feels the need to cry that he may be granted mercy, all this helps me to pray. The rosary, a simple and easy prayer, helps me to be at times a child again and of this I am not in the least ashamed.

The rosary a prayer of repetition ? Père de Foucauld used to say : "Love is expressed in a few words, always the same, repeated time and time again "

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year begins in late January, purposely ending on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast Day. 

The second Rosary Novena of the year, begins this coming week, on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school season.....here in the US.  Or the Spring, there in Australia.  ;)

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

PS  If you read this blog post.....and you have a blog, would you mind directing others over to this post from your blog.......thanks!

The Intentional Rosary

This is part of my Remedial Rosary series where I talk about my difficulties with saying regular Rosaries and how I deal with them with the helpful advice of various saints.  

Polish Madonna by Wislawa Kwiatkowska

follow the link to see several more Madonnas by this Polish artist

Before beginning a decade, pause for a moment or two, depending on how much time you have, and contemplate the mystery that you are about to honour in that decade. Always be sure to ask, by this mystery and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, for one of the virtues that shines forth most in this mystery or one of which you are in particular need.

 Take great care to avoid the two pitfalls that most people fall into during the Rosary. The first is the danger of not asking for any graces at all, so that if some good people were asked their Rosary intention they would not know what to say. So, whenever you say your Rosary, be sure to ask for some special grace or virtue, or strength to overcome some sin. -- St Louis Marie de Montfort

When I first started saying the Rosary soon after I converted, I memorized the intentions that went with each mystery.   You find slightly different versions of the intentions from different sources, but here are two examples:

• Rosary Graces (pdf)
• Rosary Graces (sentence form)

For some reason I got away from associating the intentions with the mysteries, though.  I think it was because it became an occasion for distractions as I was constantly trying to puzzle over why this particular grace was associated with that particular mystery.

Now that I am back in the habit of daily Rosaries, I am trying once again to associate intentions with each decade.   In order to stop my slightly obsessive distraction, I have been trying to tailor the intention to some particular issue of mine and thus ask more fervently and specifically for those graces (which I SURELY need!)

For example, the mystery of the Nativity in the Joyful Mysteries is associated with asking for the grace of "poverty of spirit"  or as the second link above says:

Love of poverty and the grace to despise riches. Confidence in God.

Well, this may sound a bit silly, but I am not used to being in a town where there are several thrift stores dotted around the community, and I love thrift stores.  I have been getting into a habit of browsing through them and picking up this and that.  Items of clothing, books and office supplies are my weaknesses.    I may not spend much, but retail therapy even on a tiny scale can become a distraction from facing loneliness, sadness or worry honestly.    So I can pray that God helps me rely on him alone rather than on things to fill the empty spaces.

The Mystery of the Finding in the Temple is associated with Piety.   I've always sort of associated it with praying for my children and their vocations, but now I have some particular issues in mind that I am praying hard for.

You get the picture.   Of course, then, there are also the Big Picture intentions with which I began the Miracle Novena.    We are in the second half now, where we pray in gratitude for the answering of our prayers, so that reminds me not just to ask but also to meditate on all the ways God has answered my former prayers (or the prayers I was too clueless to actually make).

In case you are curious about the second pitfall St Louis Marie de Montfort mentions, here it is:

The second fault commonly committed in saying the Rosary is to have no intention other than that of getting it over with as quickly as possible. ....It is sad to see how most people say the Rosary. They say it astonishingly fast, slipping over part of the words. We could not possibly expect anyone, even the most important person, to think that a slipshod address of this kind was a compliment, and yet we imagine that Jesus and Mary will be honoured by it!

I guess my solution to that one is to pretend I am in a royal court and saying the Rosary along with the angels, who do not hurry because they have a LOT of time to praise their King and their Holy Queen.

Another thing I sometimes think about is that it a common mistake for beginning weightlifters to pump up and down hurriedly.  This loses the benefits of strength training and also risks injury.   You are supposed to warm up, breathe, and use your full range of motion.   In a similar way,  the Rosary said in a rush can lose its value and even risk irreverence.  If I am in a hurry, I am probably not taking time to remain in the Presence of God, breathe, and meditate.

I do forget and start rushing again, but I believe that as with distractions, it is the VOLUNTARY rushing that is the problem, not when you simply lose focus inadvertently or happen to be a fast talker naturally.    In this way it is different from strength training because God sees our hearts.

Saying prayers for the intentions of all our blog readers!   I have seen and heard about some wonderful answers to prayers recently.  

Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Willa

More Help with Saying the Rosary

Tomorrow we are halfway through the 54 Day Rosary Miracle Novena!  (or if you started on January 25 because of Leap Year, Monday is the halfway point).
 
If you love the Rosary but are not good at saying it, here are some more thoughts and suggestions from the saints, in the spirit of GK Chesterton's "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly."   

I love that maxim of GKC's, NOT because it encourages me to slack off and settle for less, but because it encourages me to risk trying something, or persevering in something, even if I don't think I am very good at it.  After all, that's the only reason I am a Mom 7 times over : ) and it applies to my prayer life too! 

St Louis Marie de Montfort -- "Say a Decade Here and a Decade There"

One thing you can do if it is very difficult to say an entire Rosary at a sitting is to break it up into decades and say one decade at a time.  I found this out from a priest when I told him of my difficulties and distractions in saying a complete Rosary at a sitting.  The priest recommended breaking it up into decades and then focusing on completing each decade with as few distractions as possible.  

More in St Louis de Montfort:

I advise you to divide up your Rosary into three parts and to say each group of five decades at different times of the day. This is much better than saying the whole fifteen decades at once.

If you cannot find the time to say five decades all together, say a decade here and a decade there; you will thus be able, in spite of your work and the calls upon your time, to complete the whole Rosary before going to bed.

St Therese de Lisieux -- "Little Children are Just As Pleasing To Their Parents Asleep As Awake"

 Suppose that you fall asleep before you finish praying?   St Therese of Lisieux answers:

The fact that I often fall asleep during meditation, or while making my thanksgiving, should appall me. Well, I am not appalled; I bear in mind that little children are just as pleasing to their parents asleep as awake; that doctors put patients to sleep while they perform operations, and that after all, "the Lord knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust."

This gives me a glimpse into how God thinks.   To Him, all our greatest works are as nothing except as done simply for His sake.  That's why He is so often pleased with a small thing done lovingly and humbly more than with some grand gesture or large undertaking. 

St Therese de Lisieux -- "My Mother ..Must See My Good Will and Be Content With It"  

A bit more that I found that St Therese said about her struggle saying the Rosary:

"Reciting the Rosary costs me more than using an instrument of penance. I feel I say it so badly; in vain do I strive to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary; I am unable to fix my attention For a long time I was sad because of this lack of devotion which surprised me, for I love the Blessed Virgin so much that it should be easy for me to say in her honor prayers which please her so much. Now, it saddens me less; I think that the Queen of Heaven being my Mother, she must see my good will and be content with it."

As for me, I missed some days saying the Rosary while we were traveling (first to Disneyland, then up to Oregon to visit grown sons, then I am going up to Alaska again!).   But I am picking up again and uniting my efforts with those of others who either were entirely consistent or are hardly able to say the Rosary at all, for whatever reason : ). 

Running (or walking or working) with the Rosary

St. Louis de Monfort

After my last post about the Rosary for those who, like me, have difficulties in saying it, I kept thinking about the topic, and I wanted to bring up a couple of things that I was musing over.

One question that I have been pondering: 


Is it "OK" to say the Rosary while doing something else, like walking or running or driving or even working, or even lying down?

 I wondered that because I have so often said Rosaries while nursing a baby, or driving long distances in the car, or sometimes  even while doing the laundry or washing the dishes.   Recently I have been saying the Rosary while walking or while riding the stationery bike.  All of these things occupy my body but leave my inner self fairly peaceful and quiet, so prayer seems to come naturally while doing them.  While when I am stationary and unoccupied while praying, I often fall asleep or inadvertently daydream. 

I found an answer, again, in the writing of St Louis Marie de Montfort.

I would like to add that the Rosary ought to be said reverently, that is to say, it ought to be said as much as possible, kneeling, with hands joined, clasping the rosary. However, if you are ill, you can, of course, say it in bed; or if one is travelling it can be said while walking; if, on account of some infirmity, you cannot kneel you can say it standing or sitting.

You can even say it while working if your duties do not allow you to leave your job, for work with one's hands is not always incompatible with vocal prayer.

I agree that, since the soul has its limitations and can only do so much, when we are concentrating on manual work we are less attentive to the activities of the spirit, such as prayer. But when we cannot do otherwise, this kind of prayer is not without its value in our Lady's eyes, and she rewards our good- will more than our exterior actions.

 So the answer would be that it is indeed "OK" though the norm is still kneeling with the rosary clasped in hand.      "OK" would mean that the practice of praying the Rosary while doing something else can be reverent and have spiritual value.

On the other hand, as one would expect, multi-tasking is probably not the ideal with anything.     If you can, it is best to devote your entire body to prayer, or so I understand it. 

If you can't manage this, for whatever reason, you can still say the Rosary while doing something else that leaves your mind and heart free for prayer.


While searching for things on praying while running, I found a nice story about Alberto Salazar and the Rosary.   My husband and I really admired legendary long-distance runner Salazar as University of Oregon students back in the early 80's.  Salazar lived in Eugene for several years and I even taught his son in CCD for a couple of months before the family moved to Portland.   This is from the article: 

“I was…the average Catholic,” Salazar told me. “I told people I had faith, but everything else was second place to running. I could usually fit in both Mass and my 20-mile runs on Sundays, but if there was a conflict, the 20-mile runs would win. Intellectually, I knew that God, my wife and child were most important, but in my heart, running was my god.” But when a series of serious injuries kept Salazar out of the winner’s circle for twelve years, Alberto regained his Catholicism and signed on for one last race, the 53.75-mile Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa.

While some in the press laughed at him for being too old, and many in the crowd booed him as a “brash American,” the jeers miraculously turned to cheers, when, after briefly dropping out at the 30-mile mark, Alberto resumed running, now praying the rosary out loud. “The crowd saw that I was humbled and could actually see there was a higher force working within me,” Salazar recalled “and not only did they start to cheer, many even began praying the rosary with me,” spurring Salazar on to victory in his final competition. 

It does seem to me that there is an integral connection between exercise and the prayer life, and perhaps especially between regular exercise and the Rosary.   Both can be difficult, tedious and somewhat humbling; both are very valuable, one to strengthen the physical fibre, the other to strengthen one spiritually.

A couple of years ago I read Bernanos' Diary of a Country Priest and I was very struck by this from an older priest to a younger, suffering one.

"If you can't pray -- at least say your prayers!  Look!  I've done some struggling in my time, too.   The devil used to make me loathe prayers, so, once, that I would sweat all over my rosary getting through it.    Try to realize that!"

That reminded me that the Rosary, while difficult to say regularly for some of us, is also very suited to the most difficult of circumstances.    It is in many ways a prayer for regular folk in the world, a sort of heartbeat of ordinary life, an aerobic exercise for the spirit.    Though it is important to say it with reverence and attention, it is meant to be part of the ordinary rhythm of ordinary life; its flexibility allows it to be incorporated into many different daily routines.  

ETA:  Faith mentioned that Pope Benedict XVI says the Rosary while walking and it's true! 

Benedict XVI has a deep devotion to Mary, the spokesman said, noting that the Pontiff prays the rosary walking every day with his secretaries. He "invites us to us this prayer," Father Lombardi affirmed, "simple, humble, daily, which everyone can pray with devotion and which helps us also to meditate on the mysteries of the life of Christ together with Mary, who is obviously the person closest to Christ.

For Any Remedial Rosary Sayers

Maybe you are like me, Willa,  and have much trouble saying a daily Rosary.   You want to join in the 54 day Miracle Novena but you have failed often before.   Is there any help?

Chari already posted some inspirational thoughts, but I thought perhaps for my own sake and in case it helps any of our readers, I might try to regularly post inspiration or trouble-shooting tips for making the Rosary a bigger part of one's life and for persevering to the end of the Rosary Novena. 


Even if you are a failed Rosary sayer, don't be discouraged.   As Chari said, we are something like an army when we are saying the Rosary together.  If one of us stumbles and falls, our friends and our angels are there to help us up again.    

Today I found this quote from St Louis Marie de Montfort's Secret of the Rosary and wanted to share.  It talks about why the Rosary is so difficult (for some of us, anyway) and why it is worth it even if it is so difficult.  He seems to tell us that it's worth it to persevere, even or especially when it's very hard.   What he said made a lot of sense to me and spoke to why the Rosary is so difficult for me! 

WHEN THE ROSARY is well said it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and it is more meritorious for the soul than any other prayer. But it is also the hardest prayer to say well and to persevere in, owing especially to the distractions which almost inevitably attend the constant repetition of the same words.

When we say the Little Office of Our Lady, or the Seven Penitential Psalms, or any prayers other than the Rosary, the variety of words and expressions keeps us alert, prevents our imagination from wandering, and so makes it easier for us to say them well. On the contrary, because of the constant repetition of the same Our Father and Hail Mary in the same unvarying form, it is difficult, while saying the Rosary, not to become wearied and inclined to sleep or to turn to other prayers that are more refreshing and less tedious.

This goes to show that one needs much greater devotion to persevere in saying the Holy Rosary than in saying any other prayer, even the Psalms of David. Our imagination, which is hardly still a minute, makes our task harder and then of course there is the devil who never tires of trying to distract us and keep us from praying.

To what ends does not the evil one go against us while we are engaged in saying our Rosary against him.  Being human, we easily become tired and slipshod----but the devil makes these difficulties worse when we are saying the Rosary. Before we even begin he makes us feel bored, distracted or exhausted----and when we have started praying he oppresses us from all sides. And when, after much difficulty and many distractions, we have finished, he whispers to us: "What you have just said is worthless. It's useless for you to say the Rosary. You had better get on with other things. It's only a waste of time to pray without paying attention to what you're saying; half an hour's meditation or some spiritual reading would be much better. Tomorrow when you're not feeling so sluggish you'll pray better; don't finish your Rosary until tomorrow." By tricks of this kind the devil gets us to give up the Rosary altogether or else hardly say it at all, and we keep putting it off or else change to some other devotion.

Dear Rosary Confraternity members, do not listen to the devil, but be of good heart even if your imagination has been bothering you throughout your Rosary, filling your mind with all kinds of distracting thoughts----as long as you really tried hard to get rid of them as soon as they came. Always remember that the best Rosary is the one with the most merit, and there is more merit in praying when it is hard than when it is easy.

.... Even if you have to fight distractions all through your whole Rosary be sure to fight well, arms in hand: that is to say, do not stop saying your Rosary even if it is hard to say and you have absolutely no sensible devotion. It is a terrible battle, I know, but one that is profitable to the faithful soul.

54-Day Rosary Novena to Start Tomorrow, January 24th

 I am SO ready for this!!

Who else is in???

     Tomorrow we will start the 54-day Rosary Novena to purposely end on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast day. Hopefully the automatic reminders on Happy is the Husband will kick in! Join the list now to get those reminders.  You can probably start on the 25th because the reminders do not necessarily have Leap Day taken into consideration.


    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous...through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

     More information about the Rosary Novena:

  The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all." 

     Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving." 

     The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

      If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

     For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound!  Many times in ways you might least expect it.  Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

      PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

     We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

     I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

      Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget.  And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in!  If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

      There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.
     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused.  I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone.  You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD.  I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.
     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!

Blessings,

                 Chari & Willa