Tag Archives: rosary

A Writer’s Rosary: What is it?

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I’ve been told (by those who have experienced both life-changing events) that there are some surprising similarities between writing a book and giving birth to a child: The process can often be painful, messy, and even a little embarrassing. But there is great joy in the end. Because of this, I like to offer a Rosary on Fridays for my authors.

In his book Forgiveness Makes You Free, Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga (RIP) writes about the “rosary of my life,” identifying five painful moments from his own life that he continually offered back to God (see pages 10-15). His early memories of his parents, both of whom were killed at different stages of the genocide, were recollected in these mysteries.

You can find the "Rosary of My Life" in pages 10-15 of this book, which you can order through Ave or Amazon.

As writers, we can take a cue from Fr. Ubald and use the Rosary as a tool to identify the moments of our lives that have shaped us, and to see even the painful moments of our lives as therapeutic and spiritually enriching.

So let me begin by asking you: If you were to write your own mysteries, what five events would they include?

St. Scholastica: The Power of Understated Love

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scholastica2Today is the feast day of my very favorite saint, Benedict’s twin sister, Scholastica. Although she didn’t leave behind any great writings, and (like most women of her day) had very little on record about her life, Pope St. Gregory the Great records one memorable scene from her life in his Dialogues, Chapter 33, that reveals the spirit of this strong yet gentle and prayerful woman. I love her because she reminds me of the power of desperate prayer: When trying to move someone’s heart, prayer can be more persuasive than argument!

In the windows of heaven, the saints shine like stained glass, radiating the light of God to the world below. No two bits of glass — and no two saints — are alike. Together, the “communion of saints” (those following Jesus on earth, those journeying through Purgatory, and those who are already seeing God in heaven) are a mighty force of intercessory light in our cold, dark world. So this week is dedicated to learning about prayer, and especially the most important prayer, the Rosary. We will also be looking at the Sacrament of Baptism, and exploring how we join the family of God through this ancient rite.

40-Day Challenge: Prayer (Day 25)

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  Begin with the Prayer of Abandonment.

  See that little gadget on my dashboard? That’s Gertrude … Gertrude Penelope Saxton (GPS).  I never go anywhere without her, primarily because when I do I have a tendency to drive in hopeless circles. With her, I’ve been known to drive across whole states without incident.

I don’t usually have a Rosary on my windshield — although I usually keep one on hand when I’m flying someplace. (As in “on a plane,” as I have yet to receive the gift of levitation). Part of me thinks that the plane is more likely to stay in the air that way. The other part needs something to do for the take-off part of the flight, which is the part that statistically is the most dangerous.

So in a way, this picture gives you a rather succinct image of my prayer life:  When I need direction, I pray (unless I’m driving, when I just listen for Gertrude’s promptings). And when I’m anxious, I pray (unless I’m driving, as I find closing my eyes and clasping my hands does nothing to calm me or my passengers).

At the end of the day, I like to recap using a form of the ACTS prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) that goes like this:

“I LOVE you God because …..”

“I’m SORRY, God, because …..”

“THANK YOU, God, for …….”

“HELP me, God, to …..”

The other day as I was going through the steps, it occurred to me that this formula also works with husbands, when we need a little “check-in” (or if there’s just a lull in the conversation):

“Honey, do you know something? I love you because ……”

“And honey, I’ve been thinking about something. I want you to know that I’m sorry because ….”

“I was also thinking of how thankful I was when you ……  I don’t think I thanked you properly. So, thanks!” [Insert appreciative kiss here.]

“Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do this weekend?  It would make me really happy if you could …..  Is there anything I can do for you?”

Today’s Challenge:  What do you love most about your husband, and what does he do to make you thankful?  Jot them down and post them on the bathroom mirror, or somewhere else you’ll see it during the day. When you do, don’t forget to thank God for your sweetheart, and ask God to bless him today.

Today’s Prayer:  God, I love you because ….  I’m sorry that I …. I’m thankful today because ….  Please help me ….

Spiritual Fitness: Setting the Pace

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Today, the feast day of my favorite saint Teresa of Avila, I got a letter from Joanna Davis, a grad student and SPO missionary from my church. Joanna is living and working with a group of college students to help them grow strong in the faith. Although she is not married and has no children, in a sense she too is an “Extraordinary Mom,” for she is using her spiritual gifts to raise up spiritual children.

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