Digital Marian Helper Winter_2016-2017

something difficult, he would have done it willingly, that Naaman con- sented to go and do the simple, seemingly meaningless task set him by the prophet. And guess what? His leprosy was healed. He was made clean (2 Kgs 5:8-14). Have we fallen into the same error? Do we dismiss the Rosary, say- ing (as so many have done in the history of the Church!): “It is a prayer for old women and for children! It went out with Vatican II. We’re more advanced than that now. We have better ways, more liturgical ways of prayer. We are too spiritually mature to do something as sim- ple or superstitious as praying the Rosary.” If you or someone you know dismisses the Rosary like that, share with them Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC. Share with them the litany of great saints and scholars, of popes and ordinary people who saw great miracles, won extraordinary victories, and welcomed the triumph of the Blessed Virgin Mary into their lives, their times, their particular troubles. This devotion has wrought miracles before, and will do so again, if only we take it up with faith, if only we respond to Our Lady’s call. The Most Holy Virgin, in these last times in which we live, has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families … that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the holy Rosary — Servant of God Lucia Dos Santos, one of the three Fatima seers. Non-Catholics are watching. Other people suggest that it’s our fault, Catholics’ fault, that we don’t have peace in the world. Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, tells a story that a priest minister- ing in Japan shared with him in Rome. This priest was present at an international gathering of Christians from across the world, attended by foreign dignitaries. The ambassador from Japan approached the priest, verified that the priest served in Japan and was a Catholic priest, and then said, “War is your fault.” The priest was surprised and asked what the ambassador meant. The ambassador said, “You Catholics, all of you —we do not have peace in the world. It is your fault.” The priest said, “Ambassador, why do you blame us?” The ambassador said, “I’ve read about this. The Lady came to you at Fatima, right? That’s what you believe? She told you what to do to secure peace in the world. Well, there’s no peace in the world, so obvi- ously you Catholics haven’t done it.” The priest had to acknowledge that the ambassador was correct, but still tried to protest, saying, “Isn’t peace everyone’s responsibility?” The ambassador was vehement. “No, she came to you Catholics. Not to Buddhists. Not to Hindus. She came to you, and it is your responsibility.” That ambassador had more faith than a lot of Catholics! So let us respond with faith and fervor as we approach the 100 th anniversary of Fatima. Let’s commit to praying the Rosary daily in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary for peace in the world. C 7H?7D > ;BF;H ǙšǙ W INTER 2016-17 ǙšǙcWh_Wd$eh]Ǚ 15 9 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 → ! ! 6 → 7 → 8 → 1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the “Apostles’ Creed.” 2. Say the “Our Father.” 3 . Say three “Hail Marys.” 4. Say the “Glory Be to the Father.” 5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the “Our Father.” 6. Say 10 “Hail Marys,” while meditating on the Mystery. 7. Say the “Glory Be to the Father.” After each decade, say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.” 8. Announce the Second Mystery: then say the “Our Father.” Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner. 9. Say the “Hail, Holy Queen” on the medal after the five decades are completed. Visit marian.org/rosary to learn more about the Rosary, including its four sets of mysteries. >em je fhWo j^[ HeiWho MH