Rosary Blog Archive - Jan-Jun 2007

To go to our current blog, click here. To return to our main blog archives page, click here.

June 2007 Bloglets

"600 Convents Praying for Religious Freedom" (in China)
A June 25 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, regarding the prayer of thousands of women religious for religious freedom in China, just prior to an expected papal letter to Chinese Catholics. You may link to the text of this letter, issued on June 30, 2007, from the Vatican's website here:
LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS, PRIESTS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

"China to Dynamite Marian Shrine"
A June 21 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, reporting that the Henan provincial government had decided to destroy a sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tianjiajing, citing the pilgrimage site as "a place of illegal religious activity"

"June 16 Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary"
An article explaining this feast day, on Catholic Culture's website. At the bottom, it links to another article on Saturdays and Immaculate Heart.

"Pope leads Corpus Christi observance"
A June 8 article from Catholic World News, about the previous day's Feast of 'Corpus Christi' (the Body of Christ); Christ's institution of His Body & Blood in the Sacrament of the Eucharist is the fifth Luminous Mystery of the Holy Rosary. "In his homily the Pope recalled that the feast of Corpus Christi was instituted as a testimony to the faith of Catholics 'in Jesus Christ, living and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist'. This mystery, he said, is 'beyond our understanding, and we should not be surprised if even today many people struggle' with the Catholic dogma...For believing Christians, the Holy Father continued, the Eucharist is 'the indispensable nourishment that sustains them as they cross the desert of this world, made barren by ideological and economic systems that fail to promote life ... a world dominated by the logic of power and possession rather than by the logic of service and of love; a world in which the culture of violence and death often triumph'. In the evening's procession, Pope Benedict said, the Church would 'symbolically carry the Lord Jesus along the streets and through the neighborhoods of Rome'. In that way, he said, the faithful bring Christ into their everyday lives, knowing that He sustains them each day."

"Cyprian Teaches on Unity and Prayer"
A June 6 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, about Saint Cyprian of Carthage, one of the 'Church Fathers' who, in the 3rd century, became the first African bishop to be martyred. "Benedict XVI said that the saint's writings on the Lord's Prayer have 'helped me to understand and pray better'."

"Pope says Eucharist essential for Christians in often-hostile world"
A June 7 article from Catholic World News, on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The fifth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary is Christ's institution of His Body and Blood in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

"Pray for Iraqi Christians before the faith is gone"
A June 5 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Cardinal Bertone shows original letter containing third secret of Fatima on TV"
A June 4 article from the Catholic News Agency. It refers back to our May 15 bloglet entitled "Fatima secrets fully disclosed, Cardinal Bertone insists".

"Benedict XVI sends his prayers to families of Iraqi priest and three deacons murdered in Mosul"
A June 4 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Pope may visit Canada in 2008"
A June 1 article from Catholic World News.

"Pope’s prayer intentions for June"
A June 1 article from Catholic World News.

May 2007 Bloglets

"Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary"
Here you can read up on this special day, May 31, when we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the newly expectant Blessed Virgin Mary, to her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist. The Visitation is the second Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

"Roses and Rosaries; the Benedictine Legacy - Traditional Piety Flourishes in Rome"
A May 31 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency.

"Zimbabweans praying for a break from oppression"
A May 30 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Meeting parents of kidnapped British girl, pope offers prayers"
A May 30 article from the Catholic News Service.

"On Solemnity of Pentecost – 'We Relive the Birth of the Church'"
A May 27 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency on Pope Benedict's same-day homily on the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost, the third Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary, marks the promised descent of the Holy Spirit onto Jesus' disciples, after He had ascended to Heaven.

"Father Cantalamessa on Penetecost"
A May 25 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency. Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus' disiples (after His ascension to Heaven), is the third Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

"Great Continental Mission should be a new Pentecost, says Cardinal Hummes"
A May 25 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Russia Marks Fatima Anniversary"
A May 25 article from Rome's Zenit's News Agency.

"It’s the 'Rosary Bowl', for a Day"
A May 25 article from Rome's Zenit's News Agency.

Solemnity of 'Our Lady, Help of Christians'
Here you can read up on this special day, May 24, in honour of Mary as 'Help of Christians'.

"Pope to visit Lourdes for 150th anniversary?"
A May 22 article from Catholic World News.

"Ascension reveals the 'ultimate vocation' of all human beings, says Pope during prayer today".
A May 22 article from the Catholic News Agency. The subject is the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven (forty days after His Resurrection), which is the second Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary. You can also read about the Feast of the Ascension at Catholic Culture's website, here.

"Pope asks prayers for 'renewed Pentecost'"
A May 21 article from Catholic World News.

"Proposed immigration bill stirs call for prayer and justice"
A May 21 article from the Catholic News Service, regarding an upcoming attempted reform of U.S. immigration law. In it, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Migration, San Bernardino California Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, explains that "the important considerations for the bill include that it 'is workable and includes family unity and a fair and realistic path to citizenship, a new worker program which provides participants a meaningful opportunity to obtain permanent residency, and the preservation of family unity as an integral part of the U.S. immigration system'." Three related stories are, from the Catholic News Agency, the July 3 article "U.S. Bishops Decry Failure of Immigration Reform" & the May 18 article "US Bishops Call for Prayers, Pledge to Work for Comprehensive Immigration Bill and, from the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops, the May 17 article "Catholic Immigration Effort Launches a Million Prayers Initiative May 20-26"

"Holy Father speaks about his trip to Brazil, the media, and the Ascension"
A May 20 article from the Catholic News Agency. In it, Pope Benedict XVI comments on the Ascension of our Lord, which is the second Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

"Benedict XVI: 'Prayer is Not a Waste of Time'"
A May 18 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency.

"Rosary at Rose Bowl set for May 19, 2007"
A May 18 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Hundreds of thousands celebrate 90th anniversary of Fatima apparitions in Portugal"
A May 14 article from the Catholic News Agency..."In commenting about the message of Mary in the apparitions, Cardinal Sodano [papal representative at Fatima anniversary, since Pope Benedict XVI was in Brazil] prayed to the Mother of God, 'to once again show her maternal solicitude for the men and women of our day, who are sometimes tempted to stray from God in order to prostrate themselves before the 'golden calf' of the banalities of the earth...'Mary knows that the eternal salvation of her children is at risk, and therefore, she respects the call of Jesus: 'Repent and believe in the Gospel.' The message of Jesus thus becomes the message of Mary. It is a strong and decisive example like that which only a mother knows how to give to her children in the important moments of their lives,' he added...The countries of Europe, he went on, are experiencing 'a surreptitious apostasy that cannot leave us indifferent. 'We entrust to the Immaculate Heart of Mary the destiny of mankind and of the peoples of our continent, and we commit ourselves to putting again at the heart of our society that leaven of the Gospel that fermented its history throughout the centuries,' the cardinal said in conclusion."

"Pope Benedict departs South America, but leaves message of hope and prayer for the 'common good of the family'"
A May 14 article from the Catholic News Agency. The text also links to the Vatican's website, for the Pope's full homily on the inauguration of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops.

"Fatima secrets fully disclosed, Cardinal Bertone insists"
A May 14 article from Catholic World News, referring to the third of three messages confided by Mary to the three children of Fatima in 1917. (The first was a vision of Hell, and the second 'included Mary's instructions on how to save souls from Hell and convert the world to the true Catholic Faith and Church of Christ' [wording from Wikipedia] ) ...According to this news article, "In June 2001, the Vatican disclosed that the 'third secret' was a prophetic vision, describing a struggle between the Catholic Church and a totalitarian system, culminating in an attempt on the life of the Pope. That vision, Pope John Paul II said, evidently referred to the attempt on his life, which took place on May 13-- the feast of our Lady of Fatima-- in 1981." John Paul II (as do so many others) solemnly credited his miraculous survival to Mary's protection! In his own poetic words, 'it was a mother's hand that guided the bullet's path and in his throes the Pope halted at the threshold of death'.

"Parents, pray with your children, Pope says"
A May 13 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency

"Pope's Address at Rosary Meeting -'Remain in School of Mary'"
A May 13 article from the Catholic News Agency

"Pope asks priests, consecrated to remain in 'the school of Mary'"
A May 12 article from the Catholic News Agency. "After leading the recitation of the Rosary at the colossal shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI called on priests, religious and consecrated to remain faithful to their calling and to live in a manner that attracts new vocations to the Church."

"Pilgrims gather at Fatima for 90th anniversary"
A May 11 article from Catholic World News

"Fatima celebrates 90th anniversary of apparitions"
A May 11 article from the Catholic News Agency

"Pope Praises Rosary as Fatima Anniversary Nears - Cardinal Sodano to Represent Pontiff at Festivities"
A May 7 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, regarding the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal. The Blessed Mother instructed the children to pray the Rosary daily, explained important things to them, spoke prophetic words for the world at the beginning of the 20th century, and performed a public miracle which thousands and thousands of people saw!

"Over 100,000 Polish high-school graduates make Marian pilgrimage"
A May 7 article from Catholic World News, citing that almost one-fourth of Poland's graduating high school students have made a pilgrimage to the renowned Marian shrine of Czestochowa.

"Pope asks Catholics to pray for his visit to 'continent of hope'"
A May 7 article from the Catholic News Service, on the Holy Father's May 9-13 visit to Latin America, mainly Brazil.

"Pope Hails May as Marian Month"
A May 6 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency.

"A Cry for Prayer from Zimbabwe"
A May 4 article from the Catholic News Agency

"President Bush reminds Americans of the importance of prayer"
A May 3 article from the Catholic News Agency.

"Origen's Teachings on Prayer and Church - 'The Privileged Path to Knowing God Is Love'
A May 2 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency. "Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today [May 2] at the general audience in St. Peter's Square. The reflection, like that of last week, focused on Origen of Alexandria.

"Pope Benedict calls Christians to imitate Virgin Mary, be guided by God's signs"
A May 2 article from the Catholic News Agency. As the month traditionally set aside for devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary begins, the Vatican has announced that Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for the month of May will center on imitation of the woman whom the Church considers the "first Christian"." Click on the link to read the Holy Father's general and mission intentions for the month of May, as well as a number of detailed reader comments.

April 2007 Bloglets

"Los Angeles to host Rosary Bowl"
An Apr. 17 article from the Catholic News Agency, regarding the May 19 'Rosary Bowl'. This refers to our earlier Mar. 9 blog below, entitled 'Not Crazy or Impossible at all".

"Papal Prayers for Virginia Tech Victims"
An Apr. 17 article from Catholic World News.

"Easter message: World needs our witness to Resurrection"
An Apr. 9 article from Catholic World News, on Pope Benedict XVI's Easter Sunday 'Urbi et Orbi' message in St. Peter's Square. 'Urbi et Orbi' means 'to the city (Rome) and to the world'. This article contains a link to the the full text of the Holy Father's message, in several languages, at the Vatican's website.

"In the resurrection love is shown to be stronger than death, Pope says at Easter Vigil"
Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ's Resurrection, which is the first Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary. Here is an Apr. 7 article from the Catholic News Agency, which gives the entire English text of the Holy Father's Easter vigil homily. Here is an excerpt: "The liturgy applies to Jesus' descent into the night of death the words of Psalm 23[24]: "Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors!" The gates of death are closed, no one can return from there. There is no key for those iron doors. But Christ has the key. His Cross opens wide the gates of death, the stern doors. They are barred no longer. His Cross, his radical love, is the key that opens them. The love of the One who, though God, became man in order to die - this love has the power to open those doors. This love is stronger than death. The Easter icons of the Oriental Church show how Christ enters the world of the dead. He is clothed with light, for God is light. "The night is bright as the day, the darkness is as light" (cf. Ps 138[139]12). Entering the world of the dead, Jesus bears the stigmata, the signs of his passion: his wounds, his suffering, have become power: they are love that conquers death. He meets Adam and all the men and women waiting in the night of death. As we look at them, we can hear an echo of the prayer of Jonah: "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice" (Jn 2:2). In the incarnation, the Son of God became one with human beings - with Adam. But only at this moment, when he accomplishes the supreme act of love by descending into the night of death, does he bring the journey of the incarnation to its completion. By his death he now clasps the hand of Adam, of every man and woman who awaits him, and brings them to the light."

"Easter Message From Jerusalem: 'We Reach for the Power of the Resurrection'"
An Apr. 7 article from Rome's Zenit news agency..."Here is the Easter Message sent by the patriarchs and heads of local churches in Jerusalem."

"It Is Impossible to Come to Christianity Except Through Love"
An Apr. 7 article from Rome's Zenit news agency..."Here is a reflection on Easter written by Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeev of Vienna and Austria. He is the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church of Moscow to the European Community."

"...on Easter Faith: 'The Lord Is Risen and Was Seen Alive'"
Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings for Easter Sunday's liturgy. Easter, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection from death, is the first Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

The Way of the Cross, led by Pope Benedict XVI, Good Friday 2007
From the Vatican's website, with colour illustrations, scripture passages, and meditations by Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi (Prefect of the Ambrosian Library and Gallery of Milan). Today is the Solemnity of the Crucifixion of Christ, the fifth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.

"The new Passover remains with us in the Eucharist"
An Apr. 5 article from the Catholic News Agency, on Holy Thursday when Jesus, at His Last Supper, instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist - the Rosary's fifth Luminous Mystery.

"With His love Christ overcomes sin and death, Benedict exclaims"
An Apr. 4 article from the Catholic News Agency, summarizing the Pope's commentary on the meaning of the solemn Triduum ('three days') of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

"The Forum: Pope's exhortation seeks new Eucharistic fervor"
A Mar. 13 article from Catholic World News, analyzing Pope Benedict XVI's new Apostolic Exhortation on the Holy Eucharist, "SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS" (Sacrament of Charity/Love). Today, Holy Thursday April 5, the Church commemorates Christ's institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for us all.

"The Eucharist is the font of all Christian joy, Pope Benedict says"
A Mar. 19 article from the Catholic News Agency, of particular importance today, Holy Thursday April 5, when the Church commemorates Jesus' institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, His Body and Blood, during His Last Supper with His apostles. This is also the fifth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary.

"SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (Sacrament of Charity/Love) - On the Eucharist, as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission"
Here, on the Vatican's website, is the Holy Father's Feb. 22, 2007 Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist, released by the Vatican on Mar. 13. Today (Apr. 5) is Holy Thursday, when we commemorate Jesus' institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, His Body and Blood, at the Last Supper. In this, the fifth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, we also acknowledge Jesus' founding of the sacramental priesthood.

"Pope reflects on Eucharist, makes concrete suggestions for Mass"
A Mar. 13 article from the Catholic News Service, summarizing the contents of Pope Benedict XVI's new Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist (see bloglet directly above). The papal document is described here as the Holy Father's "reflection on the discussions and suggestions made during the 2005 world Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist". Gives a good overview!

"Cardinal Sodano to Be Papal Legate at Fatima"
An Apr. 1 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency. It announces that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will stand in for Pope Benedict XVI at the 90th anniversary celebrations in Fatima, Portugal on May 12 and 13. The Pope will be in Brazil at that time.

"Pope's April prayer intentions"
An Apr. 2 article from Catholic World News, reporting Pope Benedict's general and missionary prayer intentions for this month.

March 2007 Bloglets

"Hidden event of the Annunciation marks most profound change for humanity, Pope says"
A Mar. 25 article from the Catholic News Agency, marking the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord (nine months before Christmas). Of course, Gabriel's visit to Mary and her fiat, or 'yes' to God, is the first Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

"Superiors Call Religious to Pray for Peace"
A Mar. 14 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, "calling on congregations to observe March 30 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace" and "an end to violence and war in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Northern Uganda, Nepal, Colombia, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon", etc. "We think that setting aside one day during Lent to pray together...for peace on earth could have a powerful effect on our world." Amen to that!

"Not Crazy or Impossible At All"
A Mar. 9 article from California Catholic Daily, an online daily Catholic news service. The sub-title reads, "Los Angeles archdiocese sponsors Rosary event which, organizers hope, will draw hundreds of thousands". "That Pasadena's Rosary Bowl will draw perhaps 500,000 is not 'a crazy or impossible idea at all'...Large rosary gatherings at big stadiums are nothing new...Not only the Northeast and the Midwest had these gatherings in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, but even California; the 1961 Rosary Gathering in San Francisco drew 550,000 people...Large-scale rosary gatherings died out in the 1970s and '80s because of a 'misreading of Vatican II'...For some reason too many people thought we had to get rid of devotions, statues, litanies etc. That's not what the Council said but it happened...One minute we were saying the rosary and admiring the beautiful statues in our churches and then in many places they were gone'...Many after the council said that to 'embrace the centrality of Christ' Catholics had to 'cut back on Marian devotions'...Of course Mary is bringing all to Christ so perhaps we are beginning to understand the truth of Marian devotions'". This news article refers back to our Dec. 20 '06 bloglet entitled "Rosary at the Rose Bowl planned for May aims to draw 65,000".

"Why They Pray - The trials of war strengthen many troops' faith"
A Mar. 9 article from the Wall Street Journal, re-printed by the Catholic Education Resource Center.

"Christian Wisdom Centers on Cross, Pope Tells Students"
A Mar. 12 article from Catholic World News, reporting on the fifth European Day for Universities which took place on March 10. "The Holy Father joined the students in praying the Rosary", linked by satellite from Rome to gatherings in Rome, Bologna, Turin, Prague, Krakow, Manchester, Coimbra (Portugal), Tirana (Albania), Calcutta, Islamabad-Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Hong Kong, and Manila. This news article refers to our Mar. 5 bloglet below entitled "Pontiff Reminds Students of Marian Vigil".

"Gifts Distract First Communicants, Bishop Says"
A Mar. 8 article from Catholic World News, recommending that children be allowed to open their First Communion gifts several days before receiving this sacrament. In this way, they will be better able to focus on and remember "the essential meeting with Christ" of their First Communion. Some good accompanying reader comments, too.

"Prayer a Life-and-Death Matter, Says Pope - Asserts That It Is Not a Way to Evade Reality"
A Mar. 4 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency. In it, Benedict XVI explains that Christ "shows us that true prayer consists precisely in uniting our will to the Father's". The Pope "concluded by inviting believers during Lent to pray to Mary, "teacher of the spiritual life, to teach us to pray as her Son did so that our life is transformed by the light of His presence".

"Pontiff Reminds Students of Marian Vigil"
A Mar. 4 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, regarding a Marian vigil Benedict will hold with European & Asian students via Satellite this Saturday. The Vigil's theme is "Intellectual Charity, Path for New Cooperation between Europe and Asia". In the words of the Holy Father, "We will invoke the intercession of Mary, 'Seat of Wisdom', so that the Lord will send witnesses of evangelical truth to build the civilization of love on these two continents and in the whole world".

"Pope's prayer intentions for March 2007"
A Mar. 1 article from Catholic World News, reporting Pope Benedict's general and missionary prayer intentions for this month.

"Massive Annual National Prayer Vigil for Life in Washington Actively Backed by US Bishops"
A Mar. 1 article from LifeSite with the caption, "Started in 1982 with 50 people - now over 10,000, including hundreds of clergy". It has some striking photographs of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., both outside and inside during a packed Mass on the occasion of the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life. "This year the Vigil began with a Mass on Sunday evening, Jan. 21 and continued afterwards with the National Rosary for Life and programs of prayer and adoration throughout the night. At 7 a.m. Monday thousands more participated in another Mass before taking part in the March for Life."

February 2007 Bloglets

"The Shape of Faith - the Sign of the Cross is a Reminder of Who We Are"
A Feb. 27 article from Christianity Today magazine. We make the sign of the cross on ourselves to begin, and then to end the Rosary, as well as on many other occasions. This sacred gesture, a prayer in itself, also has interesting theological significance. Article 2157 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties."

"Former Homosexual Attributes Healing to Prayer"
A Feb. 26 article from Catholic World News that refers to an article in Turin, Italy's "La Stampa" newspaper. Amongst other things, this man prayed the Rosary three times a day.

"Lent and "Our Father" - the Path of Prayer"
A fairly short, but excellent, Feb. 22 article from Ignatius Press' blog, 'Insight Scoop'. In it, author Carl E. Olson examines the meaning of the Lord's Prayer (which begins each decade of the Rosary).

"On 90th Anniversary of Fatima Will Portugal Lose the Catholic Faith and Legalize Abortion?"
A Feb. 19 '07 article from LifeSite. "Portugal's birthrate now stands at meager 1.5 children per woman. ...But there is still hope. Pro-lifers in Portugal organized to fight the referendum and can remain organized to fight the bill in parliament. Hopefully, they will understand the reality that in this fallen world politicians respond weakly to appeals based on principle "Defend life!" and more strongly to threats "Vote against this or we'll vote against you." The Left never gives up. Portugal voted down an abortion referendum in 1998, so they tried again this year. They did the same with divorce in Ireland until they won there. We must take the same attitude, remembering the promise made at Fatima: "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph." "

"Early beatification process for Sister Lucia, Fatima visionary?"
A Feb. 19 '07 article from Catholic World News. "During a visit to Fatima, Portugal, on February 18, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints raised the possibility that Sister Lucia, the last surviving Fatima visionary," (died in 2005) "might be cleared for beatification ahead of the usual schedule."

"Rite of Sprinkling With Holy Water And More on Blessed Oils"
A Feb. 13 '07 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, regarding the old rite of blessing the congregation with Holy Water before Sunday Mass. The article later talks about the storage and disposal of anointing oils, and the blessing of them at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday each year (this year, on Thursday, April 5). This has been posted on our Rosary Blog, due to our site's pages on Holy Water and Anointing Oils.

"You are never alone, Pope tells the world’s sick"
A Feb. 12 '07 article from the Catholic News Agency, on Pope Benedict's Feb. 11 talk to infirm pilgrims visiting St. Peter's Basilica. The occasion was the 15th annual World Day of the Sick. This special day was instituted by Pope John Paul II to coincide every year with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. "In the grotto of Massabielle, 'human suffering and hope, fear and trust, come together'", Benedict said. "'How many pilgrims, comforted by the gaze of the Mother, find in Lourdes the strength to put the will of God into effect more easily, even at the cost of sacrifice and pain.'" You may read about the story of Our Lady of Lourdes on our site - just click on the Lourdes menu button to the left.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In early 1858, Mary appeared 18 times in Lourdes France, to young Bernadette Soubirous, now known as Saint Bernadette. During one of these apparitions, the "Lady" identified herself as "the Immaculate Conception", the doctrine of which had been officially recognized & proclaimed by the Church just over 3 years earlier! During Mary's visits with Bernadette, the two prayed the Rosary together, although Mary recited only the "Glory Be".

"Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as 'Candlemas'"
Today the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord - which also happens to be the 4th Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. "In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father ... Until 1969, the ancient feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, which is of Oriental origin, was known in the West as the feast of the Purification of Our Lady, and closed the Christmas season, forty days after the Lord's birth ... The feast was first observed in the Eastern Church as "The Encounter" ... This is another 'epiphany' celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day."

"Pope Benedict's February Prayer Intentions"
A Feb. 1 '07 article from Catholic World News

January 2007 Bloglets

"Prayer as Recipe for Holier Families - Bishop Proposes Practical Tips for 2007"
A Jan. 28 '07 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency highlighting Amarillo, Texas Bishop John Yanta's top tip for strengthening the family: prayer. Bishop Yanta advises families to attend Sunday Mass and to pray the Rosary together (or at the very least grace at meals, to start). "No Catholic child", he said, "should be enrolled in a Catholic school or CCD program who doesn't already know by heart how to recite the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, and Hail Mary". He also cautions parents against "the mistake of asking their children what they want to be when they grow up, but rather to teach them to ask what God wants of them".

"National Prayer Vigil for Life Opening Mass"
This Jan. 19 Media Advisory from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced the yearly National Prayer Vigil for Life. About 10,000 people gathered at Washington D.C.'s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, for the opening Mass of Jan. 21 - the day before the 34th anniversary of 'Roe v. Wade' (the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion). After Mass, the faithful prayed a national Rosary for Life. The next day, thousands more joined them to participate in the national March for Life.

"Virgin is Inspiration for Parisian Fashion Show"
A Jan. 26 '07 article from Catholic World News, about new fashion lines from Jean Paul Gaulthier and Donatella Versace

"Rosaries become hot fashion trend, bishops concerned"
An older Oct. 25 '04 article from Catholic World News which asks the question: does the wearing of rosaries-as-jewelry trivialize this sacred prayer devotion, or provide an opportunity to spread it?

"Pope [JPII] 'Oppressed' by War News; Urges Rosaries for Peace"
An older Mar. 26 '03 article of interest from Catholic World News

"Rosaries worn by British schoolchildren selling drugs"
An older Feb. 25 '04 article related to the Rosary, from Catholic World News

"On the Baptism of the Lord: Holiness Constitutes the Vocation of All the Baptized"
A Jan. 8 '07 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord (the First Luminous Mystery of the Rosary!)

"Father Cantalamessa on the Mother of God"
A Jan.1 '07 article from Rome's Zenit News Agency, captioned with 'Mary Meditated on All These Things in Her Heart'. 'Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the liturgical readings for today's (Jan. 1) solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God.'