The Many Moods of the Family Rosary.

Years ago I would often ask families whose children still practiced their faith, what they thought the secret was. More often than not the answer was praying the Rosary together, and so I decided we would too.

We go through phases of piety when we pray the rosary consistently after dinner, but to be honest over the years we haven't been as routine was I would like. I expect we are not alone in this! I have noticed a pattern has emerged in that we are more diligent after returning from homeschool camps, and when I have noticed a potential crisis of faith.

In the beginning when the children were little we struggled with inattention, arguments, refusal, whining, and super fast hail marys! It was years before Roo sat through a whole rosary with us. He would sit nearby colouring in, and later looking through faith based picture books. He has recently graduated to leading the fifth decade!

I often wondered if it was worth all the angst, but we pushed on through, despite the challenges. In the early years I would position myself between, Bibly and Koala, in order to nudge then when they repeatedly failed to open their mouths. I felt as thought most of the time my arms were twitching as I gently reminded my sons with my elbows!

My children came up with many ways to show their displeasure: back turning,  needing to go to the bathroom, needing  a drink, playing with the dogs when we forgot to remove them, complaining that Roo didn't have to join in, and speed praying to such an extent that it would difficult to figure out exactly what was being said! We have used a Rosary app with beautiful art work, but we had to cast this aside after arguments over the volume level, and children playing with the virtual beads.

We have had tears over whose turn it is to blow out the candle, the candle being snuffed with fingers and dipping ones fingers in the hot wax to make a mold.

Whilst increasing age has resulted in more compliance, my children still have a way to go. A recent tactic was the Mexican standoff, when one child refused to lead, and one parent refused to accept  their decision. We sat in silence for quite a while that night!

More often than not the rosary became a time to exercise parent self control!

In some ways we have come full circle, as a now pious child has become rather upset that his brother prays too fast. This is the very same child who excelled in seeing how fast he could lead a decade.

Occasionally the parent is the one to cause trouble.

I like to pray the rosary using a card which has art work to depict each mystery of the rosary. This particular card worked best when folded in a triangle shape sitting infront of me. Bilby tried and succeeded in knocking my card down with a gentle breath of air. For some inexplicable reason I chuckled, and so did my son, but it didn't stop there. I could NOT stop laughing. The kind of laughter that makes no sense, when tears roll down your face and you have no idea why you are laughing. I kept telling myself to stop, I was being immature, we should be PRAYING, but all to no avail. It was totally inappropriate, but gee it was so much fun!

You may think it odd that I have decided to post about our apparent failures in family prayer, but I don't see it that way. More often than not things go smoothly despite my litany of challenges. I have learned so much through our attempts to pray together. I know beyond any doubt that all been worthwhile. I firmly believe that we receive many graces through the act of prayer, not based on how we feel whilst praying.

Would you like to share your family prayer challenges with me? I dare you! You might just make someone feel more normal.

The Feast of The Annunciation.

Today we celebrate the beautiful feast of the Annunciation. I think the above image by Waterhouse, beautifully captures how the moment might have been. An extraordinary event, amidst the ordinary!

Once again, I find I am not as prepared to celebrate this feast as I would like. So this evening we will simply read from Mary the Mother of Jesus, by Tomie De Paola , listen to CatChat and read Luke's beautiful account of the annunciation, which wouldn't be complete without the magnificat, simply because I love it so much!

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm.

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things.

And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers Abraham, and his seed forever.

A Birthday Surprise.

This week I celebrated a birthday. I had suggested to my husband that I would really love an heirloom rosary from Anne, at Tota Pulchra Beads. Anne made this wonderful rosary, which I will treasure for many years to come.

I had assumed that this would be the only gift of significance from my family. I knew that Koala had wanted James to take him to the local “cheap shop” to buy me a little something. Judging by the shape of the gift, I assumed that I was about to unwrap a print of a puppy; flowers or the like. I was delighted to find that I had a postcard size print of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, in a lovely frame complete with a white mat.
Koala had found the print on a "please take" table at church, and wanted to give it to me. James suggested that they frame it for my birthday. Had I asked for another gift, this is exactly what I would have chosen!

Our Lady of the Southern Cross was commissioned for World Youth Day 2008. It was painted bu Paul Newton, and hangs in the beautiful St. Mary's Cathedal Sydney.