Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary

Today is a special feast celebrating the Rosary but more importantly the victory at Lepanto. The Rosary has been special to me in my life. Before I was a Catholic, at the time when I was studying the Faith and going through RCIA, it was the Rosary and going to Mass that helped to sustain me while anticipating reception into the arms of Holy Mother Church. I witnessed the power of the Rosary when Mother Angelica was healed in 1998. That was when I decided to take it up because of the miracle that occured with Mother during the praying of the Rosary. It is such a beautiful devotion and although I admit I haven't prayed it nearly as much as I should (that is changing though since I am praying the Divine Office I might as well also pray the Rosary too). I find it odd that to some protestants, they think we adore Mary 10 to 1 since in the Rosary we pray 10 Hail Marys a decade to one Our Father and one Glory Be. It isn't the quanity of the prayers that is the key but the meditation of the Mysteries: all which are related to the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I know that Our Lady has helped me alot in these past couple of years and continue to do so. So, everyone--get out your Rosaries today, pray it for these intentions:

For Holy Mother Church
Bishops and Priests
the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI
for Holy Vocations
for the Eucharistic Synod taking place in Rome
for the full return of the Tridentine Mass/Sacraments
for heretics, schismatics, and pagans that they will convert to the One True Faith
and any other intentions.

I usually have a long list of intentions to pray for. Of course, the Holy Father's intentions for October can also be added as well.

Meanwhile, I am not praying the Divine Office so blindly now since I am on the Militia Templii e-mail list. On it, one of the fellas gives the instructions for the Divine Office each day so I shouldn't get lost from now on. Now--all I need to do is properly pronounce the Latin and slowly buy the books I need for this novitiate. Also, I need to talk to Father at my parish. I need a small note stating that I am a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church. I don't think that will be so difficult. Then I can put the rest of it together and send it off to Italy.

My brother has started RCIA. So far, so good. Although it would do him well to read the lessons several days in advance instead of waiting till the last minute. My father and I have been going to the classes to support him. Pray for him and me as wel embark on similar but very different journeys. Pleases feel free to make and comments and suggestions in the combox. God bless you