I have enjoyed bringing you these daily October reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary. The response from FFF readers has been much more than I expected with many sending emails telling of new-found appreciation of this meditative way of reflecting on key events in the life of Christ.
I have been especially moved by the number of younger people who have taken up the invitation, grateful for the introduction to the prayer that was a daily touchstone of hope for their ancestors through every human hardship.
A number of people of other Christian denominations have also responded asking for Rosary Beads and following the daily reflections, eager to learn this prayer that they once thought was reserved to Catholics.
A significant number have asked me to send Rosary Beads and every day this month I have posted hundreds of beads to people all over the country. To date almost 15,000 sets of beads have been distributed. Unfortunately I have not been able to send to those overseas who have requested beads since the postage costs are a bit more than our little FFF mission can handle.
Many individuals have received beads, and some schools have requested several hundred sets. I’m very happy that we have been able to respond, and if you have ordered beads but have not received these yet please let me know.
If you would still like to request beads it is not too late. Just email me: john@fff.org.nz.
Some have sent recordings of a group praying a decade of the Rosary. Thank you for these. Unfortunately I have not been able to use these at the moment although my hope is to edit and upload these in the near future as more resources become available.
These daily Rosary reflections for the October month of the Holy Rosary have coincided with weeks of great growth for the Food For Faith mission with:
- Cafe Gatherings beginning again – initiate a gathering at this link,
- Prayer Requests at this link,
- daily Lectio Divina audio at this link,
- Weekly Homily Studio at this link,
- YouTube reflections at this link,
- Podcast talks at this link,
- and a number of other projects at the planning stage.
All of these reflections are available by email, and you can manage your preferences at the Sign Up page at this link.
If you have appreciated the Rosary reflections, and would like to support this growing mission, your contribution is greatly welcomed at this link.
If you began the month with enthusiasm but your intention to learn and pray the Rosary was overwhelmed by other things, no problem. This often happens to me as my good intentions get lost in the midst of other concerns. It’s not too late, start today, and again if you would like beads just let me know.
i thought we might end this Rosary month with some of the encouraging quotations with which we began the month:
The Rosary is truly an Ecumenical Prayer.
“The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety…” Rosarium Virginis Mariae
“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.” RVM
“Mary is twice chosen: as the pious girl dwelling in the Temple, and as the mother of Jesus. Islam – The Koran. (Mary is the only woman named in the Quran and is mentioned 70 times.)
“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.”
“We agree that there can be but one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ, and reject any interpretation of the role of Mary which obscures this affirmation. We agree in recognising that Christian understanding of Mary is inseparably linked with the doctrines of Christ and the Church. We agree in recognising the grace and unique vocation of Mary, Mother of God Incarnate (Theotókos), in observing her festivals, and in according her honour in the communion of saints. We agree that she was prepared by divine grace to be the mother of our Redeemer, by whom she herself was redeemed and received into glory. We further agree in recognising in Mary a model of holiness, obedience and faith for all Christians. We accept that it is possible to regard her as a prophetic figure of the Church of God before as well as after the Incarnation. Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission.
I’m looking forward the daily reflection being on Podcast I’ve been deaf since birth. . I’m a almost 82 year old lady, who has a Bluetooth hearing aid and am hearing l I’d never heard before. Spotify is my daily “must” Thank you l look forward to your daily reflections.
Margaret
How wonderful for you Margaret may you have many years of hearing God’s words.
Thanks John for these beautiful October reflections. As children learning to recite the rosary it was an exercise in obedience and family time of unity in prayer. This journey through the Mysteries was like starting all over again and revisiting the gospel stories in clear, bright, light of today’s reality. So timely.
Amen thanks Father John for encouragement and inspiration to all the people for the Rosary reflection Amen
The calming, consoling Rosary has helped to build trust in God. Letting go of fears and hurts through forgiveness God catches me. There is no unknown through, with, and in God.
Thank you Father John for these lovely reflections on Mary, the mother of Jesus. It has been a blessing to take time each day to pray the rosary and reflect. Many blessings on you and the wonderful work you are doing bringing Jesus and Mary to us in such a human way.
Thank you Father John for your efforts and dedication in bringing to life for so many of us this October month of Mary. It has deepened both my prayer life and connection with Mary and the daily emails have been a source of inspiration and education! God bless you.
Thank you, Father John. What a great blessing, very appropriate at this stressful time of covid, especially for those of us in level 3. Something to look forward to every day. PS thanks for the beads.
John, I have really enjoyed the celebration of the Rosary in October.
I am lucky to have Rosary beads that came from Nazareth for my lovely late Wife Mary & myself.
When my Wife was going thru 2 separate blood cancers, the Hospital Chaplan asked if Mary could handle a decade each day. We prayed this daily on my visits & I continued after her passing in 2015. Then FFF asked if anyone could “up the ante” & pray stronger. Now say the Mystery of the day & the 5 prayers. I am lucky that someone gave me a wee booklet “The Holy Rosary” & that is an amazing help with many options.
Tony
Thank you so much for this wonderful peaceful time, and I smile reading all the lovely comments.
Thank you John. Paul and I have prayed the rosary each evening throughout October. We start with your reflection and then pray the decade. It has been wonderful and prayerful. Thank you.
Marie
Thank you Father John, for your Rosary reflections and everyone’s comments. I learnt lots and have consolidated the mysteries in my head. Thank you for giving me the motivation to keep praying the Rosary, journeying along with Mary, in the hope of obtaining the promises of Christ. I seem to find it difficult to multitask, the Hail Mary’s, the reflecting on the mysteries and my worldly distractions, or I fall asleep. But I know there are a lot more people out there who pray the Rosary who carry me. Blessings to you all.