The week beginning 6 th May Tuesday If

The week beginning 6 th May (Tuesday) "If I had an army to say the Rosary, I could conquer the world. " Blessed Pope Pius IX

Catholics pray the rosary because it’s a powerful prayer to God, through His mother, Mary. Praying the rosary has been a tradition in the Church for a long time. Throughout Church history, many popes and saints have highly recommended that we pray the rosary. St. Louis de Montfort said, ‘When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious (worthy) than any other prayer. ’ In various apparitions, Mary has appeared holding a rosary and has asked that we continue to pray this prayer. She always leads us to her Son, and presents our needs before Him. Prayer is about developing our relationship with God, and loving Him more, so it makes sense to get to know Him through the events of the life of Christ that we meditate on during the rosary. Let us take a moment to ask Mary to intercede our prayer intention of the day

Let us pray: Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The week beginning 6 th May (Wednesday) "If I had an army to say the Rosary, I could conquer the world. " Blessed Pope Pius IX

Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese children –Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Lucia dos Santos –received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria near Fatima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. Mary asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace, for the end of World War I, for sinners, and for the conversion of Russia. Mary gave the children three secrets. Following the deaths of Francisco and Jacinta in 1919 and 1920 respectively, Lucia revealed the first secret in 1927. It concerned devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The second secret was a vision of hell. When Lucia grew up she became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005 at the age of 97. Pope John Paul II directed the Holy See’s Secretary of State to reveal the third secret in 2000; it spoke of a “bishop in white” who was shot by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows into him. Many people linked this vision to the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. The feast of Our Lady of Fatima was approved by the local bishop in 1930; it was added to the Church’s worldwide calendar in 2002.

Let us pray; O Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of the most holy Rosary, you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima and reveal a glorious message. We implore you, inspire in our hearts a fervent love for the recitation of the Rosary. By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption that are recalled therein, may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

The week beginning 6 th May (Thursday) "If I had an army to say the Rosary, I could conquer the world. " Blessed Pope Pius IX

Read this quote and reflect on what it means to you.

Mary was the perfect disciple, so by praying to her through the rosary and reflecting on the ministries, we are able understand further what God wants us to be as His disciples. Let us pray; Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we made be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen

The week beginning 6 th May (Friday) "If I had an army to say the Rosary, I could conquer the world. " Blessed Pope Pius IX

Motivation is the key to carrying out any worthy enterprise. Athletes have a determination to win. They study their opponents’ weak points, capitalise on their own strengths and play for victory. Therefore, to attain to any goal there must be a clear plan and strong motivations. Our goal as followers of God is very clear—to get to heaven. Prayer is the key to salvation. What oxygen is to our lungs, so is prayer to the life of our soul. For that reason Saint Augustine asserted: “He who prays well lives well; he who lives well dies well; and for he who dies well, all is well. ” With powerful intercession of Mother Mary we can obtain all our goals and aspirations and the Rosary is a simple way to pray every day. We challenge you this weekend to take the time to pray the rosary, or at least a decade. Ask Mary to intercede for you and bring us closer to salvation.

Let us pray; Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.