Is Your Family Protected?

by Mary Michele

       With all that is going on in the Church and the world, many people believe we are living in The End Times. We see those who claim to be "Religious" mocking God and using their positions to carry out unthinkable acts against Church, State and humanity. We see real churchmen and laity renounced and persecuted. Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Fatima has warned us of what is to come and how to prepare. If the Vatican never reveals the Third Secret of Fatima or if the New World Order closes all of the Catholic churches and sanctuaries all over the world, our wonderful, beautiful Mother has given us all we need to survive what is to come. This Glorious Woman told us; "In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph!"

       How are we to prepare? How will we survive? How will we protect our families? Our Blessed Mother promised St. Dominic and Blessed Alan, "Those who will recite My Rosary piously, considering its Mysteries, shall not be overwhelmed by misfortune nor die a bad death. The sinner shall be converted; the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life." (One of the fifteen promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

       At Fatima, She told the three shepherd children, "You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. …many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices for them", and Our Lady promised St. Dominic: "With the Rosary and Brown Scapular I will save the world." It really does not matter when The End comes, it only matters when Your End comes. Will you be ready? Will you be saved? Will you participate in Our Lady’s peace plan? Can you refuse the Mother of God?

       Here is how my family is preparing: I have the privilege of praying the Rosary with extended family members every Thursday evening. Sometimes we are a little crowded, but no one seems to mind. We pair up, one adult and at least one child. In our family we have more adults than children. The children will move from adult to adult, not wanting anyone to have to say their decade alone. We all have our own special intentions, and if one of us is having a senior moment, someone will always remind us of the forgotten intention. We’ve had some family members come and go. The core group remains. The children never forget to pray for those who do not come anymore or their intentions. Notice, I said the children never forget, we adults are forgetful creatures.

       This has been very edifying for all of us. When we started out, several years ago, the youngest would offer their intentions for Mommy & Daddy, Grammy & Grampy, Uncle Paka and Aunt Gebeka. As they got older, they moved on to correct pronunciations of aunts and uncles’ names and praying for school friends and teachers. Now they have graduated to praying for Holy Mother Church, Our Holy Father, the souls in Purgatory, those who have no one to pray for them, and those in the hospital. The first time I heard one of my young cousins come up with "those in the hospital" I knew she was on her way to helping many souls.

       Our Family Patriarch starts the Rosary. He always has a lesson for us, not anything very long. Maybe just a Bible verse or a reminder of something the Blessed Mother has promised us. He always uses current events to show what the devil is up to and how God metes out His judgment on nations that allow babies to be murdered before they can see the light of day. We can see how things are spiraling down the slippery slope. I am only forty-five and just a few years ago murder was a rare thing in our area. Today it is almost an everyday occurrence, not even counting the abortuaries in the neighboring counties.

       Our Family Rosary is a traveling Rosary. We like to spread the wealth of grace around. If it is a special date, like the anniversary of having the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts enthroned, a birthday, a new addition or just feeling the need to have a spiritual boost, we move the Rosary to that particular house. We even take the Family Rosary to friends’ homes. Friends of ours, a married couple, have an outdoor shrine set up in honor of the Blessed Mother; we went and prayed the Rosary there this summer. It was wonderful to share the blessings and graces with our friends.

       The Rosary is all we will have left in the future. The time is coming when we will not be able to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Except for Baptism and Marriage, we will be denied access to all sacraments. The Rosary is a grace-filled habit that needs to be formed today. It is the only way we will be able to keep the faith alive. Remember that Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said, "For where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)

       If you have not taken the time to pray the Rosary with your family in the past, start today. With hectic schedules and life styles it is hard to get everyone in one place at the same time, but it can be done. It takes commitment. Make it a habit. Pick one day of the week and stick to it. Not everyone will be able to make it every week. Sometimes you may have to change the day, so long as at least two or more are together. If you are separated from extended family, ask a couple of close friends. Ask friends to join your Family Rosary and encourage them to start their own Family Rosary. You will be amazed at the spiritual growth of the children. You will be amazed at your own spiritual growth.

       This does not include the partial and plenary indulgences that may be gained by praying the Rosary, by the vocalization of the Names of Jesus and Mary, or for praying the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, the Apostles’ Creed, or for making the Sign of the Cross. With all of this to be gained for yourself and/or for "those who have no one to pray for them," shouldn’t you start this week? Start even today! "But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal." (Matt. 6:19).

       One word of warning: the devil hates the Rosary. He will put all kinds of distractions and impediments in the way once you make a commitment to start this endeavor. Little trivialities will be blown up into major disturbances of great proportion. Do not let these things disturb your peace or resolve to pray the Family Rosary. Again, you may have to change the day, time or place, or maybe only a couple of the core group can meet. This is to be expected, just persevere and you will see what the Great Mother of God can really do for you and your family.

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