The Rosary and our Mother in the month of May

Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering put together a very beautiful, colorful, and artistic description of the Rosary utilizing sentiments from various Blessed Mother loving contributors.

Sarah begins, "When she introduced the Loveliness Fairs for this spring, Colleen explained the Loveliness of Rosaries this way: Praying the rosary is that moment when we encounter our Sweet Mother on the journey and share a quiet conversation with her. In the month of Our Lady, let's share our stories of her rosary and how it has shaped and formed us on our journey. And let's share the simple loveliness of rosaries themselves.

The rosary has a special place in my life. I remember learning it, haltingly. It was as unfamiliar to me as a new Catholic as the controls of my parents' car was when I was a new driver. The prayers sat in my mouth, clogging my tongue and distracting me from the mysteries. The counting and figuring out the beads distracted me from the prayers. The mysteries loomed impossibly before me. It was all a nice theory, at first.

And then, having given it up, I was inspired to pray like the dickens for a miracle. I was doing a lot of driving back and forth to grad school, and the rosary became my companion on the late night drive home. I think now that Mary might have been there with me as I sobbed and cried, my heart splintering as I prayed and my appreciation for the mysteries - and Mary's role in leading me to Jesus - deepening.

We all have a different approach to the rosary, just as we have different ways of approaching so many things in life. And so, with this collection of posts, let's pause together between posts and reflect together on the mysteries that hold the rosary together. You don't have to be Catholic to do this. You don't have to be familiar with the prayers or comfortable with the set-up. You can just amble along with us. (More information about the mechanics of the rosary, as well as links to some great rosary resources, are at the end of this post.)

Think of it as a walk in the garden with your mother. Her arm is around your shoulders, and as you get more comfortable, maybe you slip your arm around her waist. There's warmth there, between your bodies. You're going to the same place, though she knows the way far better than you do..."(To see her lovely post you may click here.) However, I should forewarn you to be prepared to spend at least a few moments to pause, appreciate, ponder, and be uplifted!