This article first appeared at: catholicweekly.com.au

The Saturday night rosary was a cornerstone of my family life growing up. After dinner was finished, all 12 of us would gather in the living room, sitting on the couch, chairs or the floor.

The lights would be switched off and the candles next to the statue of Our Lady holding the child Jesus would be lit.

Mum and Dad would then list all the people we were going to pray for and if any child had anybody else to add to the list they could do so. Then the rosary began.

Each decade was led by a different child. The rhythm of the Hail Marys soon began to spread a quiet, familiar calm.

As each chorus of “Holy Mary, Mother of God” resounded through the living room I used to privately think that the face of Mother Mary, flickering in the candlelight was smiling and somehow even alive.

Mary was present in that living room listening to the prayers of our family, her family, bringing us closer together.

“ONCE WE BEGAN TO PRAY, A PEACE WOULD ENVELOP THE ROOM AND BY THE TIME THE ROSARY HAD FINISHED, WHATEVER HAD BEEN BOTHERING ME WOULD NO LONGER BE A BIG DEAL- IF NOT COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN”

Family rosary was a true experience of the domestic church, an encounter with God with and through the people he had put into our lives and in the midst of our ordinary circumstances.

I can’t ever recall a Saturday where there was universal enthusiasm to pray the rosary. Somebody would always be out of sorts and sometimes that somebody was me.

Nevertheless, once we began to pray, a peace would envelop the room and by the time the rosary had finished, whatever had been bothering me would no longer be a big deal—if not completely forgotten.

Gradually I became more aware that Saturday night was the night we invited Mary to visit and she would always accept the invitation.

In 1995, Pope St John Paul II added the title “Queen of the Family” to the Litany of Loreto (which we prayed every rosary).

Dad made quite a big thing of the significance of this addition. Mary is our mother and Queen and she loves and safeguards the love within a family.

When Mary is made Queen of any home and she is honoured through prayer she gifts some of the same divine atmosphere that dwelt in her own home with Joseph and Jesus.

As the perfect mother she rejoices and suffers with the ups and down of the life of her children.

When they pray, she listens, when they are hurt, she consoles, when they sin, she grieves but at the same time intercedes for their conversion of heart.

Most of all, she works to bring each of her children close to her son, Jesus, and she longs for the day when she can give us a massive, motherly embrace when we enter heaven.

We have just begun the month of May, which along with October is especially dedicated to Mary. This is a golden opportunity for families to invite Mary our mother and Queen of the family to dwell in their homes.

Like all good mothers, she puts our house in order. When she is invited in, her light makes all that is good in our homes glow even brighter.

She also gently but clearly shows up the obstacles we have put up to love and truth and helps us remove them.

“we have just begun the month of may, which along with october is especially dedicated to mary. this is a golden opportunity for families to invite mary our mother and queen of the family to dwell in their homes”.

Mary’s presence brings peace and causes demons to flee. When we know ourselves as sons and daughters of Mary we become better parents, spouses and children in our own families.

As we begin the Marian month of May, I would encourage any family seeking to deepen their spiritual life and connection with God to start with the rosary.

There is no safer, faster or sweeter way to the heart of God than through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

May Our Lady cast her mantle of protection over each of your families and may you know the joy of her love.

Pocket Guide to the Rosary

~ Matt Fradd | Ascension

The Pocket Guide to the Rosary helps Catholics deepen their prayer life and improve their ability to pray what St. Padre Pio called “the weapon of our times”—the Rosary.  

Drawing from the writings of the saints, the Bible, and Catholic tradition, Matt Fradd has produced a book that every Catholic should read.

Its small size makes it easy to carry to adoration, keep around for family Rosary night, or hand out at your parish. Catholics who find it difficult to enter into the mysteries of the Rosary, or who need some encouragement and inspiration to pray this essential Catholic prayer, will deeply appreciate this small but powerful book.

In this essential book, Matt Fradd explains:

• How to pray the Rosary by truly meditating on its mysteries.
• Major saints’ methods to pray the Rosary.     
• Carefully chosen biblical passages to reflect on for each mystery.

This guide covers all twenty of the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries.